Top 10 things to remember for your dream college application

Poonam Bhojani

School systems today are geared towards preparing students for higher education. From my experience of seeing numerous students pass through the K-12 system in Dubai and onto prestigious universities across the world, these are the top 10 things students need to keep in mind while aiming for their dream college: 
Take challenging courses
Straight As and good grades carry more weight when the classes are challenging. Many students pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) system or APs in the American system before going to university, which in itself are challenging courses. It shows a deep commitment to academia and further reinforces a student's readiness for the challenges of higher education. 
Decide on your destination 
Students in the UAE have a wide variety of options for further studies across many different countries and each has its own set of tests and rules to follow, which are time consuming. Applying to a limited number of countries will ensure that time is spent well, and each application gets the attention it deserves.  
Emphasise diversity 
Children in Dubai grow up among a medley of cultures and develop as third culture kids. Being able to emphasise this diversity in college essays and applications is essential to get noticed by admission boards. 
Contribute to the community 
Have a genuine interest and respect for community services initiatives. Be innovative with how you can genuinely serve the community better and follow your passion in doing so. Local institutions like Al Noor Centre for Special Needs or Gulf for Good offer such opportunities. 
Communicate clearly 
Clear, concise prose goes a long way in communicating a student's message to admissions staff. Develop essays and applications during the summer break for enough time to review and refine the essays and applications in time for an early application. 
Preparation for tests and entrance exams
Preparation should start as early as a year before the test. There are several resources available towards these standardised tests - online courses, books and tutoring as well as practice exam sessions. 
The early bird gets the worm 
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage of being more likely to get admission. In order to apply early, you need to plan from the start of high school. It is important to have a powerful application and strong recommendations from teachers, supervisors, and athletic coaches attest to the student's character and prove their resilience.
Pick a passion 
It can be anything ranging from playing the saxophone to silk painting to coding or playing a sport. Exhibiting a deep interest in something shows that a student is capable of delving into a subject which is what university it about - focused interests. Communicate this in your application with honesty, passion and conviction. 
Demonstrate originality 
It can be a school club, a piece of original creative writing, a science project; anything that you can call your own. Create something that makes you stand out from among the crowd that demonstrates the way you think and showcases your unique creative abilities. 
Use your time well 
All of the above will work to create a wholesome picture of a student who spends their free time meaningfully in activities such as internships, sports and art. That is what a college admissions officer wants to know - who you are, and why you want to pursue your chosen field of study.
Demonstrate how you have constructively spent your time in school, the opportunities and social interaction that make you best suited for the programme. If you have overcome adversities, share the experiences in your statement of purpose and explain how these have shaped your analytical and decision-making skills and have made you a responsible young adult. 
Poonam Bhojani is the CEO, Innoventures Education.