As the Pen Flows, so Does the Sports Track Beckons:
Profile Building for Study Abroad

Very often, students pay a lot of attention to their academic performance and grades, school projects and lab files, science symposiums and literary fests. Yet as they approach the application process for their overseas universities, they realize that the admissions are based on the concept of holistic profiles, and their grades by themselves are not enough!

To avoid this last minute problem, the best way is to work towards the smooth admissions into desired universities through building one’s profile with meaningful additions; over a period of time. The ideal time for students to start this preparation is at the beginning of high school in grade 9th. However, even starting in grade 11th would suffice if one puts in lots of effort. Some of the things that help build student profiles are:

·      Participating in Olympiads – both national and international, aligned with ones subject interests

·     Competitions – from essay writing competitions to app making and coding, proposing solutions through tech based and social projects, environmental solutions and storytelling, the list is endless

·    Sports – engaging in competitive sports and winning prizes adds greatly to the profile and help students get many athletics and sports scholarships too

·    Creative arts – dancing, singing, pottery making, painting and sculpture making and drawing are just some of the   

·    Internships – even at school level, many students undertake short summer vacation internships that help them get a peek into the real world working of companies and add to their skills

·    Writing short story or poetry collection – young authors are seen as creative and doing something literary besides their core education

·   Volunteering – Doing community service, starting green initiatives in school, cleanliness drives, fund raising and working with underprivileged communities shows the empathetic and humane side of a university applicant

·    Making apps or online applications – for tech aspirants making apps or providing an online solution to a problem is seen as innovative and out of the box thinking

·      Writing articles – on topics of social relevance in newspapers or on their own blog, on emerging trends in a subject or anything of their choice

·     Setting student clubs – whether inside or outside the school, setting up clubs around themes of IT, social causes, art and hobbies, or mental health support add greatly to a student’s profile

·   Taking leadership positions – Becoming a part of the student council, or chief editor of school magazine, else head of the IT or the theatre group shows the student’s potential to become a future leader and change maker

·    Doing online courses – these show that the student wants to learn outside of their prescribed syllabi and is a self learner with motivation to upgrade his/her skills set

·    Summer schools – within one’s country or in a foreign institution, going for summer courses is a great way to get advanced knowledge on subjects, build networks, learn communication skills and research methods

·   Using social media – whether to start a photographers network, or to showcase hidden jewels of tourist attracts, else talk about one’s heritage and architecture, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter can be used meaningfully

There is a long list of additional things students can do for profile building. For consultation and advise please contact Penned Perfections.

    


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