Sashwath Narayanan
Words seem inadequate to convey the depth of appreciation I hold for the unwavering support shown by Ara toward my dreams of studying abroad.
Navigating the landscape of college applications is a daunting task, one filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Yet, from the moment I sought Ara’s counsel, their dedication and expertise shone through, illuminating the path ahead with clarity and reassurance. Their commitment to my success, evident in every interaction we shared, instilled in me a newfound confidence and sense of purpose.
Ara took the time to listen attentively, offering personalized insights and tailored recommendations. Moreover, they were available beyond the confines of our scheduled meetings. Whether it was offering encouragement during moments of self-doubt, or simply lending a sympathetic ear when the pressures seemed insurmountable, they were always there, a steadfast pillar of support upon which I could lean all the time.
As I reflect on the outcome of this arduous yet rewarding journey, I am filled with gratitude for the pivotal role Ara played in shaping my future. Their guidance not only facilitated my acceptances at my dream universities, but also empowered me with invaluable skills and insights.
All who have known me for years have told me about the complete change in my personality since my interactions with Ara started. My style of conversation with people changed. My ability to write has become much better.
Indeed, Ara’s mentorship has equipped me with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of life with resilience and determination.
Maanya Ailawadi
My journey with Ara was smoother than a buttered pancake! Despite joining fashionably late, I never felt like I missed the boat. School essays were a snooze fest, but college essays? Oh boy, they turned into a blast! Thanks to Ashish, I now strut around like a college essay guru. Rupali and Ashish are the dream team of mentors, making the whole application process a walk in the park.
There were moments when I needed a nudge, times when my essays fell short, and instances where I doubted myself. But Ashish? He never lost faith in me. He’d give me a pep talk, a reality check, and sprinkle me with confidence and motivation (Ashish, seriously, motivational speaker – think about it!). He’s a gem of a human and also someone I can relate to a lot (despite the fact that he is middle-aged and I have not even attained a quarter of my life yet).
Rupali took on the job of my tennis trainer by always ensuring that I was on my toes with my deadlines and choices. She always tried to help us make college lists which were tailor-made according to my preferences and habits, and I’m truly sorry for the list-changing sprees, Rupali!
My experience with Ara was a game-changer, thanks to Rupali and Ashish. They made every moment count, transforming me into a new, confident version of myself. The me from 9 months ago wouldn’t even recognize the powerhouse I’ve become, all thanks to these two precious mentors of mine!
And yes, Rupali, our party is due, I remember. And Ashish, I still owe you a cup of chai with Parle-G. I’m not running away from both of those.
Pranjali Revdandekar
I am immensely grateful to Ara for their unwavering support throughout my journey.
From offering invaluable career guidance during my undergraduate years to meticulously preparing me for B-school interviews, Ara has been my guiding light every step of the way.
What truly sets Ara apart is their continuous support beyond the application process. Even after securing admissions, they remain actively involved, providing ongoing guidance through regular catch-ups, placement simulations, and lot more.
Ara has delivered personalized attention, as they addressed all my doubts and concerns with tailored solutions.
I will always cherish the boost of confidence I received during interviews, where questions mirrored those from our mock sessions. Thanks to Ara, I felt equipped to tackle any challenge, both inside and outside interview rooms, meetings, and classes.
Atyantika Mookherjee
Hello sir,
I hope you and Rupali ma’am are doing well. As I’m most probably not going to meet you before I leave in August, I wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to both of you for changing my life.
I will always carry your teachings with me. From working to creating stories for my children and grandchildren to realizing that out of 10 endeavors, 7 will fail, 2 will be a moderate success, and 1 will be life-changing, and to always be cognizant of the fact that there is someone working harder than I am – these are just some lessons you’ve taught me. They’ve allowed me to shed the persona of an individual seeking only perfection, yet always remember to nonetheless work towards it. Thank you for teaching me that ambition is nothing without being conscientious and always working to improve myself and my surroundings.
