‘I want to go to IISc Bangalore… feel like IIT would not be the right fit for me': AIR 5 Ujjwal Kesari
Every few hours, in the middle of his study marathons, 17-year-old Ujjwal Kesari from South Delhi allowed himself a reward — one short episode of Doraemon. 'I love watching animated films. I love watching Doraemon,' he said.
'But since I couldn't get distracted, I used to skip watching it so that I could study and focus on my goal. But when I took short breaks in between, I used to watch it.'
That clarity and self-control helped Kesari secure the fifth position in the JEE Advanced 2025 Common Rank List released Monday, placing him among the top 10 in one of India's most competitive entrance exams.
His score — 324 marks out of 360 — opens doors to the most coveted courses in the country: Computer Science at both IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi, he said.
But Kesari has chosen to walk a different path.
'I want to go to IISc Bangalore,' he said. 'I made this decision because I want to go forward and pursue research, and I feel like IIT would not be the right fit for me. It is known for the best packages, but that is not what I am looking for.'
Kesari's decision didn't come on a whim. He had made up his mind years ago. 'Since Class 8, I had decided that I would take the science stream in Class 11,' he said. 'My love for physics and maths made me passionate about giving the JEE examination.'
What excites him most now is quantum physics, a field he hopes to pursue seriously in the coming years. 'I aim to pursue research in the quantum physics area as I think it is very fascinating and has a promising future,' he said.
Kesari's preparation strategy was marked by balance and consistency. 'I always used to give equal time to all my main subjects. Even my weaknesses and strengths,' he said. 'I would not focus on taking too many breaks. I would keep the flow and consistency when I sat down to study.'
The youngest of two siblings, Kesari lives with his family. 'My sister is pursuing the arts stream, and I have moved towards sciences,' he said. His father works in a private job, and his mother is a homemaker.
For future aspirants, Kesari offered one practical piece of advice, a habit he strictly followed through his years of preparation: 'Stay away from the phone. Screen time is the biggest distraction these days, and it is very important to minimise it.'
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