[dmix]

Having worked on a few startups now, I can assure you hard work != the key to success in startups.

It's a process of experimentation, constant observation, accumulating knowledge and forging ahead on your own with very little external encouragement.

If you told me IIT kids spent countless hours experimenting and tinkering with their own projects, then it'd be a different story.

But the test prep process for IIT JEE/AIEEE is a very pre-defined route, that EVERYONE is doing, with lots of encouragement from parents and a soul-killing process of cramming - for the singular goal of passing tests set up by a very bureaucratic establishment.

It sounds like the opposite of the preparation needed for risk aversion and creative endeavors.

[nodemaker]

Totally agree.Furthermore kids that age (17-18) are not supposed to be solving 5000 math problems for some stupid entrance exam.

Personally I flunked IIT Mains because with my ADHD I could not get myself to study more than a few hours every week.Also at the ripe age of 17-18 I did not have enough drive or ambition to stop doing the things kids love to do (chasing girls, watching movies, loafing around etc etc.) But then I am actually proud that I did not give in to the IIT bullshit and did whatever I wanted to do. You will never get that age back no matter how successful you are!

[kamaal]

I never appeared for the JEE :)

But what I wanted to say was, traditionally Indian entrance exams have always been soul crushing. Take IAS or CA for example. You practically have to give your whole youth/teenage to make it happen.

Indian civil services are known to be one of the most grinding and testing exams in the world.