Sakshi Education
All India 1ST Ranker in GATE 2011, Anoop Thomas shares his triumph exclusively with Sakshi
Anoop Thomas Profile
Name: Anoop Thomas
Father's Name: O Thomas
Mother's Name: Mercy Thomas
Branch: Electronics and Communication
College: College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET)
GATE Percentile: 100
Rank: 1st
PG option: Telecommunication Engineering
Research interest: Information theory and Coding
Academic marks:
Coaching helped me immensely. The main attribute of coaching was that it orients us to the goal and directs us in the right path to achieve it.
What was your methodology while preparing for GATE?
Initial part of my preparation involved reading text books. Coaching helped me understanding the basics of each subjects and fundamental concepts. In the beginning of my preparation I concentrated only on understanding it. Towards the later part of preparation, I concentrated more on solving previous questions. The third phase of my preparation involves selective revision of subjects and revision of formulae.
How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE?
Last two months was mostly about revision and doing practice problems. There were many mock gate question papers. Practicing question papers gave me the strength and weakness in the field. Thus I could strengthen the weak areas and improve where I was good enough.
What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants?
The first and fore-most I mean is to understand the subjects at hand. The second is to avoid tension and read each question very carefully before answering. GATE examination gives enough time to answer the questions but one should be very careful while reading the question. Reading the question carefully helps in reducing negatives.
However hard we prepare we won’t be able to prepare completely. Examination is all about giving your best shot and to give the best you need to have a cool frame of mind. On the exam eve I was in tremendous tension but thankfully on the exam day I was calm. I attribute that to purely God’s grace. So my last tip is to try and keep ourselves cool and give GATE the best shot.
Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up?
I am interested in Telecommunication engineering (Coding theory). I am planning to join IISc Bangalore.
Name: Anoop Thomas Father's Name: O Thomas
Mother's Name: Mercy Thomas
Branch: Electronics and Communication
College: College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET)
GATE Percentile: 100
Rank: 1st
PG option: Telecommunication Engineering
Research interest: Information theory and Coding
Academic marks:
- 10th : 86.5 %
- Intermediate : 89.75%
- Engineering : 7.7 (GPA)
- State Rank : 88 ( Kerala Engineering Entrance Exam)
- State Rank : 108 (All India Engineering Entrance Exam)
Can you tell us about your Family background?
My father is a Retired Associate Professor of Chemistry. My mother is Associate Professor of Mathematics. I have one elder sister who is pursuing her interest in Chartered Accountancy.
Can you tell us about your college life?
I did my schooling from Loyola School Trivandrum. I passed out of school in the year 2004, Joined College of Engineering Trivandrum for B. Tech in Electronics and Communication. Passed out from College in the year 2008.
Your Hobbies...
Reading, Listening to music and solving logic puzzles.
Have you taken GATE earlier?
I had taken earlier. The earlier results were not very satisfactory. I am happy that I could succeed now.
When did you start preparing for GATE?
I worked in Onmobile Global Ltd for two years. Then I got a liking to teaching profession. So I wanted to take an M.Tech and that decided me to write GATE. I started my preparation around August 2010.
What was your aim in GATE?
My aim was to get an M.Tech admission in IISc or IIT.
How did you prepare for these exam-intensive, selective or extensive studies?
For some portions I referred few text books (suggested by teachers). I practiced many questions especially previous GATE question papers and questions from GATE book by R K Kanodia. Combined study with my friends also helped a lot in the preparation.
Working as a group made studying enjoyable.
Who was the inspiration behind your success? How is the support from your parents?
There are many persons who have inspired me. My family (parents and sister) supported me in taking decision to pursue my studies. It was a tough decision quitting job and trying for GATE, but thanks for the support of my family and few of my best friends. I am glad that I made a good decision and special thanks to all who supported me. To mention a few names would be Pramod , Gokul , Anila , Neeraj , Manjunath and many others.
What were the subjects you felt were tough?
Tough subjects for me were VLSI, digital electronics and Signals and Systems. I devoted more time to these subjects. Especially in signals and systems which I had to revise minimum five times before I got a foot hold in the subject.
What were the subjects you felt easy?
Analog circuits, electromagnetic theory, Network theory mathematics and Control Systems. Again I won’t say they were easy for me but they were made easy for me by my teachers.
Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation?
I have referred many text books but mainly it was handwritten notes which aided me the most. There were class notes; there were notes which I prepared from many text books. For practicing questions I used Multiple Choice questions by R K Kanodia.
In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE?
My father is a Retired Associate Professor of Chemistry. My mother is Associate Professor of Mathematics. I have one elder sister who is pursuing her interest in Chartered Accountancy.
Can you tell us about your college life?
I did my schooling from Loyola School Trivandrum. I passed out of school in the year 2004, Joined College of Engineering Trivandrum for B. Tech in Electronics and Communication. Passed out from College in the year 2008.
Your Hobbies...
Reading, Listening to music and solving logic puzzles.
Have you taken GATE earlier?
I had taken earlier. The earlier results were not very satisfactory. I am happy that I could succeed now.
When did you start preparing for GATE?
I worked in Onmobile Global Ltd for two years. Then I got a liking to teaching profession. So I wanted to take an M.Tech and that decided me to write GATE. I started my preparation around August 2010.
What was your aim in GATE?
My aim was to get an M.Tech admission in IISc or IIT.
How did you prepare for these exam-intensive, selective or extensive studies?
For some portions I referred few text books (suggested by teachers). I practiced many questions especially previous GATE question papers and questions from GATE book by R K Kanodia. Combined study with my friends also helped a lot in the preparation.
Working as a group made studying enjoyable.
Who was the inspiration behind your success? How is the support from your parents?
There are many persons who have inspired me. My family (parents and sister) supported me in taking decision to pursue my studies. It was a tough decision quitting job and trying for GATE, but thanks for the support of my family and few of my best friends. I am glad that I made a good decision and special thanks to all who supported me. To mention a few names would be Pramod , Gokul , Anila , Neeraj , Manjunath and many others.
What were the subjects you felt were tough?
Tough subjects for me were VLSI, digital electronics and Signals and Systems. I devoted more time to these subjects. Especially in signals and systems which I had to revise minimum five times before I got a foot hold in the subject.
What were the subjects you felt easy?
Analog circuits, electromagnetic theory, Network theory mathematics and Control Systems. Again I won’t say they were easy for me but they were made easy for me by my teachers.
Which books and material did you refer to in your preparation?
I have referred many text books but mainly it was handwritten notes which aided me the most. There were class notes; there were notes which I prepared from many text books. For practicing questions I used Multiple Choice questions by R K Kanodia.
In your opinion what are the major reasons for your success in GATE?
- First and fore-most is GOD's blessing. My studies might have enabled to achieve a rank up to 10th. But GOD’s grace helped me to achieve first rank itself.
- Second factor would be coaching which I received from ACE which focuses more on fundamentals and basics.
- The last factor would be my combined study sessions with friends. Collective effort made us to enjoy our studies.
Coaching helped me immensely. The main attribute of coaching was that it orients us to the goal and directs us in the right path to achieve it.
What was your methodology while preparing for GATE?
Initial part of my preparation involved reading text books. Coaching helped me understanding the basics of each subjects and fundamental concepts. In the beginning of my preparation I concentrated only on understanding it. Towards the later part of preparation, I concentrated more on solving previous questions. The third phase of my preparation involves selective revision of subjects and revision of formulae.
How did you prepare in the last 2 months before GATE?
Last two months was mostly about revision and doing practice problems. There were many mock gate question papers. Practicing question papers gave me the strength and weakness in the field. Thus I could strengthen the weak areas and improve where I was good enough.
What suggestion and preparation tips would you like to give to GATE aspirants?
The first and fore-most I mean is to understand the subjects at hand. The second is to avoid tension and read each question very carefully before answering. GATE examination gives enough time to answer the questions but one should be very careful while reading the question. Reading the question carefully helps in reducing negatives.
However hard we prepare we won’t be able to prepare completely. Examination is all about giving your best shot and to give the best you need to have a cool frame of mind. On the exam eve I was in tremendous tension but thankfully on the exam day I was calm. I attribute that to purely God’s grace. So my last tip is to try and keep ourselves cool and give GATE the best shot.
Which institute and specialization are you planning to take up?
I am interested in Telecommunication engineering (Coding theory). I am planning to join IISc Bangalore.
Published date : 23 Mar 2011 05:46PM
