IIT: What It Really Takes to Get In and What Happens After

When people talk about IIT, India’s premier engineering institutes that admit less than 2% of JEE aspirants each year. Also known as Indian Institutes of Technology, they’re not just schools—they’re gateways to high-paying careers, global opportunities, and intense pressure. Getting into an IIT isn’t about memorizing formulas. It’s about solving problems under time pressure, staying consistent for years, and managing stress better than most adults.

The real battle starts long before the exam. JEE, the Joint Entrance Examination that decides who gets into IITs. Also known as IIT JEE, it’s not just a test—it’s a filter that separates students who can handle pressure from those who can’t. And once you’re in? The struggle doesn’t end. Your branch matters more than you think. IIT branch salary, the starting pay difference between computer science and civil engineering can be over 3x. Also known as IIT engineering salaries, it’s the first real indicator of how your choice shapes your future. A student in Computer Science at IIT Bombay might land a ₹40 lakh package. Someone in Metallurgy at IIT Kharagpur might start at ₹12 lakh. It’s not about the IIT name alone—it’s about the stream you pick.

What most people don’t tell you is that IIT success isn’t just about grades. It’s about sleep, focus, and knowing when to step back. One study found that top JEE toppers slept 7–8 hours a night—not 4. They didn’t study longer. They studied smarter. They took breaks. They avoided burnout. The same pattern shows up in IIT grads who end up in top tech firms—they didn’t just code all day. They built projects, interned early, and learned how to explain their work.

And it’s not just about tech. IITs produce entrepreneurs, investors, and even doctors who turned engineering skills into healthcare startups. The degree opens doors—but only if you walk through them with purpose. You don’t need to be a genius. You need to be consistent, curious, and clear about what you want after graduation.

Below, you’ll find real stories and data on what happens inside IITs, how much graduates actually earn, which branches are worth the effort, and how to prepare without burning out. No fluff. No myths. Just what works.