Amongst engineering education institutions in India, IIT Bombay (IIT-B) has once again demonstrated why it is still the preferred option of JEE Advanced toppers. Even as other top IITs such as IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have made greater efforts to draw the best brains, most of India's brightest students have opted for IIT-B for the 2024 intake.
Top JEE Rankers Opt for IIT Bombay
9 of Top 10 Rankers Opt for IIT-B
Nine of the top 10 rankers in JEE Advanced 2024 opted for IIT Bombay this year. Surprisingly, all top 10 rankers had first selected IIT-B, though Rank 9 opted for MIT (USA) later.
73 of Top 100 Opt for IIT-B
Among the top 100 rankers, an impressive 73 students opted for IIT Bombay, registering its unrivaled popularity. This pattern isn't something new; IIT-B has long been drawing the best brains for more than 15 years.
Why does IIT Bombay Keep on Leading?
Peer Influence and Legacy
A robust peer group and the aspiration to be with the best minds in the nation contribute significantly to IIT-B's popularity. Students are known to follow the path taken by top rankers, says Vishal Misra, an alumnus of IIT-B and Vice Dean at Columbia University. If the crème de la crème of students opt for IIT-B each year, naturally, future students do the same.
"The momentum has built on itself over the years," says Misra.
Campus Life and City Edge
Mumbai provides students with an active environment, full of exposure and opportunities. Several students are drawn to city life, startup access, internships, and networking.
Misra further adds:
"While IIT-Kanpur has great professors, the city environment gives IIT-B a significant advantage."
What Other IITs Did to Attract Toppers?
IIT Madras: Free Campus Tours for Top 200
To match IIT-B, IIT Madras played hard this year. The institute sent for the top 200 rankers and their parents to its Chennai campus. Expenses were paid by the institute - air travel, too. This was done as part of their admission outreach program, where the institute wanted to highlight its strengths and stud-friendly culture.
IIT Delhi: Experience IIT-D Events
IIT Delhi also introduced a new initiative named 'Experience IIT-D'. They organized open house events at Mumbai and Bengaluru, providing in-depth information about:
- Academic and research programs
- Campus life and hostel facilities
- Extra-curricular and co-curricular activities
But even with these attempts, they were unable to overcome IIT-B's stranglehold in final top rankers' choices.
Popularity of IITs Has Changed Over Time
How IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Kanpur Once Dominated?
As per alumni such as Vishal Misra, IIT-Kharagpur was the most sought-after one of its time. Subsequently, IIT-Kanpur was the favorite IIT among top rankers of the 1980s and 1990s.
"Kanpur was the most sought after IIT in my time. Everybody wanted to go abroad for higher studies," says Misra.
The preference, however, changed over the years when IIT-B's culture, entrepreneurial facilitates, and opportunities of Mumbai proved to be more alluring.
Entrepreneurship Over Foreign Degrees
Students at IITs used to talk about studying abroad, particularly in the US, earlier. Nowadays, things have shifted. Misra states:
"Now, students discuss beginning their own start-ups in India. The mindset has changed from going abroad to doing something in India."
This change in thought fits perfectly with the startup environment and innovation ecosystem that IIT Bombay fosters actively.
Final Count of Top 500 JEE Rankers (2024 Admissions)
IIT Total Number of Top 500 Rankers Selected
This figure clearly indicates IIT-B's dominance once again.
Conclusion: IIT Bombay Still the First Choice
Despite forceful promotion and marketing efforts by other IITs, IIT Bombay's unparalleled reputation, locational advantage, robust alumni base, and happening campus continue to attract India's top engineering talent. The 2024 admission trend affirms that IIT-B remains the king of IITs, the standard-bearer in excellence, innovation, and student experience.
