Name: Miten Nayak Year: 2019/2023 (freshman) Major: Finance & Sustainable Business
NYU (2):
Name: Siddhant Year: Sophomore Major: Economics Contact: You can reach me at 6097210585 Or sk7376@nyu.edu
Hi, I’m Siddhant Kumar and I’m a sophomore at the College of Arts at Science at NYU. I’m majoring in Economics and I write for one of the school papers, and I’m going to mention a few things that should convince you that NYU is one of the best colleges you want to be to take off right off the bat.
NYU boasts a status of being among the best in the world in regards to Business and Film degrees, thanks to the NYU Stern School of Business and the Tisch School of the Arts, and that isn’t limited to academics.
Being situated in the heart of Manhattan, not to mention the opportunities of living in the city that never sleeps, networking is the lifeblood of the community. The contacts you develop over your degree could land you a job in the future.
The variety of courses offered by the university can be almost overwhelming, but the freedom to pursue almost anything is refreshing. I’m still juggling between three different minors.
The depth of the community is staggering. Nearly every year has 7000+ students, totaling up to one of the largest universities in the country, so you can be certain you’ll find your crowd. And though we don’t have a specified campus, having our dorms sprinkled around Washington Square Park pulls us onto the streets of NYC at every moment of the year.
As you might imagine by now, you can do almost anything at NYU. The possibilities are endless, and I can’t wait for you to taste them!
Hi! I am Vriti, currently a freshman at UMass Amherst. I am planning to do my major in finance. Firstly, I would like to congratulate everybody who got their acceptances from universities and I would like to wish everybody who are still awaiting decisions all the very best. Secondly, just know that it doesn’t matter whether or not you get into your dream school. What matters is what you make out of the opportunities that you are given. A year down the line, you will realize that whatever happened, happened for the best. So celebrate your acceptances and learn from your rejections.
As far as UMass Amherst is concerned, it is a great school with great opportunities. A few things about UMass that might help you make a decision:
Location- It is in the middle of nowhere, so you will definitely miss out on the “American city life.” However, Boston is just a 2 hour long drive from Amherst and New York is a 4 hour bus ride. So, you can definitely get the best of both worlds. After the campus, Downtown Amherst is the most lively place that you can go to. There are a wide range of restaurants here but if you asked me to pick my favorite two places, I would pick Insomnia cookies (These are the best cookies that you will have in your entire life and it is open till 3 in the morning) and Antonio’s pizza by the slice. Apart from this, Northampton is a 30 minutes bus ride and has one of the best Indian restaurants in the state in addition to a million other ice cream parlors, bakeries and restaurants.
The 5 colleges consortium- UMass Amherst along with 4 other colleges (that are all within 45 minutes of UMass), namely- Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College and Smith College forms the 5 colleges consortium. There are various intercollege activities throughout the year but the best thing about this consortium is that you are allowed to take classes in any of the other 4 colleges, so you can definitely look up courses of your interest in these colleges. For more information, visit https://www.umass.edu/fivecollegeinterchange/
The International community- there are students from over 70 countries that attend UMass and therefore, the international community of UMass is very strong. As an international student, you will have access to a number of resources that will support you in the smooth transitioning to life in a different country.
Study Abroad Programs- UMass has ties with a lot of schools abroad (in Italy, France, China, India etc.) and it allows you to do one of your semesters abroad. You should look up these programs and see if you find anything that you might like. For more information, visit
Clubs and extra-curricular activities- there are over 200 clubs in UMass Amherst and a number of competitions that you can participate in. The football games and the ice hockey games are pretty big there and we have a ice hockey rink in the university. There are two recreational centers, indoor basketball and football courts and a number of other resources that will ensure your entertainment.
UMass dining- UMass dining was ranked no.1 by the Princeton review. We have four dining commons with amazing food, from sushi to stir fry to pizza and pasta.
