No JEE, no CS, failed NEET thrice: IIT Madras student now data scientist
When Sanjay joined the IIT Madras BS programme, he didn't even know how to code. But he was ready to start from scratch. He learned everything from Python and Java to SQL, Data Structures, and Machine Learning through IIT's self-paced online model that help people learn while working full-time.."He found TDS and MLP courses extremely practical, struggled through MLT (the toughest for him), and gained not just skills but a powerful learning community," IIT Madras wrote about Sanjay's success in a social media post.STUDYING, WORKING, AND LEVELING UPSanjay began working at 18. Over the past few years, he held multiple roles in the banking and financial sector, from telesales to leading teams and cracking credit card targets.He worked at SBI Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Calibehr, gaining people skills and sales experience along the way.At the same time, he pursued two undergraduate degrees -- Data Science from IIT Madras and Health Science from the University of the People. As if that wasn't enough, he also enrolled in a Master's in Financial Engineering at WorldQuant University starting April 2025.REAL PROJECTS, REAL IMPACTAt IIT Madras, Sanjay didn't just pass exams but also built things. From AI web apps to predictive models, his projects involved skills like RAG systems, SQL, Flask, and Vue.js.One standout was GoodWill AI, a tool that classifies user queries and fetches answers from policy documents. He also built applications for household services and tea shop business analytics.His project listings on GitHub and LinkedIn include: GoodWill AI (RAG system, Vue.js, Flask), Tea Franchise Optimisation (Business Data Project), Household Services App (Full stack, Python, Flask), and Predict Concrete Strength (ML model).These projects directly fed into his internship at CII Institute of Logistics and now his role at Syngenta, where he applies machine learning to solve real business problems.WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUIf you're someone who's failed NEET or missed JEE, Sanjay's story proves that it's not the end of the road. There's a new way to get into IIT and build a career in data science, even without a coding background.As Sanjay says: 'If something holds you back, burn them with your wings of fire.'- Ends
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