Career Councelling

Hi, I am addressing the questions to Sunil Nagpal Sir, and anyone who can give me valuable advice. 


Hi Sunil Sir,

I am an average student who has completed BTech in Biotechnology from a NIT in 2014. Then I joined an IT company for the sake of getting a job in Jan 2015 and have been working there since 2.2 years till date. But my prime area of interest is Environmental Engineering. Thus I always wanted to do MTech in Environmental Engineering from a prestigious institute like an IIT/NIT, then even go for PhD. I have been appearing Gate Biotechnology exam since 2014 (my Final Year BTech). Below is the summary of my gate appearances :

GATE 2014 - 15/100 (Not Qualified)
GATE 2015 - Could not appear the exam as I joined the IT job a week before the Gate exam.
GATE 2016 - 21/100 (Not Qualified)
GATE 2017 - 39.04/100 (After matching my responses from the official Answer Key)

Joining MTech/PhD in an IIT has been my dream since my BTech days. But with the marks that I am getting in Gate 2017, I am expecting to get a gate score of around 500, if we go according to the previous year trends as I checked on career360 and inspirenignite. I know a score of 500 will not be enough to secure a seat in Environmental Engineering or Biotechnoology in any of the IIT as we are competing with students of other branches as well. I am also willing to accept a seat in NIT for MTech Environmental Engineering if I get with my Gate Score.

I want to know your views on what should I do. Should I apply for only the Environmental Engineering branches in IITs if I hold a chance or should I even go for Biotech branches.
What would you have done If you had been in my situation and what is the Future Course of Action that you would suggest to me.