Hi there!!

I am Deepak Poonia, AIR 67, GATE CS 2018. What I want to share today with you guys is not my GATE journey or GATE Strategy etc.. But How poor was my College academic life(B.Tech) before GATE.

Just like many of you, I too was a bright student in my school life...Always topped in the class. Got pretty good marks in my Board exams and Parents were quite happy. Then came JEE and AIEEE exams (At that time, They used to conduct different exams for NITs and IITs..AIEEE was mostly the exam to get you into NITs)..I passed AIEEE exam and was getting some pretty good NIT but I had always dreamt of getting into IITB..So I left NIT and prepared for one more year But as the time passed and Exams came near, I went into extreme depression and left Studying....did not (could not) study for entire 2-3 months and couldn't crack JEE as well as AIEEE that year. So, I got into whatever college I could get (It was a State Govt College) and Started my B.Tech.

Again, Just like many of you, I had thought, in the beginning of the First semester, that I will study my ass off and Top this college..But that all went down into trash when I talked to my seniors and felt the environment of the college....Almost everyone in my college just wanted to pass the semesters somehow (with or without good percentage) and somehow get placed into some Mass recruiter company. And I, being one of them, did the same. Studied for One night before the exam like almost everyone else and Tried to pass through my B.Tech.... But I even couldn't do that. And I passed by Grace in one subject in my Second semester. But it was just the trailer of what was coming next. I mostly spent my time in college Watching TV series, Hanging around with friends and doing stuffs every college student does..But Not Studying. So, In the Third Semester, I got $5$ backlogs (out of 6 subjects)..Which didn't break my heart because I saw it coming.

After this terrible result, My Friends thought that Now I will take College academic life seriously and start studying. But I disappointed them and Got $4$ backlogs in Fourth semester  and $5$ backlogs in Fifth semester.

By this time, I had become immune to Backlogs or semester results. So, I even skipped appearing in Exams few times..And couldn't clear my Backlogs on time. And because of this, I couldn't sit in campus placements.... But this could not affect me... until the day came when I got a call from my Mom. She told me that someone in my society got placed in some big company with big package in pocket. I could feel what my Mom wanted to say to me without actually saying it..and for the first time in entire college time, I regretted what I had done and hadn't done. I couldn't sleep for few nights because My college was about to end and I had 14 Backlogs to clear. So, I needed something that could change my life and neglect the effect of backlogs in my B.Tech. And just at that time, My dearest friend told me to prepare for GATE.

So, College time ended. My life was all messed up..Had 14 Backlogs to clear which my Parents did not know about. Didn't have any knowledge, whatsoever, of Computer Science.  And with this burden on my head, I started my GATE preparation. And my GATE journey began.

I started learning subjects one by one and make detailed notes of every subject. And Though, I did not know anything of any technical subject, I bought Standard books of almost each subject and Started reading them alongside. In August, I had to go back to College to appear in Backlog exams. So, I missed DS and TOC subjects. In September, I fell severely sick and again missed the DM subject. In the end of October, I again had to go to College to appear in remaining Backlog exams and I missed CO subject. So, In the last two months of GATE 2017 Exam, I just focused on the subjects that I could learn in the last 7-8 months and appeared in GATE 2017 exam..without 4 major subjects in my fold....So, I could only secure AIR 1278 in GATE 2017 scoring 52 Marks. But the good news was that I had cleared all my Backlogs in this Year. But as I could not get good enough rank in GATE, So, I made my mind to prepare for GATE one more time as I wanted IISc for me.

So, I started preparing again and this time I did not want to leave any stone unturned and told myself that I will learn from wherever I can learn..So, I Started solving each problem on GO, Reading Standard books for each subject etc.. And I did whatever I could do in this year of preparation. And Finally, the day came, I secured AIR 67 in GATE CS 2018. Did some silly mistakes which brought me down but I could still get IISc this time and Now I am going to become an IIScian, effectively from 24 July 2018.

So, I would say If you believe in yourself then your past doesn't matter. Just give your best shot and do not give up on your Goals. Even if you had terrible past, you can neglect its effect on your future.

All the very best future aspirants!!

Edit 1: I secured AIR 53 in GATE 2020.

Edit 2: Driven by my passion and interest for teaching and GATE CSE, I started Go Classes for GATE CSE Preparation. Students preparing for GATE CSE, join Goclasses for best learning experience:

www.goclasses.in

Join GATE 2023 Complete Course and learn everything by properly understanding everything. Don't by-heart, don't do Rote-learning of any concept.

"GO" for the best!! 

posted in Preparation Experience Jun 22, 2018 edited Apr 28, 2022 by
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53 Comments

53 Comments

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Congratulation..
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Wow! Congratulations :)
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Inspirations for many ...

Gud luck
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That's so inspiring. Here it took so much time just to recover from having failed in Gate this year and start studying again, and you had 14 backs to clear, and that JEE ordeal. I never knew you faced all that, I always saw u full of confidence every day. Well done, and hats off for the enormous performance and character that you showed - now it's time to enjoy the fruit :)
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Congratulations, proud of you sir
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We need our senior like you, sir

Congratulations:)
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Congratulations & thanks for sharing this
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very motivational.... inspired a lot...thank you
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congratulations  :)
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Wow,your story is very inspirational

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful journey.
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Congrats!!! Thanks for sharing this. I am in the middle of my preparation and these posts sure do motivate.
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Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience
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marvellous improvement @Deepak. Congrats IISCan :)
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Inspirational Bro ... Congrats....