Campus- The campus is huge with four main residential areas- Central, Southwest, Northeast and Orchard Hill. We are also home to the second tallest library in the world and the view from the 23rd floor of Du Bois (the library) is to kill for.
Greek life- This is pretty big in UMass too. There are a lot of fraternities and sororities on campus in addition to the ones that are in the other four colleges. So, your weekends will definitely be happening.
I hope this helps. If you have any other questions about UMass, please feel free to reach out.
Write up (2):
Name : Kresha Sewani Year : Sophomore Major: Commutation Contact : ksewani@umass.edu
Hi, my name is Kresha and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am majoring in communications and pursuing a minor in Art History. UMass is known for its bustling student life and excellent dining but there is so much to it and here are some things that make Umass special to me.
The Campus: Spanning 1,463 acres, the Umass Campus is very large with four main residential areas, four dining commons, and multiple academic buildings. It also has the tallest academic library in the world. Moreover, Umass provides a free bus service to make your way around campus easier. And having four different residential areas it is easier for you to pick your preferred living experience. From the quiet and calm dorms of Orchard Hill to the more active and spirited halls in Southwest, there is a range of dorms you can pick from to live in.
The Academics : I am currently a Commutations major but I am looking into switching into the BCIC major, which helps you personalize and create your very own major, the reason I am doing this is because Umass does not currently have a film major, however it does have a film department. And they are the best in helping you achieve your goals. Moreover, having the ability to create my own major I will have more control over my academic purists. In regard to class one thing I really appreciate is the smaller discussion sections at almost all lecture classes have. These really help you understand the curriculum which can be difficult to do in a bigger classroom setting. Having discussion sections also helps to give you a smaller and more comfortable space to ask questions in. Lastly, Umass is very flexible with what classes you can take and most beginner classes from other majors do not have any holds on them, so if you wanted to explore a subject that is not in your major or minor you are free to do so.
Student Life: Being in a smaller city Umass lacks some of the bigger city pass times, however it makes up for it with other activities that are fun and interesting. For example, on weekends my friends and I really enjoy driving up to Northampton which is just twenty minutes away and spending the day in cafes or looking at small bookstores and trying restaurants. And at night there is never a shortage of parties or events to go to. Being an international student my freshman year I found it very fun and comforting to part of SASA the south Asian organization at Umass that hosts really enjoyable dances and events. Lastly, the energy and sprit of Umass is amazing this year I have found it so easy to make new friends and really experience college to its fullest.
If you have any more questions please feel free to reach out to me!
Name: Nayonika Nair Year: 1st Year Course: Law Email: n.nair1@lse.ac.uk
Hi, I’m Nayonika and I’m a first-year law student at LSE. LSE has an incredibly diverse student body with a high percentage of international students, which creates this an atmosphere that is very international with focuses on the wide range of perspectives. I have also found that the lecturers are all extremely experienced, sometimes they’ve literally written the book on the topic, and this provides acute insight into particular subjects.
A few other things that I think are important when picking what university you want to spend the next 3+ years. LSE does not have a ‘campus’ as such but all the academic buildings, including the library, are in central London. As a law student, the campus is right by the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of court which is really cool. Also, as the uni is situated in London, there are a lot of fun places to explore: from Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park to the light show at Canary Wharf. I particularly enjoyed watching a lot of musicals at the West End as well as some really good movies at BFI Southbank. There isn’t the same sense of community as in a campus university but there is community nonetheless particularly if you are staying in university accommodation.
Another great way to be part of the LSE communities in to join the many societies and clubs. From Amnesty International to Anime and Manga, there are many cultural, sports and special interest societies at LSE. There is something for everyone. For example, I am the future treasurer of the tabletop games society where we basically meet up every week and play board games (more than just monopoly, I swear). I have also joined the Law Society who not only host amazing events, such as the legendary law, but also many careers fairs and similar opportunities. This last term, I had the opportunity to sit in on a panel discussion about pro-bono work in law.
