Meet IIT-JEE Advanced topper, who scored 334 marks out of 360, took admission in IIT Bombay but left after few months due to…, he is now….

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Civil Services Examination, and NEET are known to be some of the toughest exams in the country. Many students begin preparing for them as early as Class 10. Among those who cracked one of these with flying colors is Chitraang Murdia, who secured All India Rank 1 in JEE Advanced 2014. But what makes his journey unique is what he chose to do next.

Chitraang’s inspiring story, shared by Humans of India on Facebook, reveals that even after achieving the top rank in one of India’s most competitive exams and getting into IIT Bombay, he decided to follow a different path. He initially joined the Computer Science program at IIT Bombay, like many top rankers do, but soon realized that his heart wasn’t in it.

Though he found computer science engaging, he felt a stronger pull toward physics. “I was fascinated by computers, but physics felt like home to me. I wanted to explore research, especially in quantum physics,” he shared in the post.

In the JEE Advanced 2014, Chitraang scored an impressive 334 out of 360 marks. Yet, it was his decision to leave behind a prestigious path to chase his true calling in physics that truly sets his story apart.

After spending a year at IIT Bombay, Chitraang Murdia made a bold and unexpected decision—he left the institute to chase his real dream. He went on to secure admission at the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and that too with a scholarship.

His choice surprised many. “Everyone, including my friends, was shocked. They said I was too young to make such life-changing decisions. Some even told me I was throwing away a future where I could earn lakhs after graduating as an engineer from IIT,” Chitraang shared. “But I chose to listen to my inner voice rather than follow the crowd.”

Reflecting on his journey, he added, “Getting into MIT with a scholarship was a huge moment for me. I’ve seen so many students who are passionate about physics and maths give up their dreams and follow the herd into fields like computer science or electrical engineering—mainly due to peer or family pressure. I hope my story inspires those students to follow their passion, especially in pure sciences.”

As per his LinkedIn profile, Chitraang Murdia is currently working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2023, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from MIT.

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