Being an international student applying to US colleges can be tricky, especially if you attend a small school like I do. Unfortunately, international résumés can often be viewed as less credible than domestic students, especially with the difference in grading systems. Also, with limited resources and access to internships for international students in the States, it can be difficult to find unique extracurriculars. Compared to multi-talented students who excel in academics, fine arts, and sports, sometimes it feels like the rest of the student body has a hard time standing out. But even students with these exceptional experiences occasionally fail to get into top-ranked schools. This can be discouraging when you’re trying your best to make use of limited resources overseas. But here are four ways to stand out as an international student on your US university applications.
1. Hold leadership positions in your community
Holding leadership positions, whether in or out of school, can be a great way to stand out on your applications. Especially with high-profile positions like student council president, concertmaster, MUN captain, or captain of an athletic team, you can establish yourself as an outstanding and efficient leader. Universities around the world like to admit independent students because they know they are the type of students to thrive in a high-pressure academic atmosphere. And the best way to show that is to show up and lead.
2. Establish close connections with teachers
If universities want to get a closer look at you as a person, what will they look at? Your teacher recommendations! Many upperclassmen told me that your recommendations play a huge part in the admission process in the States. If you have perfect grades and extracurriculars, but your teacher paints you as an unmotivated, insensitive, rude teenager, colleges may hesitate to accept you. On the other hand, if your academics are a tad lackluster but your teacher calls you the best student she or he’s ever had, admission officers may give your application another look.
Related: A Helpful Guide to Planning and Asking for Letters of Recommendation
3. Make use of your surroundings
You may not have access to the New York Department of Justice or the means to snag an internship in LA, but there’s definitely something unique about your surroundings. For example, any time an Olympics comes to your country, there are countless opportunities for volunteer work or internships associated with the event. While those may come around only every couple of years, there’s always something special about your immediate area. Go to a local hospital and ask if you can shadow a doctor. Interview people on the street about local traditions and culture and translate their answers for a personal blog or YouTube channel. There are so many opportunities if you look for them to show the uniqueness of yourself and where you’re from!
4. Ask upperclassmen for advice
Applying to college as an international student is a very different experience from applying as a domestic American student. For one, many people have to take the TOEFL to prove English proficiency. Upperclassmen in your high school, secondary school, or college will likely have gone through all the struggles of the exam already. Listening to their stories and asking specific questions could be more helpful than only looking up generalized tips and tricks on the internet.
Related: A Beginner's Guide to the TOEFL for College Admission
Being an international student has its benefits and drawbacks, but pursuing a global education is absolutely worth it. The best thing you can do is utilize the sources you have available and glean whatever you can from them! Find ways to make the unique things about you stand out to your schools of interest—because you already have an advantage with how much US universities want to broaden their international student body.
Find your future university and start pursuing your best life with the help of our College Search tool.
