– Arya Diwase, co-founder and CEO, Application Ally & BuildUp

Each admissions cycle brings with it a plethora of applications that tick all the boxes they’re supposed to: clubs, internships, volunteer work, and some wins in competitions. Yet, some profiles do not just tick boxes, but tell a compelling story, revealing a level of depth that leaps off the page. Consider the student who, driven by a passion for women’s empowerment, didn’t just join a club but launched two ventures to uplift survivors of violence, using their skills to transform discarded materials into footwear and researching the economics of unpaid labour. Or the young innovator captivated by generative AI, who applied their understanding to the agriculture sector through two distinct internships — one developing a chatbot for biofuel education, the other delving into advanced machine learning research — all while empowering other young minds to bridge technology with traditional industries.

These profiles feel alive rather than just ticking boxes. They tell the story of one passion explored in many settings. Students learn from mentors in real internships and dive into research that sharpens their ideas. They give their time to community projects that matter and take on personal efforts that push their abilities. Each of these experiences circles back to the same central theme. That steady focus builds genuine depth. It stays with anyone who reads it.

Students can follow their interests in real contexts through internships. Whether in a formal organisation or a grassroots environment, the experience often allows them to try out their theories, develop practical skills, and establish relationships with guides who guide and challenge them. Formal or self-directed research provides academic depth and proves the student’s ability to question, analyse, and synthesise. Together, the two form an interesting foundation that displays both rigour and curiosity.

A social element is added by way of community service. Those students who identify issues in their own local environment and act to address them are becoming more attractive to universities. This might involve designing small interventions, collaborating with local organisations, or simply repeatedly listening and responding. It’s the intent and action that matter, not the size. This learning is then embedded through individual projects, whatever form they take — digital platforms, campaigns, prototypes, or creative projects. These projects demonstrate the student’s initiative, sense of ownership, and capacity for independent work.

With no proof, none of this is credible. Presenting one’s journey is crucial in the current environment. Building a strong profile is not enough; it also requires documentation in the form of websites, LinkedIn profiles, portfolios, data logs, explainers in videos, and even written reflections. It shows maturity in monitoring what’s happening, collecting witness statements, recording obstacles and outcomes, and presenting it all clearly. It also provides admissions committees with the information on how and why something was accomplished.

There is also coherence. Contests, competitions, and awards are only meaningful when they serve the overall narrative instead of taking away from it. Alignment comes in when students connect these achievements to their research, internships, or personal projects. This capacity to synthesise experiences in different formats shows a higher level of consideration that institutions value.

Above all, reflection and evaluation shape the outcome. Intentionally constructed profiles will have obvious indicators of development; instances of failure, revision, collaboration and re-direction. The best students approach their profile as a process of learning, rather than as a checklist to fill. They monitor milestones, measure impact, and refine thinking in the process.

In a competitive field, it is this blend of long-term attention, careful involvement and considered documentation that really sets a profile apart. When internships, research, service and individual projects coalesce to shed light on a core interest — and when that process is discernible, legitimate and thoughtful — the end product is not only what leaps off the page but what lingers with the reader long after.

Also read: Planning to Study Abroad? Know the importance of diversity and inclusion