A LinkedIn post by Stanford University student Justin Sato has drawn attention for an unusual comparison. Sato revealed that he scored only 53 out of 360, or about 15%, on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), despite gaining admission to three of the world’s most selective universities: Stanford University, Princeton University, and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).Sato, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Physics at Stanford University and recently co-founded the startup Skarmy, shared the score to make a larger point about India’s tech talent pool rather than his own academic journey.
A different measure of academic potential
“I got into Caltech, Princeton and Stanford for physics… but I scored 15% on the JEE exam,” Sato wrote. Referring to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), added that acceptance rates are less than one percent and argued that the exam reflects the extraordinary depth of competition among engineering aspirants in India.His publication reflects a distinction that often shapes conversations around higher education. Admission to top US universities typically takes into account research, academic interests, extracurricular achievements, and personal essays along with grades. By contrast, JEE primarily assesses performance in a highly competitive entrance exam.
JEE score did not define their admissions
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, drawing attention to the country’s engineering ecosystem. He also invited construction students from India to network for internship opportunities.The publication has resonated because it challenges the common assumption that success in one competitive system automatically translates into another. Instead, it illustrates how different institutions assess potential using different criteria. A low JEE score didn’t stop Sato from winning places at three prestigious universities, but his own experience focused elsewhere.