New Beginnings

 Author : Samyadeep 

Since I was a child not more than seven years of age, I remember adults asking me what I want to be when I grow up. I used to tell them that I wanted to write. Most of them would be amused and would pat me on my back as a gesture of encouraging me for thinking differently but also give a wry smile thinking that there's very little chance of it happening when I actually grow up. They were right to a certain extent. As I grew older my answer changed from being a writer to a musician, then to a scientist, then to a manager. But writing was always in the back of my mind. It took me fifteen years to finally start writing and pen my first blog post. So here we are!

That's Great, But Who Are You?

I'm Samyadeep, a student of IIT Madras. I'm in my final year of the two-year MSc program in Chemistry. I did my BSc Honours in Chemistry from Jadavpur University in Kolkata. During the course of this program, I've had some amazing experiences and I feel that it's important that I pen them down as a guide to aspirants who want to pursue MSc at an IIT. I feel that people don't talk about MSc students a lot, we are a quiet bunch and spend the vast majority of our time hidden in our laboratories, but I believe that some information is necessary for future aspirants so that they can make the best use of their two years at an IIT.

Enough about me. What will you find in this blog? You will find what life as a student of IIT Madras is. How I came here, what I've been doing here and what I plan on doing next, and what other students are planning on doing next. 

Why 'The Breakout Chemist'?

The Breakout Chemist refers to yours truly. I chose that name because I am trying to do things that a traditional chemistry student would not choose to do. I'm breaking out of my comfort zone, and from what I'll share in the next few posts I believe it will be clear exactly how I'm breaking out.  

What Are You Doing At IIT Madras?

Everybody knows what the IITs are. They are temples of learning where the brightest young brains of this country go to, for the prestigious B.Tech degree, or an M.Tech.

Then there is the other half. We have PhDs, MBAs, MAs, and lastly the MSc students. Most of us would not recall IITs handing out degrees in basic sciences, but almost all of them do. There are 23 IITs in India as of December 2022, and 20 of them have an MSc program in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at least. There are also courses in Economics, Statistics and other disciplines offered by some IITs.

How Can I Get Into These Programs?

Admissions of all the MSc programs take place through IIT JAM. Every year around 75000 students sign up for this exam. One can expect a seat in the old IITs at the 99th percentile of their respective subjects. Only students who have passed or are currently enrolled in a 3-year BSc program are usually eligible for the exam who will, at the time of their graduation, maintain at least 55% overall percentage. However, different IITs have different criteria for admitting students and may admit BTech and BA students as well.

You can look at the particulars here in the brochure of JAM 2023. 

So, What Is This Blog About?

This blog is not about the technicalities of the JAM, nor is it related to coaching or guidance for the exam. I will talk mostly about what happens around us as we prepare for and after we get into IIT, from the perspective of an MSc student, and about what we can do after we graduate. 

This blog will also contain what I'm learning here at IITM as a student of chemistry. I hope whatever I write inspires you all the more to study here. 

That's all folks! I leave you with a splendid view of our picturesque 690-acre campus that we get to see at 2 AM.