When Mumbaikar Arjun Shah scored 340 out of 340 in GRE, he couldn't believe it. In fact, he waited for the official mail and only then, started telling everyone. But what motivated him to seek higher education abroad in the first place was his love for Chemical Engineering. Currently pursuing his third year at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, his love for Math and Chemistry, ie logic and processes, convinced him to take up this course. And it didn't take him long to realise that he loves the subject. Of course, a CGPA of 9.77 helped matters as well.
"Chemical Engineering is a core subject in today's world and is diverse and multifaceted in its scope. And what better destination then the US, a country that houses some of the best minds and all the cutting-edge technology required," says Shah, who was born in Ahmedabad, but raised in the City of Dreams. And what does he feel about Trump? He remains unaffected by Trump and his dictates as he is assured that the premier institutions remain unaffected.
One of the factors that worked in Shah's favour was that he wrote the GRE in January, as opposed to September, when most people write it. "I did not want to attempt the exam under stress, so, I decided to get it over with early on," says Shah, who adds that his perfect score is a combined effort of his parents and him. "They were the ones who kept telling me to take it easy and advised me to treat it as my first attempt. If I didn't score well, I could always write it again, they said. They have been my rock-solid support throughout," reveals Shah, humbly. He also took up coaching classes at Jamboree Education, Dadar to help him prepare.
Talking about preparation, Shah reveals that, from October to December, he studied only three hours on the weekends. But after that, he went into overdrive and studied every day, but only concentrated on vocabulary. "I put together my own list of words instead of going through bulky books with words I already know," confesses Shah. He gave around ten mock tests, which was where most of his Math practice happened. "One must remember that mock tests only build stamina; it only helps you focus and concentrate. The scores are not a true reflection of what you might finally get," he says. So, do you want to hear some pro tips? Shah says, “Stay calm and carry on. Don't doubt your prep; don't panic when you get something wrong and as a result, get the next five questions wrong.”
