B.S (Data Science and Applications)
Growing up, Tejas had simple dreams – one of them was to become a teacher of Mathematics. With this deep-rooted love for the subject and the childhood dream of becoming a teacher, his academic aspirations were aimed towards a BSc-B.Ed path. But as life often does, it steered him in a direction that he had not fathomed.
Although he couldn’t get into his dream college, he enrolled in an offline BSc program in his hometown, Mysore. This is when Tejas stumbled upon an ad for the second batch of admissions in the IITM BS Degree in Data Science and Applications. Digging deeper, he discovered that data science was a beautiful blend of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. He realized the degree offered a unique bridge, allowing him to see how his beloved theorems and axioms performed in practical situations—a direct connection between his love for pure mathematics and real-world applications. This revelation alone was incredibly motivating.
His transformational journey began when he took the leap, cleared the qualifier exams, and joined the second batch of this unique program. He was being recognised and acknowledged from unexpected corners. His family’s perception of him shifted, now that he was pursuing his education at IIT Madras. Even the administrative staff at his offline college, began promptly handling his official work, simply because he was an IITM student. He emphasizes how even professors started to take notice of him. “Doors began to open,” he adds.
Through this program, his dream of becoming a teacher also witnessed fruition when he was appointed for a mentorship role for the “Programming in Python” course. That experience and responsibility sharpened his problem-solving skills and gave him newfound confidence. He became proficient in understanding complex concepts and elaborating them to a vibrant group of students. Ultimately, his dedication and clear aim led him to become the BDM project mentor as well- “Teaching is the best way to learn,” he reflects.
Though Tejas initially preferred working independently, he eventually immersed himself in the BS Degree’s co-curricular activities. “I was the group leader of Corbett House’s Group 260,” he recalls, a role that prompted him to take initiatives early on. His experience expanded further when he volunteered for the very first “Faculty Interaction Session” at Paradox ’21. “The first Paradox gave me more than just memories,” he grins, explaining how he met peers who evolved into both his academic support system and travel companions.
On the academic side of things, Tejas is all praise for the curriculum. “Conventional colleges often resort to revolving only around previous-year questions, selected topics, and rote learning. But here, the only way to move ahead is by truly understanding the concepts,” he explains.
He strongly advocates for the transformative power of the diploma level’s rigor and its industry evaluated projects. Specifically, the MAD 1, MAD 2, and BDM projects helped him break out of his shell, communicate professionally, and gain invaluable hands-on experience.
Apart from this, Tejas has also successfully completed two NPTEL courses, “Data Mining” and “AI: Constraint Satisfaction”, further adding to his knowledge base.
His internships, which he proudly attributes to this degree, became opportunities where companies showed keen interest in learning about IITM’s unique program.
Recently, he finished his MSc in Business Statistics from VIT, Vellore. He has been placed in Infosys and awaits the offer letter. No matter where his path leads next, one thing is for sure: his foundations are solid and his mindset is resilient. He’s deeply grateful for the opportunities and recognition he’s gained as a BS Degree student.
“Fasten your seatbelts for the journey is going to be intense”, he says to his fellow learners as well as future students of this degree, “By the end of this degree, you’ll see remarkable growth and lots of doors opening. It won’t always be easy, nevertheless, it’s worth every step.” He asks them to stay persistent, stay hopeful, and to trust the process. “All the very best!” he adds, smiling.
