Profile Evaluation - MS in Canada
Profile Evaluation
Your profile evaluation is the customary question in every discussion forums related to studying in Canada. It is really natural to be nervous about your chances of getting an admission. There is no ‘precise’ technique for analysing a student’s profile. No one can accurately determine how the profile will fare against all the other competitive ones. Although the profile evaluation is hard to generalise, we have given a brief analysis of each criterion considered during admission and have tried to come up with a simple, general evaluation. We believe this might help anyone who needs a preliminary idea.
Table of contents
- 1. Bachelor's percentage or GPA
- 2. Work Experience
- 3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- 4. Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
- 5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- 6. IELTS / TOEFL
- 7. GRE
- 8. Internships, Workshops and Extracurricular Activities
- 9. Research Papers, Patents
- 10. Class X, Class XII grades
- 11. Backlogs
- Useful Tips
- Why is Bachelor's grade so important?
- How can I improve my chances if my Bachelor's grade is less?
1. Bachelor's percentage or GPA
This is easily the most significant criterion for your admission. Your GPAs definitely uplift the value of your profile and helps in determining the chances for admission.
2. Work Experience in Profile Evaluation
If you have any work experience related to your program, it certainly adds up. Not only is it an icing on the cake for your university admission, but it also helps in getting you part-time employment. Also, finding a job after your post-graduation will be relatively less challenging. That being said, students applying directly after their bachelor’s degree have their own advantages too.
3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Your SOP is your tale. Your inspiration, your enthusiasm, your interests, your ideologies, your future plans, can all be expressed in your own story. In many cases, an effective SOP will promptly put you ahead of your competitors. In our opinion, this is the third most important document in your application.
4. Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
LORs are highly valued and respected. They give an idea about the individual you are to work with and your individuality in the point of view of a third person. If possible, arrange for your LORs from people in high positions in your organization.
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV is a display of all your academic and professional successes; thus, you must craft it well. It portrays how professional you are in maintaining your documents and present yourself in a concise, impressive way. This is generally the only submission that is scanned well in the first phase of the selection. So it does have a vital role in your profile evaluation.
6. IELTS / TOEFL
These are exams testing your English language proficiency. It is just another eligibility criterion for a Master’s program and study permit in Canada.
7. GRE
The GRE Exam is considered another significant factor affecting your application. It displays your aptitude and examines the potential of the candidates applying at the institution. It tests your fundamental academic skills
8. Internships, Workshops and Extracurricular Activities
Any relevant extracurricular activities will add to your profile strength and reflect positively in your profile evaluation. Apprenticeships/traineeships will give a good look on you as a candidate. They are great fillers for any study gaps you have taken/for the summer holidays. Workshops and student clubs indicate that you are a proactive participant, and are an enthusiast in a variety of activities/events. Reinforce your application with these experiences because they will be valued.
9. Research Papers, Patents
If you have published any conference paper or journal, it is going to add significant credibility to your application. These are the main indicators of your ability to perform/handle important tasks. It acts as a brownie point to the profile.
10. Class X, Class XII grades
Your Grade X and Grade XII marks, combined with your recent GPA, show your consistency in academics. If it shows a positive and improving trend, it is a good point for you.
11. Backlogs
If you have any backlogs while studying, your are likely to have a lower GPA, which can negatively impact your profile evaluation. However, if you have a good GPA even though you have had a few backlogs, you can simply defend it with explanations in your Admission Essay/SOP. If the overall profile has a positive outlook, backlogs might be ignored.
Sample Profile
- Class X: 92 %
- Class XII: 89 %
- Bachelor's GPA: 9.08
- Work Experience: 2 years (in relevant field)
- GRE: 311
- IELTS: 7.5
- Research papers: 1
How to evaluate?
- Evaluate each criterion out of 100.
- Multiply with the respective fraction.
- Add up all the values to get a final prediction for the probability of getting an admit.
Evaluation
| Criterion | Relative Importance ( % ) | My Profile Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's GPA (min. 60%) | ||
| Work Experience (2-4 years) | ||
| SOP | ||
| Class X, XII GRE IELTS GATE German language | ||
| Internships Workshops Research papers Extracurricular activities | ||
| LOR | ||
| CV | ||
| Backlogs | ||
| Grand Total |
Interpretation of the result
| Profile evaluation score | Chances of admit (in general) |
|---|---|
| 85 – 100 | Very high |
| 75 – 85 | High |
| 65 – 75 | Moderate |
| 60 – 65 | Low |
| 50 – 60 | Very low |
| < 50 | Nil |
Useful Tips
- If your Bachelor's final grade falls between 60% - 70 %, your chances of getting an admission may be low. However, if it falls under 60%, there is, unfortunately, very less chances of getting through.
- Even though you have a good CGPA, the relevance of the course and subjects in your Bachelor’s degree holds a lot of importance. For example, if you have pursued your Bachelor's in Instrumentation Engineering, it would be difficult to get admit for an Aerospace Engineering program. If you are switching from your domain of studies, then justify the same in your essay. Relevant work experience may come in handy if you are changing your realm of studies.
- Try to adjust your background and accomplishments to fit the master’s program you are applying to. This will help make results of your profile evaluation positive.
- Always list your recent experiences first while preparing any document.
- You may even have to go through telephonic/Skype interviews, questionnaires or/and online tests.
Why is Bachelor's grade so important?
Every year, universities receive hundreds of admission applications from all around the world, having varied profiles and strengths of all the students interested. All these profiles have different grading systems, and assessing all the profiles on a common ground would be a tedious task. Hence, your undergraduate GPA is an important factor in deciding your admit to university. During profile evaluation, universities often have a tendency to value a portfolio with a higher GPA above other credentials.
How can I improve my chances if my Bachelor's grade is less?
Here are a few ideas that can offset the effect of a low GPA, improve your profile evaluation and give you a slight upper hand on receiving an admit.
- Collect persuasive, positive academic/professional recommendation letters.
- Score well on all online tests, interviews (if any).
- Take up internships relevant to your domain.
- Do relevant online training and get certifications.
- If there are any non-academic situations which may have had an impact on your performance, you can justify so in your essay and indicate what you have done to get over those situations. You must not sound like you are making excuses.