Kings College London:
Name: Ishita Uppadhayay Year: 1st Yr Major: English Literature Contact info, my email: ishita.aqua@icloud.com
UCL:
Name: Laxmi Indrayani Poy Raiturcar Year: 1st year Major: History Email: ZCRALPO@ucl.ac.uk
Hi everyone, I’m Indrayani. I’m a first year History student at UCL.
During IB, I devoted my self to my academics. It was a really strenuous 2 years but I realised that I was able to get through it, not only because I worked hard, but because I had a great student life. That brought me to the conclusion that I wanted to be at a place where life was more than just about studying. I needed to be somewhere where I could feel inspired and motivated to study as well as have experiences that would help me grow as a person. And UCL has become that place for me.
Here are some things about UCL:
-One of my top deciding factors was the ranking of the colleges. UCL is ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the whole world (Times Higher Education, QS world rankings and The Complete University Guide). With staggering job prospects and world class teaching, I knew that I would be guaranteed a world class education.
– As a prospective student,I remember being dazzled by the list of famous alumni- Alexander Graham Bell, Rabindranath Tagore, G.K Chesterton, Christopher Nolan, Chris Martin, etc. UCL really is an inspiring place to be. Being on campus, I am always surrounded by blue plaques commemorating such famous figures. Although it sounds clichéd, it makes me feel like I’m here to become a significant part of history myself.
-Everyone here is motivated, ambitious and insanely intelligent. This was a bit overwhelming during the initial few weeks, but I got used to it. At every turn you make, there is a highly intense debate taking place. This was something that I was really pleased to discover. In high school, having an intellectual debate meant having to go easy on your friends because everything became an emotional fight. Or they were simply unaware. But I’ve realised that my entire degree is based on re defining terms and debating concepts. The experience is so unlike school because you don’t have to accept the information you are provided with, but rather argue with it.
-There is an abundance of resources and opportunities. UCL is a part of UoL (University of London) which consists of many universities including LSE, KCL, QMUL, etc. This means that in addition to UCL’s 17 libraries, you have access to resources from several other colleges as well. In fact, you can even take classes at other universities that are a part of UoL. The biggest resource is the city itself- London. I’ve had several classes at museums and the experience has been incredible. UCL is right next to The British Museum and The British Library and I usually find myself there during lunch. UCL also has its own museums that are open to the public. UCL has its own hospital- UCLH- which is a great resource for med students. There are incredible opportunities for students who want to intern at companies or even carry out their own research. UCL funds every aspect of your work that you choose to carry out in any place in the world. This is an amazing opportunity that most colleges don’t have and definitely sets UCL apart from most universities. Furthermore, the various clubs and societies allow very useful networking across the entire city. This is particularly helpful when job hunting and many head hunters themselves are at UCL on a daily basis.
-The location was my deciding factor for college. Its easy to forget the importance of location while picking colleges but I always knew I wanted to study in London. I’ve lived in some of the most global and dynamic cities in the world but none as amazing as London. The city has so much to offer. From some of the best restaurants in the world to huge museums and the exciting Theatre scene, London is a city for everyone. I still have a long list of places I need to visit and things I need to do but I’m pretty sure that I’d have to complete my degree 5 times over if I hope to do all of it. London is a city where you can never get bored. College life can get stressful but at UCL, the city is the best escape. If you follow my Instagram, then you probably know that I’m absolutely and irrevocably in love with London.
Its been hard not having the comfort of TISB’s familiar surroundings but college has been too exciting to want to look back. To whoever is reading this, I hope you have a fantastic time at the college you choose but I know that if you pick UCL you definitely will.
Hi, I’m Siddharth and I’m a freshman at ETH Zürich. My goal with this piece is to draw attention to ETH which is completely overlooked at TISB, despite being one of the top-ranked STEM schools in the world.
Aside from rankings, the most important dry fact about ETH for me would be the fact that tuition fees at ETH are almost negligible. Other sky-high costs like textbooks are also unheard of here.
