MHT CET 2018 Topper Interview: Priyesh Vakharia says “Have a goal and work towards it”

If you are determined to learn and grow, then no one can stop you. Priyesh Vakharia has proved this by topping the chart of MHT CET results where he scored the fourth position. The two years of dedication and hard work finally paid off on June 3 when MHT CET result was declared. Priyesh, a Mumbai based boy scored 191/200 in MHT CET 2018 making his parents and teachers proud. For Priyesh, engineering was always appealing on account of being an intriguing and vast stream. Now that he has scored a good rank, Priyesh is aiming for Computer Science branch in Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI). Careers360 caught with the Mumbai lad to know more about his journey, what motivated him, his inspiration, what strategy he adopted to crack MHT CET, what his future plans are and so. Read the full article below.  

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Careers360: Congratulations for your outstanding performance in MHT CET! What was your reaction upon knowing your rank?

Priyesh Vakharia: I had expected the marks but I was pleasantly surprised at knowing my MHT CET 2018 result and that I shared the fourth rank overall. It was amazing. The second rank in Maharashtra for total marks is shared by four students including me but officially my rank is fourth as per the merit list . 

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. Which board have you studied under? Which school have you studied in?

Priyesh Vakharia: I had studied under the IGCSE board in Vibgyor High (Goregaon- West). I scored a total of 191 in MHT CET 2018.

Careers360: Did you also appear for JEE Main? What was your score and rank in JEE Main?

Priyesh Vakharia: Yes I appeared for the JEE Main 2018 exams also. I scored 154 with an AIR of around 16000.

Careers360: Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decided to study engineering? Which branch would you be interested in? Which college do you wish to apply for?

Priyesh Vakharia: Engineering appeals to me as an intriguing and vast stream. I have always been more interested in the computer stream. But there was no fixed decision when I started my 11th. On consultations with my elder cousins and friends I slowly got drawn to the ‘computer science’ branch. I would prefer to apply to VJTI.

Careers360: When did you start your MHT CET preparation? Tell us something about your preparation strategy and daily routine for MHT CET?

Priyesh Vakharia: There is no exact date which I can share with you as it was an ongoing flow. When I started class 11th, my main goal was to prepare for MHT CET but in addition I liked practising problems at a slightly higher level. There was no exact strategy or routine; I only followed my intuition. I knew my capacity to study in a particular day and accordingly I would plan the day. To keep my strength and not fall sick, I took proper care of my health by eating lot of fruits and home cooked food every day. I also feel this habit kept me light and fresh.

Careers360: Was there a difference in the preparation strategy in the last months of MHT CET considering that the board exams also are during this period? How did you manage preparation for both?

Priyesh Vakharia: These two years I understood the concepts of the syllabus. I took the opportunity of the 2 month long preparation for board exam to revise my concepts and all the formulae as the syllabus is same for both but only the paper pattern is different. As soon as the board exams ended I started preparations for JEE Main. During this preparation, I tried to get used to the MCQ pattern as time and speed are crucial factors in these objective exams while it is not the case for the boards. I solved only problems from different books and mock tests. To prepare for the entrance exam I also took coaching from Mindsetter’s private tuitions.

Careers360: Mock tests and sample papers – how extensively did you practise with the help of these? Do you think practising from the previous year papers help and how?

Priyesh Vakharia: I practised mock tests and sample papers quite extensively. Practising the previous year papers may help but one should not solely be dependent on those. Since this year the level of the exam was slightly raised from the previous one, last year papers were not much help in gauging the difficulty level. That doesn’t mean it is of no use.  We do get an overall idea of the exam paper.

Careers360: Are there any special books that you feel have helped with your MHT CET preparation? Are the school text books adequate for preparing for MHT CET and Class XII? 

Priyesh Vakharia: The textbooks only explain the concepts. They don’t contain objective questions so I had to practise objective questions from other reference books.

Careers360:  How was the MHT CET exam different from JEE Main? Did you give JEE Main in offline mode or online?

Priyesh Vakharia: MHT CET exam focuses on speed and time management while JEE Main focuses on pure application of concepts. I gave it in offline mode.

Careers360:  Did you face any problem during the MHT CET examination?  Which subject was the easiest and which was the toughest? What do you think is a tough thing to manage during the exam?

Priyesh Vakharia: Time was a crucial factor. I could solve Maths paper in the given time and it was ample. Physics and chemistry was easy but managing time was tough . Physics was the all the more tricky given the time crunch.

Careers360: What do you think are the key factors behind your stupendous success in MHT CET?

Priyesh Vakharia: A lot had to come together to make this happen. I can’t attribute the credit of my success to any one factor. First credit would go to my support system - my parents, especially my mom and my grandparents, my fellow students and professors. A lot of credit can be given to the competitive atmosphere in my peer group. This actually spurred me to work harder and perform better.

Careers360: How did you de-stress yourself during the preparation? What are your hobbies? How often could you pursue them?

Priyesh Vakharia: I used to start my studies early in the morning and continue till evening with short breaks . I would de-stress by going for a swim in the evening.  Music was also an excellent de-stressor. I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. One month before the MHT CET exam , I would swim or play a good game of badminton or squash every day to relieve the stress.

Careers360: Who is your ideal or biggest inspiration in life and why?

Priyesh Vakharia:  My biggest inspirations are my elder cousins who have completed their under graduation in India. They are now studying abroad pursuing their Masters with scholarships.

Careers360: You know you are an inspiration to thousands of students across the country. Do you have any message for future aspirants on tackling the MHT CET exam?

Priyesh Vakharia:  Have a goal and work towards it. Regular studies are a must with intensive hard work in the last two months. Ensure to participate in some outdoor activity to de-stress. However, it all boils down to keeping calm while writing the paper and avoiding silly mistakes in the process.