Stanford University student Justin Sato drew attention to an unusual comparison he posted on LinkedIn. Sato revealed that although he was admitted to three of the most selective universities in the world: Stanford University, Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), he only scored 53 points out of 360 points in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), or about 15%.Sato, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physics at Stanford University and recently co-founded the startup Skarmy, shared the score to gain a broader perspective on India’s tech talent pool rather than his own academic journey.
Different measures of academic potential
“I entered Caltech, Princeton and Stanford to study physics…but I only got 15% in the JEE exam,” Sato wrote. Reference Indian Institute of Technology (personal income tax) admissions process, he added that the admission rate was less than one per cent, arguing that the exam reflected the unusually fierce competition among engineering aspirants in India.His post reflects a distinction that often shapes higher education conversations. Admissions to America’s top universities typically consider research, academic interests, extracurricular achievements and personal essays, as well as grades. In contrast, JEE primarily assesses performance in a highly competitive entrance exam.
JEE score did not determine his admission status
Sato expanded the discussion beyond admissions. He cited the presence of Indian-born leaders in global technology companies and said his startup plans to move to India, calling attention to the country’s engineering ecosystem. He also invites architecture students from India to get in touch for internship opportunities.The article resonated because it challenged the common assumption that success in one competitive system automatically translates into another. Rather, it illustrates how different institutions assess potential through different criteria. A low JEE score didn’t stop Sato from earning degrees at three prestigious universities, but his own gains were concentrated elsewhere.