When we first met, I did not realize that our conversations wouldn’t just be an effort to get me into a respectable university, but would also be moulding me into the person I am today. By pushing me out of my comfort zone and making me “uncomfortable” you’ve allowed me to realize how much I can do and how I far I can go. Your mentorship has taught me to “show” and not “tell”; to be a reflective leader but also one that isn’t afraid of risks and it has made me a person infinitely more prepared to go out into the world and carve a place for myself.
Thank you for everything. On that note, you have my word about the much-coveted एक कप चाय in writing
Handwritten Note by Atyantika
Tanvi Agarwal
Compared to my peers, who had to constantly trail their counsellors and battle for their advisers’ attention, my experience with Ara was exactly opposite and absolutely fantastic! Ara would constantly follow-up with me and kept me on my toes to meet deadlines.
Although I started off late, which was a terrible mistake, by the time I was done, it didn’t seem like the delay impacted my chances of admission to my dream colleges compared to my peers who had been receiving counselling for much longer than I had. My mentor made sure I always understood where I needed to improve, constantly inspiring me, and always made sure that I realised there was always room for improvement and progress.
Ara was persistent with the help they provided with my writings, my portfolio and ensured that the quality of my work and my applications never suffered. The multiple revisions and renditions of each essay gave me a greater understanding of what was required in my writing, which was crucial to my acceptances. What started as a slow drive became exhilarating and highly gratifying as each admission letter came in! I got into every single dream university that I applied to. All my dream universities accepted me, without any exception. So much so that my mom asked: “Is it so easy to get into top Design universities?!”
No, it is not easy at all to get into all the top universities, in every one of them. And yet, I got into all. For which, I’m really grateful to Ara.
Masoom Mishra
Ara consulting has been the best part of my admissions process!
I made a huge mistake by starting off late but it didn’t feel like I was late by the end of the process. Ara guided me throughout the process, watching my every step and showing me the right path.
Ara helped me with shortlisting the most suitable universities according to my interests and major choices, while my mentor made sure I always knew where I needed to improve, kept motivating me, and always made sure that I knew that there is always scope for improvement.
My bond with Ara’s leadership grew stronger as months passed and I am extremely grateful for it. I could not have asked for better counselors. The journey was like a rollercoaster with ups and downs but with every admission letter that came in, I started liking the rollercoaster even more!
Ara did not only help me with the admissions process but also with personal growth. I learned how to manage time better and to articulate my thoughts rather than letting them flood all over the place.
I cannot thank Ara enough for all the help, trust, and hard work they put into me! I wouldn’t have been able to manage my admissions process without Ara.
Arjun Hingne
My experience with Ara was extremely positive and compared to my friends who went to other counsellors, very different too!
Interacting with Ara on a regular basis helped to guide my thoughts. Having participated in a bunch of extracurriculars at school, they helped me choose the right balance to use in my resume. They also were extremely rigorous with my essays and interviews and made sure that the quality never dropped.
Those hours they made sure I put in helped me make those split-second decisions during on-the-spot essays and interviews which contributed hugely towards me getting admissions.
Their philosophy of doing all the hard work early and then reaping the rewards later made sure that I had all of my admissions before I had even started my pre-boards! Their way of interacting with me and shaping my thought process for my college and work life was brilliant. They made the very daunting college admissions process look like a breeze! In hindsight, it was the perfect decision to choose Ara.
Dia Samra
Around late 2020 and early 2021, I had no idea what I was going to do after school! I did not have a plan in place, not an idea about college or even the course I wanted to pursue. That is when we found Ara, and what an amazing journey it has been, over almost 3 years!
From profile building to submitting applications, Ara has been with me every step of the way. The countless hours we spent together, not only helped me secure admissions but also develop as an individual. One thing that really stood out to me was the time that Ara has given me. Be it interview prep or the smallest query, Ara has always made time for me.
I hold immense gratitude for Ara. Everything I have learnt from them has put me on the right path towards, as Ashish says, ‘creating stories for my grandchildren’.
Tanya Agarwal
I was very lucky to find a counselor like Ashish as he was unique in making sure that I do not have to spend large amounts of money on summer programs and research projects.
Ara helped me prepare not only for college but also develop skill sets that would help me for life.
