A LinkedIn post by Stanford University student Justin Sato drew attention for an unusual comparison. Sato revealed that he scored only 53 out of 360, or about 15%, in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), despite securing admission to three of the most selective universities in the world: Stanford University, Princeton University and California Institute of Technology (Caltech).Sato, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Physics at Stanford University and recently co-founded startup Skarmy, shared the score to make a broader point about India’s tech talent pool rather than his own academic journey.
A different measure of academic potential
“I’m at Caltech, Princeton, and Stanford for physics… but I got 15% on the JEE exam,” Sato wrote. In reference to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), added that acceptance rates are below one percent and argues that the exam reflects the extraordinary depth of competition among engineering aspirants in India.His post reflects a distinction that often shapes conversations around higher education. Admission to major US universities generally considers research, academic interests, extracurricular achievements and personal essays alongside grades. By contrast, JEE primarily assesses performance in a highly competitive entrance exam.
JEE score does not define its admissions
Sato broadened the discussion beyond admissions. He cited the presence of Indian-born executives in global tech companies and said their startup plans are moving to India, drawing attention to the country’s engineering ecosystem. He also invited construction students from India to connect for internship opportunities.The post resonated because it challenges a common assumption that success in one competitive system automatically translates into another. Instead, it illustrates how different institutions evaluate potential through different criteria. A low JEE score didn’t stop Sato from earning places at three prestigious universities, but his own takeaway was centered elsewhere.
