The Road Not Taken.
About me, I'm an 18F PCM dropper from a tier 3 city. During my drop year, I realised I don't actually enjoy coding or tech. I was mainly considering engineering because it felt like the safest option financially.
Recently I came across IPMAT, and it honestly seems much more aligned with my interests. I enjoy maths and English far more than an intense PCM grind, so I'm thinking of focusing on CUET + IPMAT instead of JEE.
My biggest concern is the fees. My father is a government teacher (~9–10 LPA), and although he's willing to take a loan if I get into an IIM, I'm still worried about whether it's worth the financial risk.
I'm also worried about the PI. I've heard PCM students get grilled, and my communication/soft skills aren't great right now (I'm willing to work on them). Acads are decent (8/8).
Am I making a sensible decision by moving away from JEE to a more niche and expensive path or am I overlooking something? I'd really appreciate honest advice from people who've been through this.