Lively, enthusiastic and cheerful, Amrita from Mumbai, is a topper all the way. She represents the growing number of women IIT toppers. She won the IIT silver medal for topping the Aerospace Engineering course and a gold medal for overall proficiency.

On the IIT Experience

It was a fantastic experience. The first year was very stressful as you are surround by toppers and child prodigies. It takes some time to get used to the environment. Studies are not as difficult as they are before joining IIT. You get the best facilities to study and work.

And, of course, I enjoyed hostel life and made the best of friends. Living at the campus is a different life altogether, your friends become your family!

Interests

I like robotics and have done projects on robotics and won awards. I have also published research papers on aerospace and automobile fuel cells after an internship at Mercedes Benz.

I like reading and writing. I was the editor of the department magazine. I also write poetry. I was also on the editorial board of the IIT newspaper. I learnt a lot of new things like drumming and playing squash at the IIT. I also like advertising and did two advertisements at O&M during an internship: these were ads for Kotak Mahindra and MTV.

Success mantra

Lots of hard work, two years of preparations, I attended coaching classes after my 10th standard.

Advice to IIT aspirants

One has to work really hard, put in lot of extra work for two years to get the branch of one's choice. But one should not be dejected if one doesn't get selected. One has a lot of opportunities and many interesting things to do now.

Next move

I have joined the Boston Consulting Group. I would like to explore the corporate world. I enjoy my work. The job has lived up to my expectations. I used to think that the corporate world is a very cut-throat one, but I was surprised to find that it not so. Everyone is very helpful.

And aerospace? Yes, it is on the radar, I would like to pursue research in aerospace in future.

Photograph: Amrita (left) celebrates with her friend