Kota or any coaching hub for IIT JEE or NEET is notorious for ruining the lives of high schoolers in India. The claims aren’t entirely baseless but there’s a lot more to the story. As a kid, should you go to Kota? As a parent, should you send your child to Kota for exam preparation?
Related Article: True life of an IIT Aspirant in Kota | Part 1: Living Alone and Distractions
Related Article: True life of an IIT Aspirant in Kota | Part 2: Mental Health & Suicides
Competition and the pressure of exam is not enough to break the morals of a teenager. We’ve all been there and we know teenagers are stronger and deal with a hell lot of things than anyone gives them credit for. It’s the peer pressure, family expectations, absence of any emotional support, love mishaps, exams and college entrance, fear of failure and on to top it if you go to Kota, then living alone and managing everything from laundry to food…..I mean that’s pretty much adulting. Unmarried working adults are having quarter-life crisis and they barely have any responsibility, or the pressure to crack a competitive exam.
So directly saying that they shouldn’t be allowed to leave house for studies because they are young…well that’s plain stupid! Besides an unhappy child is susceptible to mental health issues anywhere, be it Kota or any other city or even at home. NCRB data says that around 13,000 student suicides happen annually, so that means what?…Not more than 0.002% of students who suicide in India are from Kota. Have I made my point yet?! Pressure of competition and parents expectations are not subject to any location or coaching hub, it can ruin a child no matter what. But it’s also true that change of residence and education institute can add to the already existing mental stress.
So the question is whether it is worth it, to bear all this inconvenience and still go to Kota in 2024?
If you’re struggling with the decision – make a pros and cons list. It works every time!
I suggest you make own pros and cons list ’cause what is a pros for me can be a con for you. E.g.: Not having parents around was a big plus point for me, for others who feel homesick, it’s not.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Top class educators | Bias: top batches given preferential treatment |
| Exposure to real world competition | Expensive af! |
| Living alone, finding your own path | No parental supervision, distractions |
| … | … |
Not a fan of pros and cons list? Then just see the 3 checklist points before taking a decision.
WHY AND WHEN YOU SHOULD GO?
Moving away from home is always a good choice on a personal level. I’ve benefitted from this decision in my life, so I may be biased but trust me when I say that you’ll learn a lot and will become a better, more independent version of yourself. Not to mention the competition you get in Kota is not found in online classes and mock tests. That competition can be a little intimidating for some but mostly it motivates you to strive harder.
Still, ask yourself these 3 question before making any decision-
- How far is Kota from your home? If it’s very far away from home and taking you a day or two to travel back and forth, Don’t go. I’m telling you 2-2.5 years is a long time, there will be family emergency, your own health emergency, functions, festivals and what not. It used to take me ~3hours by road, which was convenient and so I went.
- How much do you feel like running away from your home? Sounds bad and childish but ask yourself this. I was always sad at home and felt like I had no freedom (I still don’t) and so it was an easier and happier choice for me. I don’t regret a minute of it.
- Can you take care of yourself? How’s your immunity? Kota life is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re someone who has weak immunity then please do yourself a favor and don’t go to Kota. If you’re dependent on your parents for everything and enjoy the comfort of home a bit too much, rethink your decision to go to Kota (tbh, better if you rethink your whole existence). CHEAT CODE:: Take your mom with you to take care of you like a baby. You’ll be amazed at how many students do this. No but seriously take your parents. Better than dying.
WHY AND WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT GO?
- One reason could be the growth of the online coaching business. My sister’s in 12th class preparing for NEET so take my word for it when I say that her life is so much more easier than what I had at that age. They don’t need to climb 5 stories in a building to attend class with 150 other students in the room. God forbid! if you fall asleep during a lecture, there’s no pausing the video and going back. Teachers don’t wait! Then returning back to small cubicle-sized room in hostel and eating that tasteless unhealthy food of your mess.
- Moreover, if you’re the kind of person who’d miss their friends and family and hometown and then feel lonely and cry. It’s better to just stay put wherever you are for 2 more years. The reason we didn’t let my younger sister go away.
- 2 years stay in Kota + coaching + dummy school costs around 4-6 lac Rs., staying at home and attending online coaching is much more affordable. Trust me, there’s nothing extra they teach in Kota. Same syllabus, same subjects. Yeah..they have few better teachers but the best teachers get allocated only to top batches. Not to mention, such financial expenditure by your parents is only going to increase child’s pressure to give them a return on their investment.