r/ISIKolkata

Seniors and alumni of ISI college, can you help me with the course's future scope and about future placements statistics as i have recently stumbled upon this institute (although i have applied for Bsds)

Ia there a masters option directly after Bsds without any entrance like Bstats???

Should I even consider it against NIT Surathkal???

Any guidance will be appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

Thanks in advance.

Hello! I hope you take the time to read this I've poured my heart to this.

I am a student who is currently in grade 11 and out of my own stupidity i picked commerce, after picking commerce i got to know about isi and since I was a child I've LOVED mathematics so I was instantly pulled by ISI. Though currently I'm very very stuck, I find commerce a little time consuming and my school periodic tests make this no easy for me, I also got permission to take core mathematics so now I gotta study for that in between my isi prep.

I'm very immature when it comes to prep like this and I think it's natural in almost all 11th graders, now the real problem:

I convinced my father to take a VOS full math mastery batch and they have covered 3 chapters till now, i joined in when the first chapter after basic maths was Abt to start, now though I don't understand a lot of what they teach and most of the time they leave some topics that I frequently hear from other places. I also am always in a constant state of FOMO and feel like I'm not doing enough for ISI. But the problem becomes if I don't understand the VOS people and I won't ask my father for another resource since I've already troubled him too much. Now i have 2 options, cry about it or go full monk mode like most people did and self study relentlessly and just don't care abt commerce boards (I can get 80 percent with less study), but I'm very underconfident in self studies and hence I really need guidance regarding that, I tried to search on Wikipedia but it's all gibberish to me ( i searched for wilsons theorem and didn't understand a spec of dust) I don't understand how do I even self study, I have a whole lot of book PDFs like you name the isi related book and I have it but I'm scared enough to not touch any, moreover self study seems like I'm being left behind. I really need guidance on how do I actually start and continue till the end cuz like should I go topic wise or is there a specific order in which I should start and everything someone who's from ISI must have faced a problem.

I know I'm bad at putting my thoughts to words, even now I feel the message is incomplete, I hope some of you get me and really help me as I don't want to financially burden my dad anymore, I will really appreciate some guidance/mentorship or if someone who cleared ISI could guide me (I'm on telegram), dayum I'm almost in tears.

Anyone with commerce ever got into isi bstat?

Hey everyone!

If you're joining ISI Kolkata this year, come join r/ISIKolkata2026Batch.

I made this subreddit so we can all connect before college starts—ask doubts, discuss hostels, stipends, academics, campus life, or just get to know our future batchmates.

Whether you're confused about admissions or just looking to make friends before orientation, everyone's welcome.

Hoping we can build a helpful community together. See you there!

r/ISIKolkata2026Batch 🎓

I see that the date of the admission test this year was on May 10th so were all the exams conducted on the same date? So it's not possible to write multiple exams?

Hi folks ,

Is there any legitimate way to get your subjective answers evaluated ? . I have tried claude haiku and sonnet models which comes to the closest but not 100% in line with how isi prof evaluate papers , most of the test series also provide max 3-4 subjective question set . If you kw better option(s) please so share .

Also i am looking for study grp prep for isi msqe 27 , if you have a grp then add me in and if you not then dm me , we will create one .

​

Hey guys,

I’m Pratham Prasad from Cooch Behar, West Bengal. I recently got *All India Rank 11* in the ISI B.Stat entrance exam.

I am writing this post to talk to you guys like a brother. I see so many students stressing out online, thinking that if you do not spend lakhs on big coaching institutes, live in a major city, or prepare for Olympiads since class 8, you cannot crack ISI.

Listen to me: *That is completely wrong.*

I had none of those things. No formal coaching, no big Olympiad background, and a very low family income. I could not afford expensive education. I had standard PW access, but honestly, I barely used it for my actual ISI prep. A huge part of my advanced math knowledge literally came from reading *Wikipedia articles* and fighting with hard concepts entirely on my own.

If you come from a small town, a humble background, or feel left behind because you cannot afford elite coaching—this post is for you. Sit down, relax, and let’s talk about how you can actually do this.

How I Used Wikipedia to Learn Math

When you do not have a teacher to explain tough theorems, you have to teach yourself.

* *The Wikipedia Rabbit Hole:* Whenever I found a topic or theorem I did not understand, I did not look for short tricks. I went straight to Wikipedia. Reading the formal definitions, the history, and the full proofs helped me understand the *why* behind pure math. Standard textbooks usually just give you formulas, but Wikipedia gives you the deep concept.

* *Active Learning:* Instead of watching long video lectures passively, I spent my time actually solving problems. If you cannot afford expensive test series, just download past year papers. Give yourself hours, or even days, to crack a single subjective problem. Do not rush to the solution.

My Zero-Budget Prep Strategy

Because I did not have a structured coaching timetable, I kept my preparation very simple:

1. *Clear the Basics:* Make sure your basic concepts are unbreakable. You do not need expensive modules for this. You just need to deeply understand how math works.

