Tips to build your profile

If you want to go places in your life, you have to learn how to build your profile strongly. Use the 10 tips in this blog to get into your dream university, score a scholarship, and land that teaching assistantship abroad!

While the process of applying to study abroad can be lengthy and complicated, most students forget to complete one important step – profile building. If you don’t know how to build your profile, it won’t matter how well you write your SOP or how impressive your Letters of Recommendation are.

Building your profile, which means taking up opportunities that will expand your knowledge and skills, gives you tons of content to add to your resume, SOP(statement of purpose) and LOR(letter of recommendation). And that’s how you impress the admissions committee at your dream university!

So without further ado, let’s get started on these 10 time-tested profile building strategies and nail your university application.

1. Projects

One of most valued co-curricular activities, working on projects is a great way to build your profile.

The projects you work on don’t necessarily have to be a part of your curriculum. You can pick any subject you like, maybe get a partner, tap into all the resources you need, and start working on it.

If you get stuck or need any help, you can always go to your mentors or teachers for help.

Besides, if you get really good in a particular field, you can start freelancing for your peers (more on this point later :P)!

2. Course certifications

The first thing you need to do is list down all your strengths and weaknesses. Then, pick out the most interesting courses you like and figure out how much you are willing to spend.

Universities look for students with a certain set of skills. And unfortunately, the curriculum does not cover everything you need to know.

As a result, students who have real interest in their subjects end up looking for sources online. They pick up trending courses and get certifications.

This not only helps them learn about the latest developments in their fields but also gives them a chance to show off their skills.

And now, it’s time for you to do the same!

3. Research papers

If your curriculum doesn’t make it compulsory for you to work on a research paper, make sure to take it up by yourself.

The task in itself requires weeks of gruelling research, analysis, and drawing conclusions. But once you’re through with it, you can send it out to get published and see how the experts in your community receive it.

To that end, more than a profile building for MS activity, publishing research papers will become a great learning experience!

4. Internships

Your internship MUST be in the field of your career interest.

Internships are a great way to both build your profile and establish a network!

While you’re in high school or college, you have enough time to intern part-time during school and full-time in summers! So take advantage of this fact, draft your resume, apply to companies, and get an internship role that falls in line with your subject of interest.

Not only will you learn about your field but you will also gather knowledge of the industry you end up working in!

What’s more, the people you end up working and interacting with can help you get closer to your goals in the future.