u/No_Wheel7036

my family just got almost 150 kg of mangoes hahahaha
can u guys suggest some recipes we can make with them ?

honestly I do know it varies from person to person but I am curious on what time is suggested for each subject in BITSAT
I manage to get around 70 in logic and english but it takes a long time for me to complete those sections ... but for me , its a really scoring part
Although I do want to increase to 80 and start taking less time
and I also take a lil more time in chemistry than expected

so can someone pls guide me and tell me what sld be the perfect time distribution for all 5 subjects

thank you :)

This topic feels extremely interesting to me because it seems newer and less openly discussed, but I am having a hard time trying to understand the topic in depth ...

The idea that companies could charge different people different prices based on data, income , browsing habits, urgency, etc .. feels both fascinating and slightly dystopian but I feel it could be widely used in the future

If anyone has any inputs on this topics , including any article or some resources they have read , please share it here
(This is JL essay comp question btw )
Just looking for some discussions and inputs on it

I’m planning to enter the John Locke Essay Competition and I’m currently stuck between one of these two questions

1. “Should we fear a cashless society?”
2. “Technology now allows personalized pricing. If this came to be widely used, what effects should we expect?”

I’d love some opinions on which topic has more potential for a strong essay .. both in terms of originality and depth

JUST TO BE CLEAR , IM JUST ASKING FOR OPINIONS AND NOT ASKING TO WRITE MY ESSAY - I JUST WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSION

Right now, I feel like Topic 1 already has a lot of large scale relevance and existing discussion around it , it's being implemented in many countries too .. so I’m worried quite many essays will end up sounding similar unless someone has a very unique angle to it

But Topic 2 feels extremely interesting to me because it seems newer and less openly discussed, but I am having a hard time trying to understand the topic in depth ...

The idea that companies could charge different people different prices based on data, income , browsing habits, urgency, etc .. feels both fascinating and slightly dystopian but I feel it could be a very strong topic for an essay because it has so many arguments and counterarguments .. there isn't any lack of topics to speak on

Also, if anyone has experience with the competition or essay research in general..

1.)How would you approach researching either of these topics?

2.)What are the best books, papers, articles, case studies, or resources I should look into?

3.)Any particularly interesting angles I should explore?

4.)What do you think about these topics in general ?

Just to be transparent , I'm trying the econ section for the first time and I don't have much background on it but I do have lots of time now to spend on it and I'm really dedicated to research on it cuz it seems super interesting

Some background on the competition :

The essay has to be in a research type format and not more than 2000 words

Would really appreciate any inputs because I want to choose a topic that is both intellectually rich and capable of standing out. And mainly on how I can approach researching and some references I can make
This is my first time doing any type of research also ..

I’ve always been fascinated by students who become extremely accomplished in STEM — whether it’s physics, math, CS, AI, robotics, engineering, research, startups, olympiads, etc.

From the outside, people at places like MIT/Stanford/Caltech or even just highly driven STEM students almost seem unreal sometimes, and I genuinely want to understand what their journey actually looked like behind the scenes.

What did you specifically do to get that good?

I’d love detailed answers about things like:

• what age you seriously started
• how much time you spent daily/weekly
• how you balanced school with your passions
• what your actual study process looked like
• how you learned advanced concepts outside school
• what resources/books/courses/channels helped the most
• how you approached problem solving
• what projects/research/competitions you did
• how you even got the idea to build certain things
• whether you had mentors/guidance or were mostly self-taught
• how many failures/unfinished projects happened before you got good
• whether you were naturally talented or mostly just obsessed/consistent
• what sacrifices you had to make
• what separated you from other “smart students”

Also, for people who built crazy projects (cars, robots, startups, research, advanced coding projects, etc.):
How did you even begin? Were your first attempts terrible? How did you learn the practical side of things?

I think social media compresses years of work into one line like “built X at 16” or “published research at 17,” so I’d really love hearing the full reality behind those achievements.

