Inside IIM, BITS, Ashoka, SRCC & Masters’ Union – From the Students Themselves.

Summary

The video brings together students from BITS Pilani, IIM Rohtak, Ashoka University, Masters’ Union, and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) to compare their experiences and help high-school students think about college choice. The recurring message is that a college’s value is not just its degree or reputation: its peers, teaching style, opportunities, and fit with a student’s aims all matter.

Main Ideas

High-School Routes Differ

One student described preparing intensively for engineering entrance exams while balancing schoolwork. An Ashoka student pursued interests in psychology and economics through books and online courses. A Masters’ Union student took a gap year, worked with a startup, and reconsidered whether a conventional college path suited him. The discussion does not suggest that one preparation strategy works for everyone.

BITS Pilani Offers Breadth Alongside Engineering

• The BITS student said he no longer regretted choosing BITS over an IIT, citing the student community, extracurricular life, and startup culture.
• He described options such as minors and interdisciplinary or dual-degree paths, and said students can explore areas including finance, consulting, and technology alongside their core engineering subject.
• He argued that engineering can develop problem-solving and learning skills that transfer to other careers, even when graduates do not work in their original engineering field.
• He described a 0% attendance policy, a large campus, active clubs and sports, startup support through Pilani’s innovation and entrepreneurship body, and major festivals.

IIM Rohtak’s IPM Lets Students Begin Management Education After School

• The five-year Integrated Programme in Management combines three years of BBA study with two years of MBA study. Admission is through IPMAT, which the student compared to CAT but for entry to the integrated program.
• The student described a demanding curriculum of 63 subjects across the first three years, including subjects such as psychology, sociology, and foreign languages.
• At the end of the first three years, he said students can continue into the MBA stage at Rohtak or take CAT and pursue another management route.
• He emphasized the academic workload, group projects, and presentations, while noting that students’ daily routines vary considerably.

Masters’ Union Emphasizes Applied Business Learning

• Its student described the program as a way to study business while applying ideas through projects such as building a business or creating content. He said students spend some quarters on conventional academic study and others on practical challenges.
• He said the program includes exams and an attendance requirement during academic quarters, alongside project evaluations that may consider factors such as revenue, teamwork, and marketing. He also said the degree is integrated with Delhi University’s School of Open Learning.
• He stressed that the school is not only for aspiring startup founders: students also pursue consulting, finance, product management, marketing, data, and other careers.
• He described scholarships as available, including need-based aid, and said the admissions process includes an aptitude test, interview, and group discussion.
• He highlighted practitioner-led teaching, internships, professional preparation, and a curriculum that includes emerging topics such as AI. His view was that this experience can make students employable without automatically needing an MBA; this is presented as his perspective, not a guarantee for every student.

Ashoka University’s Liberal-Arts Approach Prioritizes Breadth and Critical Thinking

• The Ashoka student said the appeal was the ability to combine a major and minor with courses across disciplines. He described taking psychology, entrepreneurship, data science, environmental science, and economics, among other subjects.
• He explained that the university’s foundational courses are intended to develop broad skills, including critical reading, writing, and analysis, and that class discussions encourage questioning assumptions.
• He characterized the environment as academically rigorous, with classes and assignments, but also diverse in students’ interests, identities, and viewpoints.
• Campus life includes talks, festivals, clubs, creative projects, sports, and residential social life. He described Ashoka as a place where students can connect academic interests with other pursuits.

SRCC Combines a Recognized Degree with Societies and Career Options

• The SRCC student described the college’s reputation and specialized focus on commerce-related courses as sources of pride, while acknowledging that prestige can sometimes make students seem overconfident. She said students are often quickly humbled by the abilities of their peers.
• She said societies, clubs, competitions, and live projects can contribute substantially to students’ experience and CVs, beyond grades alone.
• She described the student body as varied: some aim for consulting and corporate placements, while others pursue CA or CS qualifications, civil-service exams, or unrelated interests.
• The discussion covered CUET-based admissions and extracurricular and sports routes. The student argued that admissions should account for varied school opportunities and student strengths, rather than assume all students have identical backgrounds.
• She said SRCC attracts many recruiters but has limited positions relative to the number of students. In her explanation, a few high placement offers can coexist with an average or median figure around ₹8–10 lakh because most roles do not pay at the highest levels. Another student cautioned against judging a college’s return on investment solely by first-job salaries, arguing that long-term development also matters.

Advice and Broader Lessons for Prospective Students

• Choose for fit, not just status. Consider what you want to learn, what kind of people and environment you want around you, and which opportunities you are likely to use.
• Look beyond the degree title. Clubs, projects, internships, peer groups, teaching style, and campus culture may shape the college experience as much as formal coursework.
• Compare trade-offs. A conventional, lower-cost degree may offer recognition and a sense of security; a newer or more specialized program may offer a different kind of practical exposure but may cost more or have a newer track record.
• Think about both breadth and depth. The students discussed the value of being broadly informed while also developing one or more areas of specialization—a “T-shaped” profile.
• Treat placement figures carefully. Average and headline salaries can hide wide differences between students and roles. Consider the spread of outcomes and longer-term possibilities, not only the highest package or one year’s reported numbers.
• Expect to be challenged by your peers. Students across the institutions described entering a competitive environment where many classmates have impressive skills or achievements. They saw that as a humbling but potentially motivating part of college.
• Remember that college does not determine a student’s entire future. The panel repeatedly emphasized that students shape their experience through the choices they make and the opportunities they pursue.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Yashawadin Karnawad — Masters’ Union student and admissions fellow; moderator/host
• Lama — BITS Pilani mechanical engineering student
• Utkarsh — IIM Rohtak IPM student
• Lava — Ashoka University student studying psychology with an entrepreneurship minor
• Abhay Shoi — Masters’ Union student; discussed practical learning, startups, and his creative agency
• Anoya — SRCC B.Com. (Hons.) student
• Cospire — The channel/team producing the discussion