Most education counsellors urged students to start their university admissions process early, warning that leaving it to the final year rarely works
Dreaming of seeing your child accepted into their ideal university or college, but unsure how to begin?
From crafting a standout application to understanding what university admissions teams really value, the process can be overwhelming.
To guide families in the UAE, Khaleej Times spoke with university admissions experts who revealed practical strategies to simplify the journey and give students a stronger chance of success.
Most education counsellors emphasised starting university admissions process early, warning that trying to squeeze everything into the final year simply doesn’t work.
Varun Jain, founder and chief executive officer of UniHawk, said,
“The most critical mistake I see is starting too late. Many students and families believe that Grade 11 or 12 is the right time to begin thinking about university admissions. Often, families jump straight into test preparation and application forms without spending enough time exploring career options, academic programs, universities, countries, scholarships, or speaking to alumni and industry professionals.”
He explained that profile-building journey should ideally begin in Grade 7 or 8. “This isn’t about adding pressure — it’s about giving students the time to genuinely explore their interests, develop meaningful skills, and build an authentic narrative that universities want to see.”
Jain cautions against what he calls “resume padding,” where students take part in activities just to look impressive on paper.
“Top universities, especially Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions, have incredibly sophisticated admissions teams. They can spot inauthentic engagement from miles away. What they’re looking for is depth, not breadth.”
Parents in the UAE, experts say, should encourage long-term engagement in meaningful interests rather than last-minute participation in multiple activities.
Prabhjeet Singh, founder and CEO, Glinks International, said the biggest mistake made by both students and parents is “starting too late”.
“Many families begin planning only in Grade 12 and focus almost entirely on grades or university rankings.”
He emphasised this often leads to rushed applications, generic personal statements, and choices that don’t truly fit the student. “What makes an application stand out is a well-planned profile. One that shows academic consistency, genuine interests, and personal growth over time. Universities are looking for clarity, intent, and direction, not just high marks on a report card.”
Understanding timelines is critical for UAE students, especially those applying to competitive destinations like the US, UK, Canada, and Europe.
Rema Menon Vellat, founder & director, Counselling Point Training and Development, explained how centralised platforms simplify applications.
“Applicants to the US universities fill out the commonapp. This is a centralized college admissions platform that is used by over 1100 institutions worldwide, (primarily in America). This allows the whole process to be streamlined, just like in the UK, where the central system called UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission service) is used to apply to 5 institutions collectively and the OUAC for all Ontario universities in Ontario, Canada.”
Rather than chasing rankings alone, experts recommend families shortlist universities based on:
Jain added that families should also look beyond traditional destinations.
“Beyond the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, families should also consider destinations such as Italy, Ireland, Finland, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, and the UAE, many of which offer world-class education, strong post-study work opportunities, and long-term residency or talent visa pathways.”
Before finalising choices, parents and students should ensure they have:
Meanwhile, Vellat stressed the importance of researching each campus deeply. “Whether it be the structure of the courses the progression route, the scholarships on offer, campus traditions, or opportunities outside the classroom… each campus is unique and has a plethora of offerings.”
Grades remain important, but they are no longer enough on their own. “Grades are the foundation, but they’re no longer the differentiator. When you’re applying to institutions where the average applicant has a 1500+ SAT score and straight A’s, academic excellence is the baseline, not the edge,” Jain explained.
Instead, universities look closely at how students use their time outside the classroom.
According to a National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) survey from a recent admission cycle, almost 50 per cent of US colleges reported that extracurricular activities were a ‘very important’ or ‘important’ factor in their admissions decisions.
Peter Davos, CEO and founder, Hale Education, earlier said, “Furthermore, among applicants with similar grades and test scores, it is often the breadth, consistency, and achievement in extracurricular activities that make a difference in the admission process.”
Rema also highlighted that volunteering is a powerful way to demonstrate empathy and commitment.
“Another important activity that can demonstrate the student’s empathetic side and their community engagement could be volunteering. Whether it is Red Crescent, Dubai Cares, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) or volunteering at one of the institutions that work with people of determination. When one is willing to give of their time, the learning is deep and exponential.”
Applications today are as much about storytelling as they are about achievements.
“Your application isn’t just a list of achievements — it’s a narrative. Universities want to understand who you are, what drives you, and how their institution fits into your journey,” Jain noted.
For US universities, Vellat explained that students must present up to 10 activities on the Common App. “For the Commonapp, students need to declare 10 activities they have been a part of, since grade 9 and specifics on the number of hours they have put in, over the week, month and year.”
For the UK, she outlined the UCAS personal statement requirements.
“For the UCAS, applicants have to answer 3 core questions:
According to Vellat, these sections allow students to showcase academic readiness, genuine interest, and personal development.
Parents should ensure all documents are ready well ahead of deadlines, including:
For competitive programs like medicine, psychology, or law, interviews and group discussions may also be required. “Students who wish to take up medicine, psychology, and such people-centric majors may have to undergo interviews and group discussions where they’d be able to shine if they have taken up relevant extracurricular activities and internships,” added Vellat.
Once applications open, families should not wait until the last minute. Submitting early can improve chances, especially for:
Vellat also warned against stopping extracurriculars in high school.
“One of the common mistakes parents make is to enroll their children in a diverse range of activities… in primary and middle school and stop all such activities and focus entirely on exam preparation in high school.”
Education consultants also noted that UAE students come from diverse curricula and grading systems that international admissions teams may not always fully understand.
“Many students underestimate one of their biggest strengths — their multicultural exposure. The key is clear context and reflection. Students should explain their academic environment and highlight how experiences such as community involvement, international competitions, or cross-cultural leadership have shaped their perspective,” added Singh.
Different countries and universities operate on different timelines:
Parents should maintain a shared calendar with their child to track application deadlines, test dates, scholarship cut-offs, and visa timelines. Once applications are submitted, students enter a waiting phase. When universities respond with offers, students can return to the checklist, weigh their options, and select the institutions that best match their goals.
© Khaleej Times
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