They recognized my capabilities in business and ensured that that became the spike of my application by encouraging me to build new ideas, brainstorming and applying to TiE’s TYE Business program! My team was India runner-up, thanks to a lot of support from Ashish.
Ara was available round the clock during the application season and, despite a family emergency, they ensured that they were available for my applications.
I am truly grateful to Ara for all their support in helping me land my admissions to great universities.
Tejaswi Lavanya
Making one of the most important decisions of my life was breathtaking, intense, exhilarating, and also stressful as it should be for any student. Attempting to plan out my future seemed at first like a labyrinth of which I do not know the map. So many options and so many decisions. It is very easy to get lost in such an adventure not knowing where to start or where to even look at.
Ara helped me find the map to my adventure; they guided me through one of the toughest to happiest moments in my life. With the help of their experience, I was able to not stray from my path and achieve my goals. Without them, I would not have been able to reach the place I currently am today. I am proud to say that I was under their tutelage and was able to be a learner, a hard worker, a scholar, and most of all a friend.
Dersh Savla
Before joining Ara, I was unsure if I would be admitted to my dream university! But Ara’s mentoring opened many doors for me!
Ara led me through every step of the process, from resume building to my application to Interview preparation. They were deeply involved in each step that I had to take in the process.
Ara’s coaches are life coaches! With each session, you will leave with a lesson to learn and apply in life.
Rupali ma’am is a great strategist; who carefully curates the perfect choice of universities according to your course needs, and they turn out to be the best ones too.
Overall, my experience with Ara was phenomenal, and I feel a sense of family working with Ara.
Arnav Sawhney
Thanks to Ara, I got acceptances from majority of my dream universities.
The rigor of Ara’s regular, often daily, meetings with me and their detail orientation in everything we did, whether it was university long-listing, university short-listing, every entry in my applications, the essays, were instrumental in my getting the admission offers.
I remember an instance when a meeting scheduled by Ara completely slipped out of mind and I didn’t join. Ashish later had a one on one conversation with me about being on time and making schedules, how it is critical and how it would help me in the future as well. Hence, I would like to add that the best way to utilize Ara’s guidance would be to be proactive and prompt as professionalism is much appreciated at Ara.
Poorvi Bhatt
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the invaluable guidance and support Ara has provided me throughout my admissions process. Ara’s expertise and dedication have played a pivotal role in helping me secure admissions to my target universities.
I couldn’t have done this without the help of Ashish, who has been my daily mentor and advisor, and Rupali, whose unwavering commitment to streamlining the shortlisting process has been truly commendable. From the moment I started working with them, I knew I was in capable hands.
Despite being late to the whole admissions process, Ashish and Rupali never hesitated to go above and beyond to assist me. They meticulously reviewed my applications, offering insightful feedback and suggestions to make them stand out. Their profound knowledge of the admission requirements of each university proved invaluable.
The daily sessions with Ara were extremely helpful. They patiently addressed all my queries and personalized every step of the way according to my requirements. Their attention to detail ensured that my applications stood out. Ara has had a huge impact on my educational journey. Without Ara, I genuinely believe I wouldn’t have achieved such remarkable results.
Thank you once again for everything you have done for me. I am eternally grateful.
Garv Arya
Working with Ara during my university application process was an absolute pleasure. Their unwavering support and guidance made a significant difference in my journey. Ara’s attention to detail and personalized approach ensured that I put forth my best application.
The level of detail we delved into was remarkable. They took the time to understand my goals and strengths, providing valuable feedback on my essays, resumes, and recommendation letters. Their expertise in the admissions process was evident throughout.
Ara’s responsiveness and timely feedback were exceptional. They were always there to address my questions and concerns, keeping me on track with deadlines. With Ara’s guidance, I felt confident and well-prepared when applying to my dream universities.
Ara’s professionalism, attention to detail, and personalized approach create a wonderful experience. I credit them for all my successful applications.
Raghuraj Mehra
In the two years I was being mentored by Ara, they haven’t just helped me build my portfolio and profile, but also to develop my character and my personality.
Of course, through their help I have secured admissions in my target colleges across UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and India, which would have been nearly impossible without them.
