SIMC

While we were in Pune, our group (albeit a much smaller version of our group due to the bubonic plague that took over half our group) had the opportunity to visit SIMC (Symbiosis Institute of Marketing and Communications).  SIMC is one of the top marketing and communications universities in the country.  Let me start by saying that the campus was freaking gorgeous.  As you can see from the previous post, this part of the country is beautiful.  SIMC was situated on the topoverlooking mountain overlooking the city of Pune.

The student population is small.  Their entire Master's program (Advertising, PR, Media Management, Journalism, and Audio Visual) had a grand total of 200 students.  Can you say competitive entry?  All 200 students live on campus and rarely leave, but the view makes that aspect a little more bearable.  Something else that blew my mind - they have separate boy's and girl's hostels.  Studying at the Master's level, but no co-Ed living.  I love that.

We spent the whole day touring the university with two awesome hosts.  We ended the day with a q&a session with the "seniors," or those students in their last year of the Master's program.  The q&a started with a performance by the "juniors".  (SIMC puts on series of student-run festivals and events throughout the year and I believe this performance was for an upcoming or recent festival).  It was amazing!  Check it out (really) at my friend Katie's blog A Whiff of Curry.  It was a compilation of a A.R. Rahman's (Jai Ho anyone?) songs and was pretty incredible.  They were so talented.  Oh and we had reserved seats in the very front row of a pretty large classroom so we were definitely up close and personal.

The students we met were once again SO friendly, even after attending class 5 hours/day, 6 days/week.  Is anyone here not friendly?  I have class 3 hours a day, 3 days a week and have plenty of irritable moments.  Needless to say it was one of my favorite experiences in India yet.  Beautiful campus, friendly people, personal performance.  Yes, please!