Ashoka University 101 : Everything you need to know as a first year student or an applicant! 📚

Overview

Shatakshi, a recent Ashoka University graduate, answers common questions from prospective and first-year students. She describes Ashoka as a liberal arts university and shares advice based on her own experience. Details such as course registration and residence assignments may change over time.

Academic Structure

• Liberal arts education is intended to expose students to different ways of thinking and a range of subjects, including sciences, mathematics, and humanities.
• Foundation Courses (FCs) are required for all students. The first semester is largely devoted to these courses, which introduce students to broad areas of study. Examples include Literature and the World and Mind and Behavior.
• Introduction to Critical Thinking (ICT) is another mandatory course.
• From the second semester, students can begin taking courses related to their prospective major and decide whether it suits them.
• Majors include gateway and other required courses. Gateway courses introduce the core concepts students need for that major. Their number and content vary by subject, so applicants should check the requirements for their intended major.
• A minor is optional. It provides a second area of specialization, with fewer courses than a major but more depth than introductory study.
• Ashoka did not offer a BBA at the time of the video. Students should consult the university website for current majors and minors.

Course Registration

Registration is a bidding process: students try to secure places in courses, and enrollment depends on availability. It generally proceeds by seniority: fourth-year students register before third-years, then second-years, then first-years. First-years register in their second semester; their first-semester courses are assigned.

Registration can be stressful, and students may not get every course they want. Shatakshi’s advice includes:

• Ask experienced seniors for guidance about courses and instructors.
• Be cautious about choosing several courses taught by unfamiliar or newly arrived instructors, especially when you have little information about them.
• If you cannot get a desired major course, consider taking foundation or minor courses instead of settling for a major course you do not want or expect to find useful.
• A delayed course trajectory usually works out. If a serious delay arises, contact the Office of Academic Affairs.

Campus Life and Community

Students can pursue sports, dance, theatre, poetry, and other interests through teams, leagues, events, clubs, and societies. There are also academic societies related to majors and some minors.

Because opportunities and announcements arrive through many emails, students should check their email regularly and prioritize activities that genuinely interest them.

Shatakshi says she did not find Ashoka uniformly elitist or socially homogeneous. In her experience, students can find people with varied personalities and interests, though it takes effort to seek out compatible peers. She recommends talking to many people in the first year; early interactions can make it easier to reconnect later through classes, projects, or clubs.

Seniors can be a valuable source of advice, particularly through clubs and societies. Shatakshi encourages students to approach them with questions.

Housing and a Typical Day

Rooms are generally shared by two students and, in Shatakshi’s experience, have a reasonable amount of storage. Residence-hall assignments and arrangements have changed. She notes that some halls are older than others and that the university may continue adjusting its housing arrangements.

A typical day varies, but a student might have at least two classes. Most courses meet twice a week for 90 minutes; some entrepreneurship courses meet once a week for three hours.

Core and foundation courses often have additional discussion sessions led by teaching fellows. These give students a chance to discuss course material, raise questions, and share ideas. Electives may or may not include them.

Shatakshi emphasizes that studying is a substantial part of university life, even if it is not always visible in student vlogs.

Applying to Ashoka

Shatakshi’s central advice is to present yourself honestly rather than trying to manufacture a particular applicant profile.

• Essays: Use them to convey your personality and thinking. Shatakshi advises against relying on ChatGPT to write them, recommending that applicants use their own ideas and voice.
• Personal information: Complete the required personal details carefully.
• Books: The application asks for five books. You do not need to be an avid reader; list books you have read that mattered to you and that you can discuss thoughtfully.
• Extracurricular activities: There is no single “right” set. Activities might include music, dance, instruments, community service, or content creation. Include what genuinely interests you and avoid listing activities you cannot speak about meaningfully.
• School marks: Grades are part of the application, but Shatakshi cannot specify how much weight they receive because Ashoka describes its process as holistic.
• Interview: Questions vary. Be prepared to explain your interests and express your own views, including on controversial topics. In Shatakshi’s understanding, the aim is to see how you frame and support your thoughts—not to hear a supposedly perfect answer. She recommends knowing basic facts about the university, such as what liberal arts means, why you are applying, and examples of foundation courses.
• Ashoka Aptitude Test: The test includes English grammar and mathematical or logical-reasoning questions. Shatakshi did little preparation herself, but mentions that other applicants practise using a Cambridge test that she understood to be a source or model for Ashoka’s test.
• SAT: Applicants who have SAT scores can submit them. According to Shatakshi, applicants still take Ashoka’s aptitude test, but a stronger SAT score may be considered instead.

Internships and Placements

Shatakshi advises applicants not to make placements their main concern before they have begun university. Based on her experience, Ashoka’s internship and job opportunities were improving, particularly in her final year. She suggests focusing first on adjusting to university and dealing with placements when the time comes.

Speaker

• Shatakshi — the video’s sole speaker; a recent Ashoka University graduate sharing personal experience and advice.