Ara kept pushing me to perform at my best, while being always available to guide me in the right direction and keep my efforts focused.
Over and above all of this, Ara taught me the importance of discipline, hard work and respecting elders.
I would recommend Ara to everyone!
Anisha Anand
The best thing about Ara is that I was never spoon-fed!
Ara brainstormed with me about everything in my application process, we shortlisted ideas together and I was coached on how to proceed. Once I did my part of the assignment, Ara provided detailed feedback along with specific changes/suggestions. It was reiterative till we achieved what we wanted to. Ara’s focus was always that I learn through the process.
Thanks to Ara, I got admitted to every one of the Colleges I applied to!
Ananya Dhoke
Ara supported me end-to-end, from knowing my aspirations, to helping me identify my subject to apply for, to helping me identify activities that improved my chances of acceptance in my dream universities; all the way to presenting the best of me in my application and taking all relevant decisions till my acceptance.
My experience with Ara was incredible! They have been my right hand at every step of the application process. Everything was customized by Ara for me, based on my unique interests, my unique background and to ensure that my aspirations were met.
Everything we did together, Ara personalized it for me. And that made me feel comfortable with them.
Their mentorship provided me with an extensive outline for my SOPs and other essays, helping me perfect my communication skills, both written and verbal and always showing a positive attitude throughout the whole process.
Ara does not work as a counselor. They are more like your best friend.
Rishika Nathani
Ara’s support has empowered me to make positive changes in society. I am truly grateful for the experience Ara has provided to me and this process wouldn’t have been the same without Ara!
Thank you for guiding me throughout this journey of personal growth and transformation. Your empathetic listening and guidance has helped me navigate through this crucial period of my life.
Cannot ever express how grateful I am for your guidance and support! Couldn’t have done this without our brainstorming sessions and arguments 😊
Aman Tejuja
My experience with Ara has been nothing short of brilliant. The personalised guidance, time and attention that Ashish and Rupali have given me has been invaluable. The countless brainstorming sessions, advice and guidance on every step of this complex application process has been extremely helpful. The daily calls really made a huge difference to get clarity amidst this stressful application process. Moreover, Ara have been extremely professional and efficient in their work and have worked in a timely manner. With Ara, the smallest detail was given attention to and taken care of immediately.
And with time, Ashish has become more than a counsellor, he has become a mentor and an invaluable guide who has gone above and beyond by being accessible and extremely approachable at all times.
I am really grateful to Ashish, Rupali Ma’am and Ara for their constant support and I would highly recommend anyone who wants any sort of guidance with the application process to surely go to Ara.
Prathulya Vadlamudi
My journey with Ara has been extremely fruitful and enriching. Although I joined after 11th grade, Ara helped me make the best use of remaining time to submit the best application possible.
On the basis of my profile, background and aspirations, Ara built a shortlist of relevant colleges that would be a perfect fit for me. My essay drafts were reviewed multiple times till I could express myself and articulate my thoughts in the best possible manner.
Ara leadership was always reachable and flexible in scheduling meetings whenever I had the smallest of queries. Although I slacked a little in the middle due to school work, they helped me stay ahead of deadlines and eased the process. The counselling sessions weren’t limited to just the application process but the friendly talks with my mentor helped me gain confidence and groom myself to be a better individual. A ‘better citizen of this world’, as Ara would say!
Thanks to Ara for helping me throughout the admissions process and making it an extremely memorable journey.
Dhruhee Shinde
The person I was in 2020 would not recognise the person I am now! Joining Ara has made all the difference in this transformation. Working with Ara has not only helped build my resume but also grow as a person and step out of my comfort zone.
The whole admission process has been a beautiful journey with Ara by my side throughout.
Other than helping me build a stellar resume/profile, the whole Ara team built a road map to picking universities that catered to all my needs making the daunting admission process a smooth journey.
The weekly calls with Ara were a game changer for me. Each week, I got guidance that helped me to grow as a person and to push me out of my comfort zone. Each session was uniquely tailored to cater to my unique needs and to help me manoeuvre through the process of building my profile.
Ara would always be there throughout the journey tirelessly answering all my queries, and clear my doubts.
