Brother comes to her aid

Tuesday was a busy day at IIT Bombay, which was brimming with bright, young students who had travelled the length and breadth of the country to attend the first day of counselling.

Most students sat wondering about the branch or institute they should opt for. But for one lucky student, Deepali Jaiswal from Uttar Pradesh, things were simpler.

With an all-India rank (AIR) of 2,698 and OBC rank of 342, Deepali was looking for good, sound advice, and help was at hand. Her brother Deepak, a first-year civil engineering student at IIT Bombay, guided her through the process — from 9am till 5:30pm.

“Last year, I went through the same anxieties,” said Deepak. “I was also interested in aerospace engineering, but I didn’t know much about it then.”

While Deepali would like to opt for computer science at IIT Bombay, she was also aware of her limitations. “I may not get the IIT and subject of my choice together,” she said. “I don’t want to be unrealistic. I am glad my brother is here to guide me.” Deepak said there are many students, like his sister, who have never been exposed to the IIT system and know little about it. “Senior student mentors would be a good option,” he said.