And I mean , not everyone is gifted since birth , most of them put tons and tons of effort in all these stuff to become so good .. And some even started late , I mean im sure not every accepted kid was a prodigy since they were born
I've been wanting to explore my passions ( STEM ) but have no clue where to start or what resources to use
I would love if someone could please share their journey

Hi! I’m shifting into a rented place soon and wanted some affordable room decor recommendations/shop recommendations (Instagram stores or online shops) for a cozy teen vibe room

Since it’s rented, I can’t do anything permanent or expensive — mostly looking for cute decor, lighting, posters, shelves, organizers, bedding, etc.

My furniture is mostly white + light pink and I have wooden flooring, so I’m going for a soft cozy aesthetic/Pinterest-type vibe that still feels fun and youthful.

Would really appreciate:

• affordable decor stores
• Instagram shops
• Amazon finds
• renter-friendly decor ideas
• cozy lighting suggestions

Especially if you know Indian stores/accounts!! Thank you <3

Hey everyone, I’m considering BITS and wanted some clarity on a few academic/career things. This is just something I want to know in advance and has no relation to my BITSAT score or expectations 😅

1. What’s usually the minimum CGPA needed for:

• Econ → CS dual transfer/upgrade
• Other branch changes (all common cases if possible) , what about the rest of dual ( bio , chem , maths , phy )
• also how hard is maths to maintain the highest cgpa?
• also how hard is it to actually maintain a 9.5 cgpa ? It may seem like a stupid question cuz literally being top in college is not an easy task but I wanted an overview on what type of people maintain it ? And honestly saying this is easier said than done
• How is the workload of classes in first year ? Would you get any research opportunities in first year ?

1. How exactly do Practice School (PS-1 / PS-2) allocations work? From which yr do we get it ?

• Is it heavily CGPA-based?
• What kind of companies usually come for different branches?

1. Do quant firms / trading firms / HFTs come for internships or placements?

• If yes, which ones and what profiles?
• Are they mostly for CS students only or also for Eco/math-oriented students?

1. This question may seem silly since I haven't even come to college yet but what is the research opportunities like at bits ?

And is going for masters pretty common there if maintained a high cgpa and having good well rounded portfolio ( I'm not taking abt normal .. i meant a really well reputed university outside .. I don't think I need to explain what I mean by that lol .. you get what im trying to say )

Would really appreciate honest insights from seniors/alumni. Thanks!
also I'll repeat and say that this doesn't have any relation to my bitsat score .. this is smth I want to know .

Hey everyone, I’m considering BITS and wanted some clarity on a few academic/career things. This is just something I want to know in advance and has no relation to my BITSAT score or expectations 😅

1. What’s usually the minimum CGPA needed for:

• Econ → CS dual transfer/upgrade
• Other branch changes (all common cases if possible) , what about the rest of dual ( bio , chem , maths , phy )
• also how hard is maths to maintain the highest cgpa?
• also how hard is it to actually maintain a 9.5 cgpa ? It may seem like a stupid question cuz literally being top in college is not an easy task but I wanted an overview on what type of people maintain it ? And honestly saying this is easier said than done
• How is the workload of classes in first year ? Would you get any research opportunities in first year ?

1. How exactly do Practice School (PS-1 / PS-2) allocations work? From which yr do we get it ?

• Is it heavily CGPA-based?
• What kind of companies usually come for different branches?

1. Do quant firms / trading firms / HFTs come for internships or placements?

• If yes, which ones and what profiles?
• Are they mostly for CS students only or also for Eco/math-oriented students?

1. This question may seem silly since I haven't even come to college yet but what is the research opportunities like at bits ?

And is going for masters pretty common there if maintained a high cgpa and having good well rounded portfolio ( I'm not taking abt normal .. i meant a really well reputed university outside .. I don't think I need to explain what I mean by that lol .. you get what im trying to say )

Would really appreciate honest insights from seniors/alumni. Thanks!
also I'll repeat and say that this doesn't have any relation to my bitsat score .. this is smth I want to know .

Honestly, I need to talk about this.

I constantly question myself about why I’m such a person. I’m afraid to face things head-on or commit to a single goal. When I dream of something, I dream big and believe that it’s going to happen. I imagine myself in my dreamland, having already achieved it and succeeding.

