Stellar grades are not the only things that matter in applications to prestigious universities. Sure, having primarily As and Bs is important, but in a day and age where many applicants have near-perfect transcripts, showing community engagement, leadership skills, athletic and artistic achievements, and a proven interest in research is also important. Universities are looking for candidates with a personality that shines through their personal statements and with the potential to become researchers, creators, and high-level athletes.
A strong individual voice in your personal statement and interview gives universities an idea of who you are as a person
The admission committees of universities cannot paint a picture of who you are as a living, breathing, multidimensional person by just looking at your grades. They would like to know who the person behind your transcript is. The same goes for the selection committees of ultra-competitive scholarships such as the Fulbright Scholarship (graduate studies in the US) and the Chevening Scholarship (graduate studies in the UK). With an acceptance rate of less than 10% and a flood of stellar transcripts to sort through, how do they determine who to provide funding or even just admission to?
Most degree programs and scholarships require applicants to submit a personal statement. It is an essay between 500 and 1,000 words long. In it, applicants should not simply repeat what is in their CV but explain their life story. Why are they passionate about their field of study? What personal and professional challenges have they faced in life? What lessons did they learn from these challenges, and how did this help them to grow as a person? What kind of positive change do they wish to bring to their country and the world, and what is their greatest dream?
A personal statement is also the perfect place to turn any “weakness” in your CV into a strength. If you got lower grades during one semester because of mental health or family challenges, you can discuss that in the essay. You can talk about how you had to take care of a sick relative, battle depression or anxiety, and be brave about failing and getting up again. The admissions committee will react very positively to proof that you have grit and resilience. They will also appreciate signs of humility about moments when you failed and had to learn from your mistakes.
Furthermore, a stellar personal statement will prove your storytelling and persuasive skills. If you are a non-native speaker of English or any other official language used by the university, writing a personal statement is a chance to prove your fluency in this language. It is a much more natural display of language skills than standardized tests like the TOEFL.
Some universities will also conduct a short interview with you, usually via videoconference (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc) if you are in another country. That is also an opportunity to show your proficiency in spoken English (or another language) as well as your punctuality, good manners, strength of character, ability to prepare for an interview, as well as ability to think creatively and come up with answers on the spot.
Competitive scholarships also involve interviews. It is a way to choose a winner from a list of preselected candidates who, on paper, look equally excellent. Your performance during that interview can make you stand out from others. Among other interview questions, you might be asked about how your research will help your country's development, what your Plan B/backup plan is, and what your interest in intercultural exchange is.
Universities are more willing to give scholarships to students who can be star athletes on their sports teams
Being good “at school” and good “at sports” are, unfortunately, often seen as opposing each other. This is because of the deceptive “brain v/s body” binary, compounded by high school tropes about “nerds v/s jocks.” However, it is perfectly possible to excel at both academics and athletics. Many students actually do, and they are highly valued by elite universities.
Many universities have athletic teams that compete at the regional and national levels, and they are always on the lookout for future star athletes. Top American universities, including Ivy League ones, provide generous financial aid/scholarships based on applicants' athletic achievements. Private universities, in particular, have a lot of freedom in granting athletic scholarships to international students because they are not constrained by state regulations that allow public funds to only go to in-state students.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is an organization that governs student athletics across more than 1,000 universities in the US and Canada. Their website says there are over 24,000 international student-athletes in their member universities. Athletics is divided into three divisions within the NCAA: Division I, Division II, and Division III. The first two divisions are the most competitive ones and are the ones which offer scholarships. Colleges/universities whose teams are classified as Division I have full-ride athletic scholarships, while Division II colleges/universities mostly have partial scholarships.
If you are a prospective international student with athletic achievements, you should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in your last years of secondary school for them to assess your academic and athletic records. You can then be recruited by college coaches and admissions committees with the help of the NCAA. The organization's website says that international student-athletes practice a wide variety of sports, but the most common sports they are recruited (and funded!) for are tennis, track and field, ice hockey, golf, field hockey, soccer (known as “football” outside of North America), water polo and basketball.
Universities value students who've shown their leadership skills through volunteering, internships, part-time work and student politics
And if you're not much of an athlete? Don't worry; there are other ways to stand out as an applicant. Another way is by showing how you were an active member of your community back home by volunteering, taking on leadership positions and working.
Elite universities pride themselves on having famous political leaders and activists among their alumni. They are always on the lookout for young people who show a commitment to social justice causes and are not afraid to take on decision-making roles. Volunteering for international organizations like the Red Cross or local NGOs, participating in projects for protecting the environment or minorities' rights, working at old age homes and children's shelters during school breaks, tutoring kids from underprivileged backgrounds, etc. Any of these on your CV shows that you are a politically engaged member of your society.
Most schools and universities have a student union. By being an active member of that union who advocates for students' demands and resolves internal conflicts within the school, you can show proof of interpersonal skills and a talent for fields like diplomacy, communications, social work and political science in your university application. Universities might even sometimes choose a student with average grades but extraordinary community achievements over a straight-A student with no community involvement.
Part-time work experience, summer work experience and internships are also a great way to demonstrate your professional potential and sense of motivation in an application. Even informal work counts – don't think that babysitting or helping your parents out in their shop don't count; they do! These informal jobs can give you a sense of responsibility and help you improve your time-management and book-keeping skills – you can absolutely highlight that in your CV, personal statement and interview.
Universities are looking for students with great potential in the arts, scientific research and technological innovation
Showing potential as an artist and scientist is also something universities, especially research-driven ones, are highly interested in.
Playing a musical instrument, editing a student literary magazine, being a theater practitioner, running a student film club, winning prizes for original poems or short stories, participating in robotics or coding summer camps, inventing a more effective waste recycling system for your neighborhood, being selected for math or science olympiads, etc. These are just a few things that can show universities that you are an inventive, cultured and well-rounded person with great potential as a researcher, artist and/or inventor.
You might see your dance lessons or film club as “just a hobby,” but they can truly help you get into your dream school – or even secure scholarships. Many universities are particularly interested in enrolling young women (especially young women of color) with achievements in science and technology, fields in which they are underrepresented, and in supporting young scientists and entrepreneurs from developing countries.
