Introduction
As an international student applying to schools in Canada and USA, you ought to have a robust application profile- one that speaks a lot about you and what you have done before application. Although the application process can be strenuous and time consuming, it is advised that you make a conscious effort to prepare a package that puts you in the limelight to get into your dream school.
Steps to improve your application profile
We are aware that you may be confused on what to do to make your application one of the best in the admissions cycle. You may not have a clue as to what to do differently from others. Below are some tips we have curated on how you can boost your application profile:
1. Get Volunteer Experiences:
You need to think about places that serve your community and help them. Offer your services to these organisations for free. Volunteering experiences puts you in the position where you can give back to the society, helps you get an idea of what your profession entails and gives you experience you can talk about in your resume. Community service is important as it shows the value you have for your immediate environment. You can volunteer for startup organisations, churches and professional bodies you feel need your skills and services.
2. Boost your Profile with Standardised Tests:
Take standardised tests like GMAT ( Graduate Management Admission Test), GRE (Graduate Record Exam), TOEFL (Test of English and Foreign Languages) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). These tests boost your application and make you a strong candidate especially if you have high scores. It is important that your scores in these standardised tests are above the minimum scores required by the school you apply for. You could improve your test scores by taking free or paid practice questions to prepare you ahead of the test days. If you do not get height scores at your practice sections, you could try multiple times till you know you are on the right track. Having higher scores from standardised tests alongside good GPA from your high school/college gives you a greater chance to be accepted by your desired program and school.
3. Create a Presentable Portfolio:
Portfolios are summaries/samples of your professional/ academic work. You have to be intentional about creating a portfolio by including work samples that would make you stand out from other applicants. If you are applying to study creative writing courses, you could add articles, blog posts that you have produced in the past. Your portfolio should be presentable, well detailed and filled with your original relevant works.
4. Have Good Letters of Recommendations:
Letters of recommendations go a long way in admission decisions for schools. These letters speak of your academic standing, readiness to learn, competence and attitude to work. Reach out to former lecturers, employers, colleagues and tell them about your plans for studies. Make sure you have a strong cordial relationship with who you choose to write recommendations for you. Inform them ahead of time and tell them how important their recommendations are.
5. Engage in Teaching/Tutoring:
Teaching is something that can increase your chances of getting into your desired school, especially as a prospective graduate student. It exposes you to the basics of professional tutoring and gives you the knowledge on how to interact with students and faculty members. You could teach formally or informally. While in school, you could organise tutorials for course mates and those in lower levels to help them with their academics. Pick a course you enjoy and teach people who have little or no knowledge about. Doing this helps both you and your colleagues to improve academically. As a graduate, you can look for schools, tutorial centres around you, relatives and impact knowledge. This would give you a comparative advantage.
6. Be involved in Leadership:
Take advantage of opportunities to become a leader. When there is time for nominations for leadership positions, nominate yourself and contest for the position that you are interested in. Schools love to see students who have taken initiative at some point. Leadership experience shows that you have been able to take up responsibilities and serve people.
7. Take Professional Courses:
Take certifications and professional courses in line with your desired course. Certifications are important because they show that you also undergo training apart from school activities and also give you experience in your desired field. Certifications like APCON, NIPR, ICAN will make you stand out. You could also take international professional courses that would be recognized in the US and Canada. There are some online learning platforms which offer professional courses you can opt for. Some of these websites are free or very affordable in price, giving students opportunities to learn a lot. Websites associated with online certifications include: Unify, Udemy, Coursera, HubSpot to mention a few.
8. Publish Your Works:
Published works serve as an added advantage to your application. It shows that you contribute to the intellectual field of learning and not just work for your grades. You can publish articles or your final thesis on journals (print or online). Good research publications pinpoint your research interests and speak a lot about your academic interests. This helps you get more advantage over other applicants.
9. Write a Well Detailed Statement of Purpose:
A statement of purpose is an essay written by an applicant usually buttressing his/her reasons for choosing a desired program/ school and how much foundation he has for such a program. It is usually the selling point of an applicant and an Avenue for you to convince the admission committee on your potential fit for your desired program. This essay is meant to be original, devoid of errors and concise. When writing it, it is advisable to abide by the school’s requirements such as word and page limit.
Conclusion
Attracting and sustaining the attention of admission committee members is a crucial thing as a prospective student. One way to do that is to have an outstanding application package that would be used for admission purposes. It is therefore necessary that you increase your chances of being accepted by including all the necessary information when applying, have strong recommendation letters, outstanding test scores and GPA and a well drafted application essay.