Working with Ara has been a dream and without them I would not be the person I am. Ashish and Rupali have become more like family members than counsellors.
Srinjay Mukherjee
The best part was that through Ara, I combined my interest in writing and politics to chart a completely new destination for myself which I never knew was possible.
As I slowly went through the weekly meetings, I learned a lot and will be carrying forward some of the lessons I have learned throughout those interactions.
I shall cherish the connections that I made with Ashish and Rupali who taught me to think out of the box, maintain professional integrity, stay grounded, and to broaden my horizons rather than confine myself to one thing.
Aditya Mamdapure
I am deeply honoured and filled with immense gratitude as I express my heartfelt appreciation for the unparalleled guidance and unwavering support bestowed upon me by Ara during my admissions journey. The expertise and dedication displayed by Ara have played a pivotal role in securing admissions to my dream universities.
Ara provided me with daily support and invaluable guidance at every step of the way. Their exceptional commitment and detail orientation to streamlining the university shortlisting process has been nothing short of commendable.
Ara meticulously reviewed my resume, helped me update it in the relevant template that universities prefer, were with me while I filled every element of all my applications, offering insightful feedback that transformed my applications into truly exceptional pieces of work! Ara’s profound knowledge of the specific admission requirements of each university proved to be an invaluable asset.
The personalized sessions with Ara were a true game-changer for me. They patiently addressed all of my queries and concerns, tailoring each step of the process to suit my individual needs. Ara’s meticulous attention to detail ensured that my applications were nothing short of exceptional. I firmly believe that without Ara’s guidance and support, I would not have achieved the remarkable results I obtained.
Words fail to capture the depth of my gratitude towards Ara and their exceptional team.
Nathan George
My experience with Ara has been very constructive and beneficial. With the help of Ara, the college admissions process, infamously known for its high stress and nerve-racking nature became seamless for me.
Ara helped me to portray the best and a genuine version of myself through my applications and essays. My applications and the essays demonstrated my life journey in a distinctive way, which I am sure made a positive impression on the numerous college admissions teams, that accepted me in my chosen undergrad subject.
The advice I received from Ara through the entire application process was clearly personalised to my needs. The entire process, including the university list, was customized to fit my background, my interests and my aspirations.
Most importantly, Ara guided me in the process of taking various life defining decisions.
Kriti Mehta
Ara’s leaders have been exceptional mentors throughout my college application journey. Despite the distance, their planned and systematic approach made the entire process seamless. Our well-organized conversations and brainstorming sessions ensured no aspect was overlooked.
One aspect that stood out was their expertise in crafting compelling essays. Their insightful feedback and suggestions helped me refine my personal statement, highlighting my unique qualities effectively. For example, they guided me in showcasing my achievements while encouraging personal reflection on growth and aspirations.
Moreover, their commitment to timeliness was remarkable. They provided prompt feedback, reviewed drafts, and addressed concerns throughout the application process, giving me confidence in my progress.
Additionally, the brainstorming sessions with Ara were truly invaluable. Together, we explored innovative topics and discussed unconventional approaches to writing. Their ability to think outside the box and generate interesting ideas greatly enhanced the quality of my essays.
Thanks to Ara’s guidance, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and developed a clearer vision of my academic and life goals. Their encouragement and genuine interest in my success helped me identify areas of strength and growth, which will undoubtedly contribute to my future endeavors.
Krishali Parmar
I am sure everyone would agree that University application time is very stressful! Ara made it an easy one and smooth for me!
Ara went the extra mile at every step of the way. They broke down every aspect of my application, to make the process seamless. I never heard a ‘no’ for any of my requests to discuss everything; even when we went back and forth with my Business Plan and the SOP. All of this required a lot of brainstorming sessions over multiple days and many hours; till I thought it was ‘perfect’!
I learnt so much while Ara helped me build a background for my application. This wouldn’t have been possible without them.
I am grateful for the personalized and actionable guidance even at late hours all throughout my application process. Which got me an acceptance to my dream University, with a Scholarship!