So what series of complicated admission hoops do you need to jump through to get in? It’s actually really straightforward and specific: 38/42 in IB (without bonus points and some subject requirements) and a C1 certificate in German. There’s no essays or interviews and most importantly clear. I’d be glad to give anyone interested more details on the specific requirements, but that’s something easily found on the internet. I think the C1 certificate along with the fact that most first-year courses are taught in German is why ETH isn’t considered by most TISB students. But as someone who didn’t speak a word of German until the 10th grade, I can assure you that this isn’t an insurmountable hurdle. After a semester of classes in German and interacting exclusively with German speakers, I don’t need to internally translate everything from English to German. Although English is my first language and writing this piece would’ve been a breeze for the TISB-me, it proved a bit challenging because I haven’t used English on a daily basis in almost six months. I guess what I’m trying to say is that while studying and socializing in a different language might seem inconceivable, it becomes the new normal after a while.
I chose ETH knowing that the language would be a challenge because of all the positives it has that other schools simply don’t offer. For example, I major in math and in my first year I had only one course not related to math or physics. Breadth requirements like those common in North America are unheard of here. Because of this, you can graduate with a Master’s degree 5 years after you start at ETH. While this intense focus on a single area might be a drawback for some, it was a major positive for me because I knew what I was passionate about and was comfortable committing to it. ETH also encourages independent research in the form of a bachelor’s thesis (think extended essay but longer, more stringent and without data manipulation).
Although campus life might not be as active as in the US, people here are extremely friendly and will happily converse with you in English if you want. There are multiple events every year organized by Student unions and the individual departments. This includes a freshman weekend, usually in the mountains, which is a great place to make friends and party. There is also the freshman party, the Glühwein tents in the lead up to Christmas and ski weekends after the holidays. The university gym also offers free courses in almost any sport you can think of from kickboxing and jujitsu to basketball and volleyball. Throughout the semester there is a large range of student clubs that are very well funded by ETH. If all of that doesn’t convince you, the student union also offers a free coffee a day and a beer a week to all students.
Overall I’d say that if you know the subject you’re interested in and you’re looking for a different experience than the traditional US college, I’d strongly encourage you to at least consider ETH. If you’re really interested and are able to, many department unions can set up a 3-day shadow program, which might help you can get a deeper insight into ETH. This really helped me because I realized that even my basic grade 11 German was good enough to follow lectures and converse with students. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding any aspect of ETH or Zürich.
University of Groningen:
Name: Pooja Tadepalli Year: 2nd year Major: Chemical Engineering Contact info: p.e.tdpl@gmail.com
Hi, I’m Pooja, I’m a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Groningen(RUG) which is about two hours north of Amsterdam. I had never heard of this university at TISB but it’s one of the best known universities in Europe. Initially I had chosen to come here because of the high ranking program, diverse student population, and the fact that it was in Europe, somewhere I was not familiar with. Now that I’ve been here for almost two years, I am not sure if I would make the same decision again knowing what I know now. For TISB students who are frequently told about the US and UK college systems, the dutch system was a big change for me. These are some of the important things to know:
This is the ideal university for you if you are certain of your major and are interested in taking classes only related to that topic/major. If you are looking to explore different kinds of courses and classes, this will not be an easy process at RUG though it is doable.
All first year students have to obtain a minimum of 45 credits from a total of 60 in order to move on to the second year of the program. at this university is part of the faculty of science and engineering; one of the toughest faculties at the university. I would say this is the ideal university for you if you feel certain of what you would like to major in and are looking for the quickest way to get your degree.
There are significantly fewer holidays and breaks compared to other colleges. We get two weeks of winter break (sometimes less) and about 2 months for summer.
The tuition is way cheaper than the US or UK colleges! For international students here the tuition is approximately 10,000 euros a year (may vary slightly depending on the program)
There’s a huge student population in the city so there is always plenty to do. The university has sports centers all over the city as well as a cultural center with activities in the arts. Aside from that, there’s numerous clubs in each faculty (I have no idea where they’re listed though, I just see posters for their events all over all the time)
You’ll become proficient in a wide range of skills that pertain to your major; not just in one particular area. In just the first year we learned programming and analysis of chemical data, lab skills pertaining to organic chemistry and biochemistry, as well as some quantum physics and the necessary mathematical skills required to comprehend it.
