The Minerva Experience Through the Eyes of Siblings Abishek and Aarthi

Siblings Abishek, Class of 2021, and Aarthi Valasubramanian, Class of 2023, share a unique connection through Minerva, where their individual journeys intertwined with a shared transformative experience.

For Abishek (Abi), the journey began with an exciting discovery. While researching selective universities, he found Minerva’s videos on YouTube and resonated with global exposure and experiential education. Despite applying late, Abi eagerly completed the process and convinced his initially skeptical parents after attending Ascent (now Admitted Students Day) in San Francisco. Meeting alumni, professors, and students affirmed his choice over traditional programs like NYU.

Aarthi credits Abi for introducing her to Minerva, a university she likely wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Hearing about Abi’s adventures sparked her curiosity, but it was attending Ascent that cemented her decision. Immersing herself in the community and connecting with peers gave her confidence in the challenging yet fulfilling journey ahead.

The siblings agree Minerva strengthened their bond. Abi was thrilled Aarthi followed in his footsteps, while Aarthi found comfort and guidance in having a sibling who’d navigated the path before her. “As the first in our family to take this significant step, Abi's experience gave me helpful insight, from academic advice to visa guidance to travel recommendations. He knew that this journey would be uniquely personal and so encouraged me to approach it with an open mind and a sense of independence to fully embrace all the opportunities and challenges Minerva had to offer,” Aarthi recalls.

Their experiences reflect their unique approaches. “The beauty of Minerva is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all; its unique model allows students to shape their own path, resulting in journeys that are as unique as the students themselves,” Aarthi says. While Abi’s journey was travel-focused, building a global network and exploring multiple cities, Aarthi’s was rooted in forming deep connections with the local communities in rotation cities. The pandemic added challenges—Abi graduated online, and Aarthi missed a rotation city—but both see these as integral parts of their stories.

Looking back, both cherish Minerva’s diversity and growth. Aarthi fondly recalls forming cross-cultural bonds, while Abi highlights the experiential nature that accelerated his personal and professional growth. “Minerva is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The close-knit community and global exposure meant we got to immerse ourselves in diverse cultures, unique work environments, and personal growth opportunities. Minerva also gave me the flexibility to carve my own path. Whether it was road-tripping across Patagonia with my friends, pitching Minerva in rural Norway, or starting my first business in Tokyo, the experiential nature of Minerva accelerated me in my adulthood while simultaneously teaching me resilience and adaptability. I will always cherish the lifelong friendships and mentors I’ve made along the way!” Abi reflected.

Aarthi agrees: The growth and learning that took place beyond the classroom setting over the 4 years was invaluable. Minerva redefined what "classroom" meant for me — Learning became synonymous with living. From experiencing other cultures first-hand, to constantly adapting to new environments, building independence, and balancing the academic, personal, professional, and social aspects of my life; I attribute so much of my open-mindedness, empathy, curiosity, and resilience to these connections and experiences.”

For Abi and Aarthi, Minerva wasn’t just a university—it was a journey that shaped their lives and strengthened their sibling bond forever.

If you were inspired by Abi and Aarthi's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, apply to join Minerva today.