While the cancellation of X board exams may come as a delightful surprise, many of you might have taken recourse to lounging and taking it light. Well, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, given the pressure you children deal with preparing for your board exams. However, don’t let sloth get the better of you, rather utilize the spare time in your hands in building your profile, a profile that your dream college cannot ignore. 

With the phenomenal growth of students applying to study abroad, the competition is only getting tougher by the day. Thereby, it not only makes sense to work on your profile to distinguish yourself from your peers but is a must if you are intent on getting into your dream college.

Students are advised to take into cognizance that colleges abroad don’t solely rely on academic percentages but will look at the students’ achievements outside of school to determine their caliber and ability to succeed in tough environments. While it’s imperative that you spend that extra time more judiciously, taking the help of education counsellors, especially those dealing in overseas education, can help identify gaps in your profile. These counsellors, having years of experience, stand by to give you step-by-step information on how you can boost your profile and become individuals ready to meet the rigors of college life.

However, here is a list of things you must undertake for a spectacular resume.

1.   Prepare for Standardized Tests – Though exams for SAT may have been cancelled for now, it is always a good idea to stay prepared. Make a study plan and continue to practice for about 30 minutes per day to keep your skills sharp. Also ensure to devote ample time for your English Proficiency Tests such as TOEFL/IELTS. What you choose to study is as crucial as your daily practice. To be precise, study what you need to, rather than what you want to. Most importantly, create a schedule and stick to it. 

2.  Take up Online Courses – Learning is a continuous process and students making extra efforts on gaining new skills are always given preference over those who don’t. From courses on AI, Machine Learning and Data Science to Painting and Drawing, there is no dearth of courses to choose from. However, it is always advisable to choose a course that is relevant to you, do not pursue a course because someone else is doing it. Take online classes on the subject of your interest, it could be related to the subject you are aiming to study abroad or something related to your hobby. If you are aiming for a particular school, it will be a good idea to check out if the school offers any online course that matches your interests; learning from them will fetch you brownie points during application. Certifications from reputed institutions not only give you an understanding of the kind of materials you’d be dealing in at college, they also authenticate your current knowledge on the subject. 

3.  Engage in Extra-curricular Activities – In the light of the pandemic, it becomes a little difficult to take up outdoor sports but, don’t let that hamper your involvement in the game. If you are interested and keen on developing your skills further, you may want to try out Esports. Well, it’s not just sports we can be a part of these days, with the plethora of options out there, one can try hands at learning musical instruments, clay modelling, dancing and various other kinds of arts. It surely is a good time to get back to the long-lost hobby or something you had been meaning to do. Upgrading your skills or learning a new activity indicates your inquisitiveness and drive to thrive. Moreover, the longer you are involved in an activity, the better, it shows dedication and perseverance. 

4.  Take Internships or Freelancing Work –Internships are very popular amongst students these days. You may choose to work full-time or part-time at a certain company for a specified period of time. This shall allow you to gain valuable work or research experience which will certainly prove useful in higher education. On-the-job training in the field of your interest will provide a picture of day-to-day duties of what you would be doing in later years, but if you have not taken the experience in the field of your choice even then, the gained exposure will provide you hands-on knowledge on the operations and functions involved in a corporate house which is unlikely in a classroom setting. So, go out there as every experience counts.

Freelancing is another option available to students. One can choose to build a website or an app from the comfort of his/her home or write articles for companies, NGOs or publishing houses. You may even start a blog if you wish on the subject that intrigues you. The idea is get involved outside of class, have something to showcase your life beyond textbooks. 

5.  Volunteer –Being part of your community reveals your humane side. Students actively engaged in solving the problems of issues and concerns that bothers them highlights their quality as problem-solvers. Volunteering at NGOs is usually the most preferable place since there is no intent of monetary ambitions involved. There are old age homes, orphanages, juvenile correction centers, etc. where students can render their services to help and uplift the underprivileged. Such projects are an interesting way for you to connect with people from different backgrounds and circumstances. Becoming contributing members of the society helps inform the admission team that you have a knack for solving problems and are an initiative taker.

6.  Maintain Excellent Academic Performance –Last but not the least, maintaining your scores goes without saying. Meeting the basic criterion will get the attention your profile seeks. Though students may go a little easy during XI grade yet, make sure that your performance doesn’t fall too low. A drop of about 10-15 percent is acceptable but more than that may raise the eyebrows of the admissions committee. Try to maintain consistency in the scores.

All these pointers above collectively make for a very solid profile. So, instead of whiling away all your free time surfing the net or watching unnecessary shows on OTT platforms, try and allocate your time to the activities that are going to be beneficial for your growth. By all means watch your favorite show just ensure that you put a cap on the time you spend on it per day. After all nothing worth having comes easy!