You don’t need to learn dutch in order to get by but it can be a useful skill that helps make your transition into the community easier.
You can travel with ease throughout europe because of the extensive train and bus systems
When I applied in 2018 the requirements for chemical engineering were just that you had to get a minimum of 4 in chemistry and math (irrespective of the level at which you did it in IB) and pass the IB overall. In the last two years this has changed (so I’ve been told, I’m not 100% sure though). If you have any other questions or want to know anything else feel free to ask me.
Name: Aryan Anand Year: Freshman (Graduating 2023) Major: Econ and Government
Hi, I’m Aryan and I am currently a freshman at Claremont McKenna College. I plan to major in Economics and Religious Studies / Government. On campus, I am part of the Claremont Business Group. Some things about CMC:
CMC is known for its economics and government programs. More than half of the student body ends up majoring in one of the two. So, if you are someone who is looking to study econ or gov you should definitely have a look at CMC.
The faculty is top-drawer and most of them have had an Ivy League education. They really want to pass on their knowledge and many will go out of their way to help you succeed. They’re also super caring and supportive. It is common for a professor to host celebratory dinners for their whole class once the semester is over.
The number of students in a class mostly range from 15-25 students. This is probably one of the biggest factors which sets CMC apart from most of the other colleges in the country. Owing to the small classroom size, there are some great discussions and debates from time to time. Professors actually answer the doubts that you might have. Also, you end up forming some amazing relationships with your professors which is a major plus.
At CMC, you only put down your major in your 3rd year. Therefore, each student at CMC gets the first 2 years to experiment and take classes in whatever interests them. Only when they are sure they select their major. I believe that after graduating from high school, many students still don’t know what they want to truly pursue and that is something which makes this aspect even more valuable.
CMC is surround by 4 other colleges – Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Scripps and Pitzer. A CMC student can make use of most of the resources of these 4 colleges. They can take classes in any college, use their labs, libraries, dining halls etc. I feel this is a great thing to have as each college is a different world and as a result you get exposed to different people and different surroundings which can only help.
CMC also invests a lot in outside the class learning. Guests are regularly invited to give speeches at the school. I was lucky enough to hear from a Pulitzer Prize winner and the ex-director of the CIA in my first year. Also, CMC has a program called the SIE (Sponsored Internships and Experiences). Through this program, they encourage students to make use of their summer and either work or go see the world. I am to receive around $4000 from the college this summer, which will cover my housing, food etc. during the time I am in Mumbai for my internship.
CMC has an amazing location. There are mountains to one side and the beach to the other. Many CMC students end up going for a hike during the weekends or just spend time roaming around LA (which is 45 minutes away). I actually had a friend who went skiing in the morning, attended his class in the afternoon and then continued to spend his weekend in LA. As a town, Claremont is really small and there’s not much to do honestly. However, CMC works hard to keep the campus buzzing. There are parties every Thursday and Saturday and other activities to make sure that students are always happy. The weather is always great and the sunsets are absolutely banging.
Being a small school, not many people know about CMC. But in case you’re worried about reputation I’ll mention this – A recruiter from Goldman Sachs who was on campus this year mentioned that he hired 1 student from Columbia, 2 from Cornell and 4 from CMC.
Always happy to answer any other questions that you might have about CMC.
