From Rochester to Mumbai

By Satyajit Dattagupta, Admissions Counselor and Director of Enrollment Communications

Representing the University of Rochester in South Asia is a rewarding experience because of the enriching interactions with some of the best students. My travels took me to various cities in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where I had the opportunity to visit public and private high schools and attend college fairs.

The University of Rochester offers an open curriculum, which is a concept that requires some explaining; the South Asian education system has traditionally not allowed for flexibility. Most of the educational options are fairly rigid and allow for in-depth learning in a particular field but not for exploration outside the student’s primary area of study. As I explained the open curriculum and the freedom of choice, students mentioned that they found the idea of pursuing more than one area of interest appealing and were surprised that this was possible without adding years to their undergraduate study.

In addition to the open curriculum, the undergraduate research opportunities add value to the student experience at Rochester. A majority of students in South Asia believe that research is limited to graduate students and were pleasantly surprised that they could participate in research as early as freshman year. The fact that research at Rochester can be part of any area of study, not just the sciences, made us a popular choice among students.

My interactions with South Asian students on this trip have cemented my belief that the University of Rochester is a perfect place for students who are willing to explore and learn beyond boundaries. Attending some of the largest public fairs and meeting thousands of students, I was able to inform them of the plethora of options at Rochester. As I get ready to read applications from South Asia, I am excited at the prospect of finding out more about the students that I met as a result of my travels this fall.