How To Create An Impressive Student Profile For Leading Universities Abroad?

Building a student profile requires time and patience. A student should consider all the relevant factors that can prove to be helpful when university admissions committee analyse their profile. While there are tons of information available to exhibit a student’s academic and professional goals, only the crucial ones need to be listed. Thus, after conducting a thorough research, we have listed 11 such factors a great student profile should exhibit.

1. Great Academic Performance

International students should exhibit an above average academic performance in their previous educational institution. A good academic score is one of the key criteria enquired by top universities abroad. In order to meet the set requirements, study abroad aspirants should visit their dream universities admission page to access all academic entry requirements.

2. Extra-Curricular Activities

Apart from exhibiting a good academic score, international students should also excel in extra-curricular activities. The purpose of this action is to help universities understand how well a student can balance academic and personal development simultaneously.

The list of extra-curricular activities can vary accordingly such as participation in any sports events, joining a workshop to develop relevant skills, etc. So, if you haven’t enrolled for any extra-curricular activities yet, it’s time to do the same.

3. Community Service/Volunteering Experience

The admissions committee also analysis personality traits of student applicants. Most leading universities expect international students to blend well in their community. They are looking for candidates that prove to be helpful, kind and welcoming to new cultures.

When students gain an experience via community service or volunteering work, it helps universities analyse the true character of student applicants. Students can join any local NGOs or volunteer for any events that contributes towards a change in society.

4. Course Specific Certifications

Students who are keen to pursue a specific course in their higher education should make use of course specific certifications. Showcasing these certifications will create a good impression amongst university recruiters as it will display your determination to learn new skills that will benefit your academic learning experience and career development better. Always attempt a certification that is relevant to the course you wish to pursue further.

For instance, if you wish to pursue a career in Finance, there are multiple course certifications that you can undertake such as Certified Financial Planner, Certified Fund Specialist or equivalent.

5. Statement of Purpose

A statement of purpose (SOP) is a document that a student sends to a university. This document is important especially when applying for graduate programs abroad. Creating an SOP is a vital process since students can exhibit their academic achievements, personal strengths and list out any factors that prove them to be a worthy applicant. SOPs are either in the form of written essays or questionnaires as it varies from one university to another. Here are a few tips that can help you create strong and impactful SOPs.

6. Letter of Recommendation

Another excellent way to build your student profile is to submit 2-3 letters of recommendation (LOR). Students can avail for a LOR from a reliable source. These recommendations will help university recruiters analyse a student’s behaviour from the academic or professional front.

For instance, a student can seek a LOR from a tutor who has been teaching the former for long. Similarly, if an employee is looking to pursue higher education abroad, they can seek a LOR from their manager. It is suggested to always choose a person who is aware of your academic or professional development and can write a recommendation for you with ease. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for LORs.

7. Work Experience

Students who are planning to pursue a graduate degree program abroad should exhibit professional work experience. The purpose of this proof is to help university recruiters understand your interest in choosing a course better. Universities will always prefer a student applicant that is confident about which career path they wish to explore and what course can help them reach there. Thus, the best way to exhibit your work experience is by creating a powerful resume.

The resume should state your career goals, professional experience, challenges undertaken by you, what were the roles and responsibilities you performed or similar information. Here are a few tips to help you draft a strong resume.

8. Social Media Presence

Another way to build your profile when planning to study abroad is via a strong social media presence. Social media has become the ultimate hub to access information and learn more about an individual. Platforms such as LinkedIn are making it easier for any recruiters to access information about a suitable applicant.

International students should make use of this medium as well. By creating a social media account, students can grasp the attention of university recruiters better. For instance, if you wish to pursue a career in graphic designing, you can create an Instagram account that displays your designing styles. If you wish to become a writer, you can create an account on Medium and display your articles.

Students can also create a social media account on LinkedIn to encourage business engagements. Apart from this, students can even add university alumni to build better networking opportunities.

9. Entrance Examination Scores

One of the best ways to build a student profile for study abroad is by exhibiting good scores in the set entrance examinations. Based on the degree level chosen, international students will attempt an entrance exam accordingly. To name a few common ones are IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT, etc.

Scoring well in these entrance exams is important as it helps to showcase a student’s skills and knowledge on a topic. For instance, when applying to any study abroad destinations, most top universities ask for an English language proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, Cambridge). A good score here will help universities analyse a student’s proficiency in various sections of the English language (listening, speaking, writing and reading).

Students should prepare for the chosen entrance exams at least a few months in advance. The scores retrieved here also play a vital role in your admission process.

10. Project Work

Another great way to enhance student profiles is by illustrating project works. Projects are a great way for university recruiters to analyse a student’s skills in research and practical thinking. Furthermore, it also displays the commitment a student has to solve a challenge and work under pressure to cater to the same.

11. Good Character

Lastly, university recruiters will also consider one important aspect from a student, their character. A student should always display great characteristics as most top universities enquire for the same.

For instance, at Harvard University, student applicants that can work under pressure, have a good sense of humour, leadership qualities, self-confidence and genuine interest in other cultures are highly considered. At University College London, the latter aims to welcome applicants that are adventurous, open-minded and wish to make a difference in the society with new ideas.

Conclusion
A well exhibited student profile will drive better attention from university admissions committee and increase the chances of potential student enrollments. While the above tips prove to be helpful when building your student profile, seeking the assistance of an expert who can guide you through the entire process will prove to be more beneficial. At Collegepond, we have experienced counsellors that have assisted thousands of study abroad aspirants to build a terrific student profile for study abroad. Book a 1-1 counselling session today!