The Unfolding of a PhD Dream – The Tale of Swastik Guha Roy

Hailing from the serene hills of Siliguri, West Bengal, Swastik Guha Roy is currently in the final term of the BS level, while also pursuing a degree in IT and Mathematical Innovations from Delhi University. He prefers to identify primarily as a student of the IITM BS Degree program. After preparing hard for the JEE, his college options didn’t pan out as Swastik had hoped. He enrolled in an Agricultural Engineering program, and that’s when he came across an advertisement for the IITM BS Degree in Data Science and Applications. Despite the initial skepticism about its virtual format, his deep interest in CS and Statistics nudged him to take the leap of faith – a decision that transformed his life! Quitting the college program he had previously enrolled into, he joined the IITM BS Degree.

Looking back, Swastik feels immense pride in being a part of this program. “I had my doubts initially, but I’m proud of the education I received from IITM,” he says. Swastik’s perspective about the virtual nature of this degree shifted entirely with each consecutive term in the degree, reinforcing the fact that the coursework is far more rigorous than the one in his offline college. “The live sessions and the academic support that a student receives here are immensely helpful and prompt,” he remarks. “You could mail the team at 2 AM, and by the time you wake up, the issue would be resolved,” Swastik says while being genuinely thankful.

When asked about the effectiveness of this degree, the first thing that he mentions is its industrial relevance.

The program builds a solid foundation across multiple domains. According to Swastik, courses like MLF and MLT give the mathematical clarity of how models work at a fundamental level.

This conceptual clarity has honed his skills to such an extent that he is currently working on a research paper with confidence and ease. Beyond the technical ones, he credits the degree for refining his communication skills as well. “The BDM project taught me how to write detailed reports while the SPG project helped bridge the gap between academia and the corporate world,” he explains. But there is a key aspect that he doesn’t forget to talk about – the Fee Waiver.

Being very candid about his family’s financial situation, Swastik cites the Fee Waiver as a force of liberation. IITM has ensured that he can focus on his studies without the looming shadows of loans.

”The fee waiver takes away the mental burden and makes you feel connected to the institution. It makes you work hard and reward the faith that has been entrusted upon you. One day, I want to give back to IITM.”

Towards the end of our conversation, he fondly recalls his involvement in Paradox’23, as a volunteer in the security team. It gave him a chance to visit the campus, where he soaked in the

experience of late night walks, jamming with friends in the Himalaya Mess lawn, and marveling at the wildlife wandering freely! Looking ahead, Swastik aims to bag a PhD position which would let him work on topics which merge Data Science and Management. Though GATE 2025 didn’t go as planned, he is determined to get into IITM or one of the IIMs. “Trust the system,” he says to his fellow students, “Do your part with diligence and sincerity,”. For the standalone students, he emphasises on building strong peer groups and fostering a healthy competitive mindset. “Remember, you are learning from the best of the best institutions,” this proud student of the IITM BS Degree reminds us all; his journey from skepticism to confidence etches the transformative power of quality education.
Swastik Guha Roy is ready to take on the world – one step at a time!

– Written by Satyaki Goswami