IIT Mandi, 2024 – In an inspiring turn of events, Dhruv Kansal, a 3rd-semester student at IIT Mandi, successfully transitioned his academic focus from Mechanical Engineering to Microelectronics and VLSI, a branch closer to his passion for semiconductors and transistors. His story is a testament to determination, focus, and the right mentorship, made possible through the support of the SBA program.
Dhruv’s journey began with a keen interest in semiconductors, nurtured throughout his JEE preparation. However, his initial admission into the Mechanical Engineering branch due to JEE rank and counseling outcomes presented him with a challenge. Determined to pursue his passion, he set his sights on changing his branch to Microelectronics and VLSI by the 3rd semester.
In Dhruv’s words, “Engineering without a passion for your subjects doesn’t make you a good engineer. I knew I had to change my branch to truly thrive.”
How the SBA Program Helped
Dhruv credits the SBA program for playing a crucial role in his academic transformation. During his first semester, he found himself involved in many extracurricular activities, which unfortunately affected his grades. However, the turning point came in the second semester when he received a scholarship from SBA and was paired with Peeush Sir as his mentor.
“Peeush Sir helped me understand the importance of commitments and the power of time management. Before, I wasn’t scheduling my day properly. His advice to use Google Calendar to structure my time was life-changing. Though challenging at first, sticking to the schedule improved my efficiency immensely.”
With the support of his mentor, Dhruv was able to bring his grades up and meet the requirements for a branch change. Today, he is thriving in his new branch, Microelectronics and VLSI, and feels more aligned with his academic interests.
“I am truly grateful to SBA for the scholarship, mentorship, and guidance. Without their support, achieving this branch change would have been much more difficult,” says Dhruv, reflecting on his journey.
