Apoorva Kanti

Tell us about your journey coming here. Why did you choose IIT Bombay?

When I started preparing for JEE, I wanted to study Aerospace Engineering, and not many IITs offered this degree. In the beginning, my first preference out of 4 was IIT Madras, and I had placed IIT Bombay 2nd. But during my preparation for JEE Advanced, going through all those IITB vlogs flipped that order, and IIT Bombay ruled my list of preferences.

What were your expectations before coming here, and how well were they met?

My first year was online, thanks to COVID and hence I didn’t get to experience a lot of what “normal” college-goers get to do. Looking back, I’ve missed out on numerous freshie experiences in IITB, and the online events were no fitting substitute for offline events. All I could do was focus on making up for it in the years that followed, which is why I got involved with XLR8 and the RC plane project in my second year. The overall experience was good enough to meet the expectations I came with.

Which clubs or teams were you a part of?

I had an incredibly difficult time deciding on my choice of clubs and tech teams. Thinking that I should be part of at least one tech team for the experience, I applied for the Rocket Team, but unfortunately procrastinated in my application. Next, I applied for AUV, gave the test and the interview, but couldn’t get through because that was my first exposure to the non-technical questions that got me tongue-tied. Finally, I applied for  MRT and did the assignment with friends. Thanks to the hindsight from the AUV experience, I knew what I had to do this time, and I got in. I continued in MRT till my 3rd year. As part of MRT, I had gone with the team to Bangalore for a competition, and it stays as such a beautiful memory for me to date.

Towards the end of my 1st year, when the forms for application for club convenors came, my fascination with the night sky and space, which deepened when attending Krittika events, influenced my choice. I didn’t spread myself too thin and only applied to Krittika and got in.

Did you have any hobbies or a stress-reliever while at the institute?

I used to binge-watch web series and go on late-night walks with friends whenever I was feeling low, to Hiranandani or even just within campus. Or I would participate in events randomly for the fun of it.

Are there any changes that you observed in the insticulture while being here?

The most noticeable change is how hostel culture is dying with time. Seeing movies like Chhichhore and others, I had high expectations, but it’s quite visible how people are not as passionate about their hostels. This might also be one of the lingering effects of COVID, in my opinion. We have seen the boys have at least some sort of bonding, but with girls, there is not much depth to it, and I feel sad that it is this way. Another up-and-coming trend is how people are moving more towards non-tech profiles. In my opinion, the role of tech is somewhat decreasing in insti as compared to years before. We have observed a lot of juniors working wonders in tech, but there is a very apparent and overall public shift towards non-tech domains.

How did COVID-19 interrupt your college life?

I believe I’ve missed out on the freshie experience of bonding on campus instead of the online space we were limited to. A lot of people got to arrive on campus earlier because of RCs (Resource Constraint), so they had a different and more intimate bonding. But over time, I  think it got neutralised, and the more recent experiences took over us. But yes, I’ve been robbed of the freshie experience.

If there was one experience that you could relive from your life at the institute, what would it be?

One experience doesn’t do justice to all of the memories I have stashed in my mind so I’m going to list the best -The first GMRT Krittika trip again, the last week of insti for the IRC competition, a time during which we were in the lab for the entire day and finally my last week in insti- I know this is quite recent nonetheless it was too eventful a week that I would replay time and time again for all of time to come.

How has your time at the institute changed you as a person? 

In the 1st semester, I was in my “JEE over, studying over” era, but the academics made me quickly realise that studies and CPI are quite important, and there began the grind. Now, after doing so many courses and all that effort, I’ve come to terms with the fact that worrying about every quiz is no means of survival. I had days in my 4th year where I studied one day before quizzes and still did fine, so with a better outlook on my academics and time management, there was a steady growth in my self-confidence.

Moving ahead, what are your future plans?

At first, I was quite unsure about pursuing a PhD -the uncertainty driven by my fear of committing to a single research topic. Still, I decided to apply for MS+PhD programs to keep my options open. To my delight, I received an offer from UT Austin for their PhD program. Working on my BTP (Bachelor’s Thesis Project) played a significant role in this journey; it made me realise how much I enjoy research and the challenges that come with it.

Any message you would like to give your junior batchmates?

Never say no to plans with friends or a group of people that you usually hang out with. Never say no just because you are too lazy to go out, or not in the mood for it or even because of some minor work. Because at the end of the day, it is these moments that you get to carry on to the next phases of life, and you don’t want to miss out on stacking up the best memories, and they could end up being the best moments of your life.

You’ll need to work hard for all the good things you want to happen. If you feel that something is getting difficult, don’t immediately lose your fire for it and give up. Keep working, giving your all, and never fight the will to put in more effort.

What advice/message would you like to give the fellow batchmates?

Always try to make time for your friends whenever you can, even if it’s just a chat or a video call, if not an offline meet, which might not be feasible as we grow up. Keep in touch with at least the people with whom you’ve been close. You should never get so busy that you can’t spare time out of your life for the ones who’ve been an unforgettable part of it for such a long while.

If you get to meet your little self from the past today, will he/she be happy to see you where you are today?

Definitely, more than proud. She would be very happy to see that she achieved everything – coming to IITB, exploring her interests to the fullest, having the best experiences and having no regrets!

Rapid Fire Round 

Favourite hangout spot?

Energy Terrace

Favourite food joint?

Laxmi/H3 juice shop

Fav Professor

 Prof. Abhijit Gogulapati

Fav Course(s)

AE238 (Aerospace Structural Mechanics)

Even sem or odd sem?

Odd sem

Will your little self from the past be happy to see you where you are today?

100%.