From scoring less than 70% in school to pursuing a Finance PhD in Boston, USA! 🤯 This episode of the IIT Podcast is a masterclass in transformation, resilience, and chasing your true passion against all odds.Join your host Somenath as he sits down with his college friend, Shashwat Agrawal, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus who carved a unique path from Mechanical Engineering to the high-stakes world of finance and academia. Shashwat shares his incredible journey, from being an average student more interested in sports to cracking the IIT-JEE and thriving in the competitive environment of Kota.In this deep-dive conversation, we explore:🧠 The Underdog Story: How Shashwat went from never scoring above 70% to getting into the top batch at one of Kota's best coaching institutes.🏭 The Kota Factory Reality: His real-life experience preparing for the IIT-JEE in Kota and the friendships he forged under pressure.🔄 The Big Department Change: The bold decision to switch from Civil to Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur and how he managed it.💼 From Engineering to Finance: Why he chose not to pursue a core engineering job and instead pivoted to a career in finance and consulting with firms like American Express.💡A Life-Changing Realization: The powerful story of how the COVID-19 lockdown forced him to look inwards, learn to cook, and ultimately decide to leave a lucrative corporate job for a PhD.🇺🇸 The Reality of Studying in the USA: The untold truths about life abroad, from the harsh -27°C weather to the challenges of being truly independent.🤖 AI's Impact on Jobs: A stark warning about how AI is changing the job market and a shocking statistic about graduate vs. non-graduate unemployment you NEED to hear.This episode is packed with invaluable advice for IIT aspirants, current students, and anyone thinking about a major career change or studying abroad.Meet Our Guest: Shashwat Agrawal 🎓Shashwat is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (Mechanical Engineering) and is currently a PhD Candidate in Finance in Boston, USA.🔗 Connect with Shashwat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashwat-a-b5088357/Timestamps / Chapters ⏱️00:00 Teasers01:16 Intro - Shashwat Agarwall04:06 Life before IIT08:05 Kota Journey - Bansal Classes11:31 JEE Exam Prep Strategies13:21 Advice for JEE Aspirants16:19 IIT Result Day20:12 Life at IIT21:25 Balancing Sports and Studies24:54 Civil + Mech Coursework27:37 Focus on CGPA28:49 Internships and Real-World Experience29:57 Placement Journey33:18 Life After IIT: Entering the Corporate World34:56 Amex Journey36:00 Advice for Career in Finance39:03 Pursuing PhD in Finance44:00 Life as a PhD Student in Boston48:54 Career Paths After a PhD52:10 Culture Changes in US53:41 Advice for PhD Aspirants56:32 Different ways to get into PhDs in US58:41 AI Impact on Finance01:05:34 AI Impact on PhD Applications01:07:32 Rapid Fire01:09:14 OutroAbout The Podcast 🎙️The IIT Podcast with Somenath brings you inspiring and insightful stories from IIT alumni across various industries and corners of the globe. If you enjoy our content, please LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more!#IIT #IITKharagpur #Podcast #IITMotivation #LifeatIIT #IITJEE #JEEAdvanced #KotaFactory #Motivation #Career #CareerChange #Engineering #Finance #PhD #StudyAbroad #USA #Boston #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #JobSearch #FinanceCareer #IITKGP #StudentLife #SuccessStory #SomenathMondal #ShashwatAgrawal