Education Experts Highlight Shift Toward Holistic Admissions and Skill Development

Today thousands of UAE students are planning to get into top US universities, where  academic excellence remains a priority. However, contrary to this, education experts say only grades do not make a strong application. Today education is not about just getting degrees but also gaining some strong lessons/skills while pursuing those grades. Education experts believe that students need to build their ‘profile’ over time. Here’s a detailed look at how the education system is shifting towards a more impactful approach. 

Build a Better Student Profile

Nazia Hasmi Ahmad, Educational Consultant at Eye on Ivy, explained that conversations with admissions teams shows a clear shift in the traditional education approach.

To explain further about the change in the educational sector, Ahmad talked about an early discussion with the admissions team at New York University Abu Dhabi. She said  that there has been a rising concern about predicted scores. She also believes that “There’s so much grade inflation these days that it’s impossible to base the admission just on that.” She also added that “US colleges are increasingly focusing on holistic admissions. So, the grades and the SATs are just a part of who you are as a student that they want to admit.”

The Future of Students Activities

There are many high-performing students in the UAE who respond to competition by signing up for as many extracurriculars as possible. Ahmad also warns that this “scattergun” approach can backfire. “If you’re doing tennis, piano, volunteering at a hospital and also planning a pet rescue shelter and debating competitions, you’re scattering yourself.” She further explains that “a scattered story which just becomes more performative rather than something that is showing in depth.” Instead, universities today are now looking for measurable impact and balancing between grades/skills. “The extracurriculars that you’ve done are actually supporting the major that you’re applying for,”Ahmad explained further.

For example, a student trying to study engineering would benefit more from robotics competitions or research-based projects rather than short-term courses not associated with the topic. Universities today are prioritising consistency, depth, and leadership more than bulk quantity. He educational consultant also said  that many students seek consultants in Grade 11 just for  applying in educational institutions. But they fail to build a meaningful  relationship with mentors.  

Also read: Why the World’s Leading Universities are Entering Indian Education Market