Profile building: what counts beyond grades
In short
- Grades are only one part of a candidate’s overall picture.
- Depth over quantity: a few meaningful activities count more than many superficial ones.
- Profile building isn’t an artificial CV; it means meaningful experiences linked to your interests.
Two candidates with the same grades. One has only grades; the other has a project they started on their own, volunteering work and an interest they have developed for years. Who will the admissions committee remember? That is the essence of profile building.
What profile building is
It is the organised development of experiences that show who you are beyond your grades: activities, experiences, projects, awards, volunteering and personal interests. It plays a big role mainly at competitive universities abroad, where assessment is more holistic.
What really counts
- Depth: consistency and progress in one activity over years.
- Initiative: something you started or organised yourself.
- Link to the subject: experiences that show why you are interested in what you want to study.
- Impact: what changed thanks to what you did, for you or for others.
Ideas by interest
- Science / engineering: projects, competitions, robotics teams, programming.
- Economics / management: student enterprise activities, research, organising events.
- Humanities / social sciences: writing articles, debating, volunteering, Model United Nations.
- Health sciences: volunteering with relevant organisations, scientific reading and projects.
These are only indicative. The right profile starts from what genuinely interests you.
What it isn’t
Profile building does not mean artificially creating a CV. It means helping the pupil develop meaningful experiences that connect with their interests and goals. Admissions committees can easily tell the difference.
When to start
The earlier the better, ideally from the 1st year of Lykeio or even before. These experiences later become the material for your personal statement and essays. See the timeline too.
How we help
We help pupils build a more complete academic and personal path in good time. See our profile building service.
Frequently asked questions
What is profile building?
The organised development of experiences beyond grades, such as activities, projects, awards and volunteering, that show who the candidate is.
Do I need lots of activities?
Not necessarily. A few activities with depth, consistency and real interest count more than many superficial ones.
When does profile building start?
Ideally from the 1st year of Lykeio or even earlier, so that the experiences have depth when it is time to apply.
