[technosamay20]

I agree with this. Most people need just 2 years during grade 11 and 12. Starting earlier might give minor edge at best but more damage to other aspects of personality and growth!

In IIT, in under 1000 rank, most people who spent more than 2 years were people who were intelligent but didn't take preparation seriously during their grade 11-12 but put in effort after that.

I also know people who were extremely intelligent who could crack under 100 if they gave the exam in grade 8. But they were outliers.

[alex_smart]

Haha I know somebody who cracked JEE at the age of 14. I met him and found out that he was homeschooled with zero social skills. Warms my heart to know that he is doing well in life.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Youngest-II...

[timewarrior]

I always wonder about kids who skip too many grades or who get college degree at 12. Even if they are intellectually there, socially life would be a nightmare. Imagine being a 12 year old which 17 year old peers. I can't imagine the emotional trauma!

I didn't do any IIT coaching and was able to prepare for IIT only for one year in my grade 11. After that I got some major health issue and was harassed by armed bullies in my school, so couldn't study at all in Grade 12. This made me miss Top 200 rank.

But this ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I couldn't get Computer Science at IIT. I have been passionate about computers since I was 8 years old. If I had studied Computer Science as a part of the course curriculum, I might have ended up hating it.

Instead I pursued Computer Science on mine own, based on my interest. I have loved it every single day!

I look forward to my work, versus most of my friends who feel trapped in their jobs!

[alex_smart]

>Imagine being a 12 year old which 17 year old peers. I can't imagine the emotional trauma!

In my experience, these kids are homeschooled so at least they get sheltered from bullying at school. Of course they also get "sheltered" from any opportunity to learn how to navigate social situations. And when the get into real life, it is into an academic environment that at least somewhat supports such eccentrics.

To a smaller extent, I think almost everyone makes sacrifices in their social life and hobbies during that time period for a boost in career. For pretty much my entire first year, I had a single point agenda in life: get laid!

>If I had studied Computer Science as a part of the course curriculum, I might have ended up hating it.

You can pursue Computer Science on your own even while being enrolled in CS program and just use the curriculum as sort of a sanity check that you're making enough progress. That's pretty much what I did.