<p>“Mumbai: Tushar Gupta was born in 1990, on the cusp of liberalization, and grew up with unprecedented economic freedom and opportunities. And yet, when the time came to go to college, India still didn’t cut it.
He says he was simply tired of the question: science or arts?</p>
<p>“Why not both? </p>
<p>“I want to have the freedom to choose,” says the 17-year-old Dehradun native. </p>
<p>“Around this time last year, he began to plot an exit, requesting and filling out forms, begging teachers for recommendations, penning essays that conveyed achievement and humility, determination and compassion, book- and street-smarts.</p>
<p>“Eight applications sent off to the US+No preparation for entrance exams in India=No chance of staying. </p>
<p>And that’s how Gupta found himself in Mumbai one wet monsoon day in July to begin the long journey from home—and meet the others who would join him: Jahnabi Barooah , Shiv Mohan Dutt , Rohan Malik , Sukrit Silas and Nikhil Seth —India’s contributions to Princeton University’s class of 2011…</p>
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<p>From the introduction to this multi-year series:</p>
<p>“Starting today, Mint begins what we hope will be a multi-year series that will follow six young Indians whose dreams for a better education have all led them to Princeton University, one of the eight members of the elite Ivy League in the US.</p>
<p>“Every year, India sends more students to the US than any other country—the number hit a record 83,833 last academic year. Nearly 75% are graduate students, but growing numbers are undergraduates, teenagers who say they want more diverse course offerings and a release from a rigid Indian education system. At some overseas colleges, admission is also easier than, say, getting into an IIT or even St Stephen’s.</p>
<p>“Still, Princeton admits less than one out of every 10 applicants. Amid the worldwide demand for higher education, its international student population is soaring about 10% annually. In fact, the six Indian students in the Class of 2011 are part of the largest contingent of undergraduates Princeton has ever had from India.</p>
<p>Chasing</a> the Indian Education Dream - Home - livemint.com = Introduction </p>
<p>Ivy</a> ambitions: Six Indians walk path to Princeton - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = first installment </p>
<p>Four</a> years or forever? Six teens bid farewell to home - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = second installment</p>
<p>Away</a> from home, students reinvent selves, yet hang on - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = third installment</p>
<p>Winter</a> holidays are here and these students can't wait to chill out - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = fourth installment</p>
<p>First</a> homecoming is no longer the same as coming home - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = fifth installment</p>
<p>Paud</a> to Princeton, the Malik brothers look toward West - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = sixth installment</p>
<p>Preparing</a> For Princeton | There is a culture difference in the US - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = seventh installment</p>
<p>King</a> of indecision, emperor of cool - Economy and Politics - livemint.com = eighth installment</p>