But when it comes to actually working for it, I can’t do it anymore. I’m afraid of something, but I’m not sure what.

But when the time for action finally comes, a part of me just stops.

Then I fail.
It feels so pathetic.

Because when I fail, I do not even fail while striving to succeed. I fail at avoiding the striving altogether. I fail even before I get started.

Why don’t I feel the joy of facing the unknown or the motivation to actually achieve it? I keep getting confused and distracted, and I end up wasting time. I know that the life I want is slipping away from me, and I’m the reason for that. I don’t understand why I’m not the person who fights when I’ve already failed. I have no issues dreaming big, but what about the efforts required to achieve those dreams? It all washes away in anxiety, wasting time, and scrolling through social media.
I keep seeing people who are very motivated and will do anything to achieve their goals and believe me , im no different

but the moment I hit the timer to lock in and study , the whole thing just vanishes
I keep putting it off till the next day and it never comes
It's not like im oblivious to the fact that " tomorrow never comes "
But I have no clue what im going to do with this mentality , knowing that I can't handle a simple life , need everything but don't bother to work for it

I'm just so scared

why ?

The problem is that I enjoy thinking about what I can become, but I am unable to work towards becoming such a person. The distance between my desires and actions is too much to bear. I know I have more inside of me than what a life has to offer, yet I continue to behave in a way that makes sure I will never achieve anything that I have been dreaming of for many years.
It may seem stupid for me to ask what I can do here when the answer is obvious but if anyone can , could you please help me out

Honestly, I need to talk about this.

I constantly question myself about why I’m such a person. I’m afraid to face things head-on or commit to a single goal. When I dream of something, I dream big and believe that it’s going to happen. I imagine myself in my dreamland, having already achieved it and succeeding.

But when it comes to actually working for it, I can’t do it anymore. I’m afraid of something, but I’m not sure what.

But when the time for action finally comes, a part of me just stops.

Then I fail.
It feels so pathetic.

Because when I fail, I do not even fail while striving to succeed. I fail at avoiding the striving altogether. I fail even before I get started.

Why don’t I feel the joy of facing the unknown or the motivation to actually achieve it? I keep getting confused and distracted, and I end up wasting time. I know that the life I want is slipping away from me, and I’m the reason for that. I don’t understand why I’m not the person who fights when I’ve already failed. I have no issues dreaming big, but what about the efforts required to achieve those dreams? It all washes away in anxiety, wasting time, and scrolling through social media.
I keep seeing people who are very motivated and will do anything to achieve their goals and believe me , im no different

but the moment I hit the timer to lock in and study , the whole thing just vanishes
I keep putting it off till the next day and it never comes
It's not like im oblivious to the fact that " tomorrow never comes "
But I have no clue what im going to do with this mentality , knowing that I can't handle a simple life , need everything but don't bother to work for it

I'm just so scared

why ?

The problem is that I enjoy thinking about what I can become, but I am unable to work towards becoming such a person. The distance between my desires and actions is too much to bear. I know I have more inside of me than what a life has to offer, yet I continue to behave in a way that makes sure I will never achieve anything that I have been dreaming of for many years.
It may seem stupid for me to ask what I can do here when the answer is obvious but if anyone can , could you please help me out

Hello,

This is my first time giving the John Locke Essay Competition 2026, and I am considering Economics or International Relations as areas of interest. However, I'm not sure of the steps to take and could use some help here.

Here are my questions – any advice would be appreciated!

1.)How do you go about writing an essay in this competition?

2.)What are the judges looking for? Is it originality, depth, research, structure, or something else entirely?

3.)How does one select an interesting topic/essay question?

4.)What are the requirements in terms of research?

5.)Where can I find the best resources (literature) on Econ/IR essay questions?

6.)Are we supposed to incorporate academic papers? If yes, how do you access them as well as comprehend the information given in such papers?

7.)Is there any specific format that should be followed (such as the research paper format)?

8.)Is citation important? If yes, which format/style is the most widely used?

9.)Common errors first-timers tend to make?

If any of you have done this competition before, please do share your experience!

Thanks a lot !