Five Ways to Build an Outstanding Student Profile for University -

University admissions officers often look for more than grades and test scores when selecting students. Having an outstanding student profile is important for university applications because it helps admissions officers evaluate a student’s application beyond the student’s academic performance. Universities want to see what students have done beyond the curriculum, outside the classroom. The purpose of profile building is to showcase a student’s strengths, interests, achievements and character to universities in order to make them stand out as a very competitive candidate for admissions. Here are some ways to build an outstanding student profile:

• Choosing activities students are passionate about

Students should be involved in activities that they are genuinely interested in and enjoy doing. When students work on activities they are passionate about, parents won’t have to force them to do it and their experiences become natural. When it’s translated into writing their personal statements, their essays come out as authentic which will impress the university admissions officers who will read them.

• Seeking leadership roles

When your children look for leadership opportunities in the activities they participate in, it demonstrates their ability to lead and work with others. Leadership skills are one of the most impactful ways to show university admissions officers one’s character and exceptional extracurricular involvement. Although leadership positions may not be available for all, students can still show leadership by taking initiative. This can be done by creating a student-led organisation or club in which the student is the founder.

• Getting out of one’s comfort zone

Let your children pursue challenges to get out of their comfort zones. Students can challenge themselves by pursuing activities that will push them to do things that they thought they couldn’t do but are able to achieve afterward. This is important for students to show university admissions officers who will determine if the student applicant can thrive in a new environment away from home, out of their comfort zones.

• Engaging in volunteer work and/or performing community service

Students’ commitment to making a positive impact on their communities is viewed positively by university admissions officers. When students take part in volunteering for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or spending time microvolunteering, they show university admissions officers that they are doing their share in making a difference in other people’s lives and communities and that they will also show the same commitment in their studies once admitted to the university.

• Pursuing independent projects or research

Pursuing independent projects or research in an area of interest will show university admissions officers the students’ initiative, interest in scholarly work, and passion for learning which they are expected to continue if admitted to the university. Although some students may not be able to pursue this endeavour, students should involve themselves in activities that would show university admissions officers the impact they create as a result of their involvement in these activities.

These are the five key things students should remember as they build their profiles. As students involve themselves in different activities, they should manage their time well. Parents, you are the strategy partner of your children in choosing activities that are enough but have a bigger impact as doing too many activities may be counterproductive as a result.

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