The Buzz About Ashoka: India’s Answer to the Ivy Leagues?

Ashoka University, a liberal arts college, has created quite the buzz as India’s answer to the Ivy League through its ‘experimental learning method’.

The university provides a four year course, including affiliations with University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Carleton College, Sciences Po. They have internationally experienced teachers on their fingertips.

Shelling out ₹ 8.45 Lakhs per annum might seem exorbitant but in reality is only a fragment of the cost of attending Ivy League colleges in the USA. Ashoka is established by an impressive list of founders, which include Dilip Shanghvi, Founder and MD of Sun Pharmaceutical and Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Dean of Indian School of Business. With top businessmen amongst its founders, Ashoka University acknowledges the value of international education. With an average SAT score of 2100, the university values committed and talented students. However not everything hinges on a high scores in exams and tests, the university also takes into account extracurricular activities, leadership roles, letters of recommendations and an entrance essay. Just as applying to the US Ashoka attempts to understand a student’s capabilities beyond test taking filtering out the best of the best.

The Admission Process

Applying for Ashoka is a two step process: An application form, and an Interview. The application is your portfolio containing your transcripts, involvement in extracurriculars, letters of recommendations and an essay. Once the Admissions Committee has shortlisted you amongst thousands of others, you are called in for an interview. The interview includes two mandatory and crucial/deciding components: A 30 minute on the spot essay, and an interview with the panel to review your critical thinking and general knowledge skills. There is an optional Ashoka Aptitude Test, which is highly recommended to show your commitment to being a part of the university.

So, How Do You Crack the Interview?

• Don’t be too nervous, just be yourself (how cliché, but it is the truth!)
• Keep your answers short and sweet, in others words, don’t try and spit all you knowledge into that one conversation.
• Practice, Practice, Practice. Practice on your siblings, parents, or friends to boost your confidence and avoid um’s.
• Before you begin speaking, take a few seconds to organize your thoughts. Pausing to think shows you are a composed and organized person, who thinks through before acting.
• Finally, be aware of what is happening globally. Follow the news and build opinions!