GATE 2017 Topper Interview: Ameya Dravid AIR 2 - Biotechnology

Emerging as one of the GATE 2017 toppers was something Ameya Dravid, a current BTech Biotech student of VIT University, never imagined. All he ever wanted was a good score that could help him attend the college of his choice.

A resident of Pune, Ameya secured an AIR 2 in GATE 2017 Biotechnology branch. According to him, the credit of all his success to his parents and teachers. Aiming to build a career in research, this topper loves reading and coding in his free time.

In a quick interview with Shiksha, Ameya talks about his success mantra, preparation tips for GATE 2018 aspirants and more. Read the full interview below.

Q. Congratulations. So, how do feel securing AIR 2 in GATE 2017 – Biotechnology (BT)?

Ans. Thanks. I feel happy as all the sacrifices made and efforts taken by my parents , my teachers and VIT University were fruitful.

Q. Were you expecting to bag AIR 2?

Ans. No, I certainly wasn’t. I was just hoping for a good score so that I could attend a college of my choice.

Q. Tell us about your educational background.

Ans. I did my 10th and 12th from Maharashtra state board in Pune. Currently, I’m a final year BTech Biotech student at VIT University.

Q. Is this your first attempt?

Ans. Yes. This is my very first attempt at the exam.

Q. What is your GATE score and normalised marks?

Ans. My normalised score is 948/1000 and secured 84 marks out of 100.

Q. Did you take coaching classes?

Ans. No I didn’t. I only took test series.

Q. Is it necessary to take coaching classes or is self-study enough?

Ans. To say the truth, I don’t know. I have been very fortunate to have been blessed with outstanding teachers, a supportive family, an amazing library and a nerd-friendly place. But if you feel that you don’t have sufficient resources after self-evaluation, go ahead and join a coaching institute.

Q. How long have you been preparing for the exam?

Ans. For about a year and a half. I was not regular in the initial year, but gained momentum in the last 6 months.

Q. What was your study plan like? Suggest important books and topics too.

Ans. Following is my list of top 7 topics you should study before the exam:

1. Antibodies and Cells of Immune System.
2. Cell growth and reaction kinetics.
3. Resistance in Plants(yes, you have to memorise the lists of herbicides)
4. Basic integration and differentiation.
5. Basics of Vectors and Matrices.
6. Flatfile formats in Bioinformatics
7. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms.

Following are some of the resourceful books you can use to clear your concepts:

1. Cell Biology: Molecular Cell Biology
2. Molecular biology: Molecular biology of the cell
3. Bioprocess: Bioprocess Engineering principles(Pauline Doran),Bioprocess Engineering(Schuler & Kargi)
4. Immunology: Immunology(Kuby)
5. Microbiology: Microbiology(Prescott et. al) and Microbiology(Pelczar et. al.)
6. Genetic engineering: Gene cloning and DNA analysis(T.A Brown) and Principles of Gene manipulation(Primrose & Twyman)
7. Math: Advanced Engineering Mathematics(Erwin Kreyszig).
8. Plant Biotech: Plant Biotech(Slater)

This was a typical day during my GATE preparation:

• 4:00 am – 4:30 am : Daily chores (brushing, bathing etc.)
• 4:30 am – 7: 30 am: GATE preparation
• 8:00 am -12:00 noon: Classes
• 12:00 noon -12:30 pm: Lunch
• 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Revision
• 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Afternoon classes
• 4:00 pm -7: 00 pm: Homework and assignments
• 7:00 pm -7:30 pm :Dinner
• 7:30 pm – 12:00 midnight: GATE paper solving and revision
• 12: 00 midnight: Wrap up

Q. What is the difference between your UG exams and GATE 2017?

Ans. In most of my UG exams, it used to be one subject at a time. GATE was like an avalanche, all at once.

Q. What do you plan to do next?

Ans. I plan to have a career in research.

Q. When did you decide to take GATE? And why GATE over GRE/TOEFL?

Ans. I fixed my mind on GATE towards the end of 2nd year of engineering. I felt that I had a better understanding of technology, than what I had of English (which is the focus of GRE/TOEFL).

Q. Any tips for students taking the exam next year?

Ans. There will be times during your preparation, when you’ll feel that you can’t take it anymore, as you have to balance a lot of things simultaneously- academics, life etc. But that’s when your battle starts- your Yin against your Yang. Who gets to win is your decision.

14. Tell us something about yourself, your hobbies and your family.

Ans. I hail from Pune. I like to read and code in my free time. My father is a software engineer and my mother is a lawyer. I have a younger brother, who will appear for his 12th boards this year.

IIT Roorkee declared GATE 2017 results on March 26. GATE 2017 scorecards can be downloaded till May 5. Check GATE 2017 important dates here.

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GATE 2017 Topper Interview: Anirudh Tripathi AIR 1 - Production & Industrial Engg

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