University of Southern California (USC):
Hi, I’m Kasvi and I’m a sophomore at USC and I’m majoring in Communication and double minoring in Advertising and History. On campus, I was previously involved with a professional leadership fraternity called Delta Omicron Zeta as well as currently being extremely involved with the Model United Nations Team. Just a couple of pointers about USC:
It’s an extremely pre-professional school – one of the biggest focal points being at USC will be the resources you get in terms of searching for and getting a job. Specifically, because USC is so divided undergraduate student wise amongst many professional schools – Business, Engineering, Communication and Journalism, Public Policy, Film being some of the few – there’s a strong emphasis on specializing in your own major. That being said, because the College of Arts and Sciences is very strong too, I’ve met a lot of students double majoring or double minoring across different schools – a lot of people end up minoring in something for the fun of it (like dance or theatre). My majors and minors spread across three of the schools – Annenberg, Marshall, and Dornsife. Although USC is a relatively big university student population-wise, it feels a lot smaller because there are so many undergrad schools. Everyone on campus talks a lot about the idea of the Trojan Network which is essentially the USC’s family very strong commitment at helping fellow Trojans. Although the school is pre-professional, even as a liberal arts majors you get a lot of opportunities for research and grants! (Dornsife is specifically strong for its undergrad pre-med, IR/political science/history departments).
Additionally, being in Los Angeles is a big shaping factor. Tying into the pre-professional aspect, I know a lot of people who are interning with companies in Los Angeles during the school year. Last semester, I scheduled my classes so that I’d have classes on MWF so I could intern on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a fashion company. These are definitely opportunities you get by being in a pre-professional environment while living in a big city. Another plus point of being in LA is it’s helpful to be able to escape the college bubble at times since Downtown LA is just a 10-minute metro ride away.
There’s a very strong emphasis on student life and making/keeping students happy – this is reflected in the 1000+ students orgs on campus. Students are very involved with their clubs, giving a lot of their time and energy to the various clubs and they shape a very big part of your college experience. People’s social lives are very significantly shaped by their clubs. College pride is definitely a very big thing at USC. As a freshman, tailgating and attending football games and cheering for USC is a big part of your experience.
The last thing which I want to highlight is the number of international students at USC – there’s a lot of international students, we have the 2nd highest number of international students across all universities in the US. The student population is very diverse which I definitely think helps students integrate into the community faster and it definitely made my transition much easier. Additionally, during challenging times like the Coronavirus outbreak, USC’s been extremely mindful about international students while reacting to the pandemic which is super important (For example, they let us leave our stuff behind in student housing for the rest of the semester while still giving us housing refunds.)
Name: Chinmaya Vempati Year: 2nd year Major: Cognitive Science
UCLA (2):
Name: Devanshi Agarwal Year: 3rd year Major: Biochemistry My email: adevanshi@ucla.edu
Here’s the write-up:
Hi! I’m Devanshi and I graduated from TISB in 2017. I’m currently a junior at UCLA, and I’m majoring in Biochemistry, with a minor in Art history, and am on track to enter the pharmaceutical industry after graduation.
In addition to Chinmaya’s video on the campus culture at UCLA, I thought I could share an insight into how there are numerous opportunities for all kinds of self-growth and self-development available!
The first thing that I really loved about UCLA is its culture of serving and caring for the greater community: there are numerous clubs and opportunities on campus to help serve the population around you in anyway you would like be it from a healthcare perspective, creative aspect, or tutoring. I think that this was really amazing for me and in general, in line with TISB culture of believing in the importance of community service.
There are also plenty of resources available for personal growth, which could range from anything such as advancing your career by networking and making connections or even learning a new skill. The career center actually hosts a lot of networking events which are catered toward a specific industry which makes it a lot easier to talk with people as opposed to a more job fair like environment. Moreover, from my experience, most people who live and work around LA are extremely well-rounded and have a range of interests so it’s always amazing to try and learn new things; it gives you the chance to explore and also can act as a great talking point for when you network with people!
Being a big school, it can get a little difficult to know about a lot of the resources available but I think the culture at UCLA is generally helpful and help will always be given to you if you ask for it.
If you have anymore questions, I’d be happy to answer them for you!!
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.
You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.
Why do this?
Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.
The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.
To help you get started, here are a few questions:
Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?
You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.
Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.
When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.
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