Know Your Ambassador: Rapid Fire with Ajan@Univ of California, Irvine

Name: Ajan Subramanian
High School: National Public School, Indiranagar, Bangalore
College: University of California, Irvine
Major: Computer Engineering
College Year: 2020

Q1: When did you decide that you wanted to study abroad?
A: I decided that I wanted to study abroad during the summer of 11th grade.

Q2: Why did you want to study abroad?
A: I felt that studying in a completely new environment would help me get out of my comfort zone and understand what it feels like to live alone. Plus, I was extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity in the first place.

Q3: Who helped/guided you with the College process?
A: I was mainly guided by my brother who had already finished his undergraduate education in the US.

Q4: What was your proudest accomplishment(s) during your High School years (in or outside of school)?
A: My proudest achievement in my high school years was placing in the top 4 of a national level science fair.

Q5: Why do you think your College admitted you?
A: I feel that my college admitted me because I had ventured in fields beyond just academics, thus making my application more holistic.

Q6: What has been the biggest surprise so far in college?
A: The biggest surprise so far in college, and this might sound a bit cliched, is that I realized that I had transitioned into adulthood successfully. Living alone had made me a bit more inured to things that would have otherwise bogged me down.

Q7: Something that you know now that you wish you had known in High School?
A: Don’t sweat the small stuff. In high school, I would excessively worry about things that were not even important in the end.

Q8: Are you happy with your College decision?
A: Yes, the research facilities at UC Irvine has shaped my career goals in a very positive way. I was also blessed to meet sharp and like-minded people who I hope to have long lasting relationships with.

Q9: How many students from India are in your batch in College?
A: About 100 students in a batch of 4000.

Q10: Your advice to College-bound aspirants? (2 or 3 things)
- Don’t worry about not making it to your first choice college. In my opinion, your college experience is more important than your college’s rankings.
- It’s completely okay to feel out of place and homesick while you’re at college. Overcoming that is all part of the college experience. Try to get as much help along the way.

Hope you liked this Rapid Fire. If you have questions for Ajan about Univ of California, now is the time to ask!