2. *The Subjective (UGB) Paper:* Since I did not have a mentor to check my answers, I would write down my proofs, leave them for a day, and then check them myself line-by-line. I would ask myself: *Does this step make logical sense? Did I prove it correctly?*

3. *Focus on Quality, Not Quantity:* Do not worry about buying 20 different books that people recommend online. Just master the past year papers and standard free resources like TOMATO. Pure math rewards deep thinking, not how much money you spend on books.

To Anyone Who Feels Left Behind

Living in a place like Cooch Behar, far away from big coaching hubs, it is easy to feel like you cannot compete. But the best thing about the ISI exam is that you cannot hack it by memorizing things or using expensive tricks. The examiners only care about how your brain thinks. If you love math and are ready to face the frustration of getting stuck, your background does not matter at all.

💬 Ask Me Anything (AMA)!

I want to use this post to build a real community for self-taught students, math lovers, and anyone preparing on a budget.

Feel free to ask your questions below about:

* How to study advanced math completely on your own

* How to use Wikipedia and free resources without getting confused

* My daily routine and how I managed my time

* How to write proofs for the subjective paper without a teacher

Upvote this so it reaches the brothers and sisters who need to see this the most. Drop your questions below, and I will answer every single one of them!

ISI PEA: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IWe\_zaxihe7YrH63ke9XMsxL0vGsiGa-/view?usp=drivesdk

ISI PEB: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kE2Uej03UCKK46xzEBbGkxs1JsVsEjhF/view?usp=drivesdk

Built with Claude using PYQs found on the Econschool website.

Hi, so as part of the physical document verification for MSQE, I understand I need to submit the "Application for Linking/Seeding Aadhaar Number and Receiving DBT Benefits into Bank Account (NPCI Mapping)" form to my bank. But my bank account is already Aadhaar-seeded. In this case, would it be fine if I present the pdf from the UIDAI website showing that my aadhaar seeding is active?

Also, what documents are accepted as proof of date of birth apart from birth certificate? Can they verify dob by passport or Xth Certificate?

I read it was 20th July for ISI Delhi but I'm not sure. Also is it fine if we come late by a few days?

Will there be no placement after qualifying with Bstat? Is a Masters required?

​

My main question is

How realistic is it to get into ISI with a 10-11 month preparation and if any of you got into the institute coming from a not so great college and with not so great basics at start. How did u prepare and what resources would I need to buy and study ?

I am from a pure mathematics background. But I would say that I don't have the mathematical maturity that most people are saying is needed for clearing the entrance.

I am currently working part time as a teacher and deciding to either get a degree in Bed. To pursue education in general or actually follow what I like and go for stats.

So I would appreciate a very realistic answer. No matter how harsh it is.

Kya koi senior hai jisko 1st round mein hi seat allot hogya lekin 1st priority na milkr second priority mili or upcoming round mein campus change bhi na hua ho ???

Plz reply becoz maine apni first priority banglore rakhi and 2nd delhi

Now I wish mujhe delhi mil jaaye

Lekin ek senior se janne ko mila ki unka preference order tha BDK and 1st round mein unhe kolkata mila or 2nd round mein apne aap upgrade hoke banglore mil gya

In the physical admission notice they mentioned the reporting date for physical admission is on 14th and 15th for programs in kolkata. Does that mean we need to stay for both days ? Is it ok to report on 15th alone, as I won't be able to report on 14th. Also when will the classes start ... If anyone knows pls reply as I need to arrange my travel as well

#isikolkata

Hi everyone!

Congratulations to everyone who has been selected or shortlisted for the ISI Kolkata M.Tech (Computer Science/Cryptology) 2026 admission process.

To make it easier for us to stay connected and help each other, I've created a WhatsApp group where we can discuss:

• Admission process and offer acceptance
• Interview updates
• Hostel & accommodation
• Document verification
• Fee payment
• Travel plans
• Course registration and joining formalities
• General queries

Feel free to join using the link below:

WhatsApp Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KZoqfd0l7Yz9D2H3gsF9vX

Please join only if you're a selected or shortlisted candidate for the ISI Kolkata M.Tech CSE/Cryptology 2026 admissions.

Looking forward to connecting with everyone. Congratulations once again! 🎉

Hi, I have accepted my provisional seat allocation and have started filling out the required forms, beginning with the Personal Information form. While filling this form, I toggled ON the "Hostel required" option under the Misc section and submitted the form. However, when I checked my submitted data afterward under "View Submitted Data", it is showing "No" for hostel required, even though I had toggled it on before saving. I have mailed them but I am not sure when will i receive a response. Is there anyone else facing this issue?

They sent offer letter today morning

Forgive my ignorance but are these books good to develop mathematical maturity and clear some basics as a partial dropper ?

1. Discrete Mathematics with Applications by Susanna Epp

2. Calculus by Michael Spivak

3. Linear Algebra by Hoffman and Kunze

4. Understanding Analysis by Stephen Abbott

5. Contemporary Abstract Algebra by Joseph Gallian

6. Madhava Mathematics Competition Problems (Vol. 1)