Aao haweli par #IISCian
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I actually have seen you growing not from where you have started but somehow where you were almost at the verge of success ! Its always inspirational to see you and where you are now.You are a live example .Thanks for guiding support. A very helpful person indeed. Congratulations!! Deepak!
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all the best bro :)
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Deepak bhai congratulations! And all the very best for your future!
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Awesome bro.
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nice bro,plzz explain your strategy plz
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so intense bro
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Congratulations bro and welcome to IISc family. You needn't wait till 24th july to be called as IIScian. You are already an IIScian now :).
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@Deepak-Indeed very inspiring one :) The best part I liked in you is the "I Will Do" attitude. (Y) which is clear in your lines

So, I started preparing again and this time I did not want to leave any stone unturned and told myself that I will learn from wherever I can learn..

Heartiest congratulations to you for your grand success and wish you all the very best for all your future endeavours.

#BeastMode \m/

 

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Really inspirational :)
Congratulations for AIR 67 and IISC both and Thank you so much for sharing this. :)
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I can understand the mental pressure brother. Good job in changing your life around. Good luck for the future. :)
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You are real inspiration for many who are preparing for GATE-2019.
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I have seen a lot of failure stories but ur story is in some way different from others. All the very best for ur future endeavors..Deepak Bhai...Congratulations on becoming IISCian...
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Thank you everyone for showing your appreciation....Wanted to share this with you all and future aspirants..Maybe someone out there needed to hear it....And It can be of logical help to someone.

Thank you @Lakshay, @Ayush....Have seen your curiosity for learning.  All the very best for GATE 2019..

Thanks @anup..Jald hi Milte hain Haveli (IISc) pe..

Thank you @Nancy..All the very best for GATE 2019.

Thank you @Niharik.. Will share my GATE strategy very soon.

Thanks @Arpan mangal, Will call myself IIScian from now on only.  

Thank you @akash, @nitish, @sreshtha, @Soumya, @ashwin.. and all others.
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Really man...very inspirational.. :-)

Congratulations bro for the achievement.. :-) and all the very best for journey ahed
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Congrats :)
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Awesome!! It is pretty difficult to imagine how you kept ur cool through all this. And this is just mere glance to all the wonderful things you are going to witness ahead and rightly so! Cheers!
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Congratulations!!!

thanks for sharing

your story is really inspirational....
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Your story in one liner...

"Failure is temporary...success in not final....its the courage to continue which counts "

Best of luck!..Lots more interesting things to do in life ahead..
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Congratulation bro
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So you completed your Btech in 5 yrs? How could you clear 14 backlogs in such a short span of time along with Gate preparations ?
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Your story is very inspiring for the boys like me who had a similar past like you.

A big thanks for the inspiration and best of luck for the future.
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Thank you @Arjun Sir, @NamitaAIR1, @Priyanka, @Surajit, @Abhisek

@Sayan, Yes, I did my B.Tech in 5 Yrs. I had to clear..No other choice was there for me :) ..Sometimes Success is the Only Option.

@Kushagra, Thank you brother.
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In hyderabad when you first told me about your 14 backlogs i did'nt believed it .How a person with 67 rank can have 14 backlog..... but now when i know the entire story i am extremely inspired .... Congrats bro
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Thank you @abhijeet bhai :)
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i'm in the same position as you, i wasted my jee attempt twice, enrolled in a private engg college, passed out this year, been through everything life could throw at me, and now i want to redeem myself through gate. i know i can, this time i won't let anyone down.
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Wow deepak!

In class, I knew about your problem solving and doubt sessions so I always thought you must have done really good in your B.tech which is how you could guide your peers.

But this is insane. Congratulations and all the very very best!!!
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Thank you Devyani. Which college you joining?
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IIT Delhi :)
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Hey deepak

Really inspire from your story
I am in your situation now
3rd sem 3 backlogs
5th sem 5 backlogs
6th sem 5 backlogs
Now I am in last year of btech and I have to clear this all in this last year. Just our problems are different.. i was  doing job also.  in 4th of btech I quit job and focus on my study and also preparing for GATE I am not a extra ordinary student I am an a average student but my situation is different I am live with my mother in very small city and she is not able to walk
So please tell me can I get AIR in 100
in my city coching centres are not available
M only depend on youtube videos and study material
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@Devashish, Of course you can. Practice questions from this website GATEOVERFLOW and learn concepts from various sources on Internet like Standard books, NPTEL lectures, Raula lectures, Kiran sir lectures and many more.
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Hi deepak

what did you did for apti and verbal and maths part ? apart from solving previous year question

It is ok to skip verbal part preparation
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^At the minimum you have to solve and understand all previous year GATE questions in Aptitude across all branches.
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Thank you Arjun Sir

I will do it same for apti
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Maths is very important for GATE. Discrete Maths and Engineering Maths.. For DM follow Kenneth Rosen, For Engineering maths, You need to follow individual resources.
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thank you deepak
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 Sir please share your gate strategy.

is there any blog in which you have shared earlier, then please provide the link!

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Thanks for sharing your Journey!
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Your story is so inspiring and motivated.You are great sir, you manage the 14 backlogs and even scored 52 marks in GATE. hats off to you sir
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yes  14 backlogs  to  top 100