Decoding the admission guidelines for some popular universities

Decoding the admission guidelines for some popular universities in India and abroad

With deadlines looming and students and parents working frantically on the application, here are some very specific admission guidelines for certain colleges that students should keep in mind.

Ashoka University: On-the-spot essays

Apart from a strong academic profile, Ashoka evaluates applicants through on-the-spot essays, an aptitude test, and an in-depth interview. The essay tends to be very topical, so be aware of ongoing events across the world. The topic is usually controversial and your approach counts for a lot. The interview is also a critical aspect, as they sometimes try to confuse you and put you on the spot with their questions but again your response and how you handle yourself in a pressure situation is important.

UChicago and Brown University: Video introduction

Many universities have started incorporating video components into their application processes to gain a broader understanding of applicants. Brown University and the University of Chicago are among those that have an optional video element. Brown allows students to submit a two-minute video introduction for a glimpse into their personality. The University of Chicago offers an optional two-minute video introduction, giving students a platform to cover anything they haven’t been able to in their application. These video submissions allow the admissions committee to view your application in a more holistic way. Also, with students using AI to write essays, video responses are gaining more popularity.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Maker culture

MIT values “makers” who have shown a hands-on approach to solving problems, building projects, or conducting experiments. The Maker Portfolio is an optional but impactful component of the application, allowing students to showcase engineering, crafting, or coding projects of their own design and making that are substantial, original, and technically creative. Examples of projects include designing and building robots for competitions, creating solar-powered devices, or developing innovative engineering solutions, developing mobile apps, websites, or software tools that solve specific issues or enhance user experiences and engaging in team-based projects, such as hackathons or community service initiatives that involve technical skills. MIT values teamwork and it would be beneficial to tailor your application to showcase those skills.