Bhavika Rawat
Ashish has been a friend to me since our very first meeting, creating an open and warm environment. He taught me unique ways to express myself – how to tell a story that keeps the reader’s attention.
Ara was very honest with me throughout our engagement, giving me valuable feedback about my areas of improvement; and hence, ways in which I could make those improvements.
It goes without saying that Ara comes highly recommended by me.
Shounak Sarkar
I was a bit apprehensive about engaging a counselor for my college admissions. I feared that counselors would tell my parents what my parents wanted to hear rather than taking my preferences into account. My experience with Ara has been nothing but the complete opposite!
Since the beginning of my engagements with Ara, their entire focus was on my future…it was about my choices, interests and preferences. Every single concern that I had was addressed to my satisfaction. Ara was very patient with me and gave real-life, practical advice.
Ara maintained regular and frequent contact with me; coaching me and helping me with various exercises to improve my essay writing skills. This helped make my application distinctive vis-a-vis my peer group. Through multiple intense sessions of simulated interviews, Ara provided detailed guidance and practice on managing interviews, what to expect, how to respond and turn the interview to my benefit. Hence, when the actual interviews happened, it was like a walk in the park for me!
If you are considering applying to competitive colleges in India and outside, I would strongly recommend Ara, to give you that extra edge.
Shreya Majumdar
Ara consulting has been the best part of my admissions process!
I made a huge mistake by starting late but it didn’t feel like I was late by the end of the process. Ara guided me throughout the process by showing me the path and guiding me every step of the way. Rupali ma’am helped me with shortlisting the most suitable universities according to my interests and major choices, while Ashish always kept motivating me, and made sure that I knew that there was always scope for improvement. My bond with Ara grew stronger as months passed and I am extremely grateful for it. I could not have asked for better counselors. Ara did not only help me with the admissions process but also with personal growth. I learned how to manage time better and articulate my thoughts rather than letting them flood all over the place. Under their guidance, I was able to turn my hobby of writing poems into publishing them. This was a dream come true! A dream I didn’t even have!
I cannot thank Ara enough for all the help, trust, and hard work they put into me! I wouldn’t have been able to manage my admissions process without Ara.
Adya Dalmia
Working with Ara did not only give me a confident approach towards my admissions, but also gave me a learning that I’m sure I’ll be using throughout life. I was hesitant to trust any counsellor to make decisions for my essays, but Ara gave structure and flow to my own ideas and guided me through the best process.
I was able to use the advice given to me to view the admission process and forms in different ways, which ultimately helped me to position myself to the Universities in unique and distinctive manner.
Ara coached me through intense interview sessions and showed me the best ways to navigate through them in ways that would benefit me. They were able to identify the points that I was comfortable with and motivate me to work harder on anything I needed to improve on. Suffice to say, when the actual interviews happened, I felt well prepared and confident.
For me, the best part about Ara wasn’t just that they helped me get into the colleges I wanted, but the hands-on coaching that wasn’t limited purely to admissions – it was a training and experience that covered all aspects of life, and is still helping me.
Samarth Anand
I was caught in a lot of self-doubt and confusion in order to decide which colleges I should apply for. After the very first meeting with Ara, I felt at ease and very comfortable. We had daily video calls to discuss the application filling process and it was a meeting that inspired me to do better and change the habits I was living with for many years.
The one thing I liked about Ara the most is that they never sugarcoated anything for me. They have been brutally honest with me throughout this journey…which was necessary to make me work harder and get admissions I had always wanted! I developed an extremely friendly bond with Ara’s leadership, and used to look forward to our video calls the entire week. I remember the seriousness and strictness Ara displayed at times but it never made me feel bad as it always left me feeling more motivated than ever before. Time was just a number for Ara as they made sure that they stayed on the call till the time our daily goal was achieved, no matter how much time it took. Ara prepared me for my interviews and grilled me in the mocks that they conducted.
Overall, it was a great learning experience as Ara would coach me about small but very valuable tips for cracking admissions. Interviews were always something that made me nervous at first but now it’s a different story all thanks to Ara. All in all, my experience with Ara was simply outstanding. Words aren’t enough to describe the experience I have had and the bond I have shared with Ara’s leadership.