For international students applying to universities in Canada, the process can be a bit of a puzzle. Typically, you might find yourself accepted to a university that’s a couple of notches below what a local student with the same credentials would get—and often even below what you’d expect in the USA. My own resume wasn’t exactly stellar when I applied, yet a few key circumstances helped me secure a spot at a decent university. Here was my profile at the time:

  • IELTS: 8
  • CGPA: 8
  • Projects: 7 small projects in Machine Learning (completed as part of an Applied AI course)
  • YouTube: A channel for Machine Learning tutorials (I had just 4 videos, though one reached over 25,000 views)

I applied to a mix of programs:

  • Carleton CS – Reject
  • Concordia CS – Reject
  • Trent Big Data – Reject
  • Memorial CE – Reject
  • Lakehead CS – Accepted
  • Carleton IT – Accepted

Looking back, there are a few missteps that stand out:

  1. Not applying to enough places:Admissions can be unpredictable. Casting a wider net might have increased my chances.
  2. A fancy resume that didn’t work in my favour:I opted for a designed resume that, while visually appealing, didn’t play well with automated parsing systems. A simple, straightforward resume—much like the one on this blog—would likely have been a better choice, given the time constraints and preferences of admissions officers.
  3. A Statement of Purpose that missed the mark:In hindsight, my SOP ended up being little more than an extended resume. Instead of simply listing my achievements, it could have been a more effective platform to share my thoughts, motivations, and the ideas that drive me.
  4. Starting the application process too late:My delayed start meant I missed several deadlines, which limited the number of programs I could apply to. There’s another interesting facet to my story. The IT department at Carleton requires prospective students to secure a supervisor before admission. I reached out to several professors with modest expectations. One professor, however, responded and invited me to an interview. We discussed my projects and our shared research interests—a conversation that made all the difference. After that, I joined the research program under the supervision of Dr. David Thue. Unlike many other institutions where grades are the primary focus, Carleton’s process allowed me to showcase my potential in a personal interview. Here’s a brief timeline of my Carleton IT application process:
    • Feb 18: Applied to Carleton IT
    • April 7: Received a reply from a professor
    • April 24: Had the interview
    • April 30: Received personal confirmation from the professor
    • May 8: Got the official offer letter from Carleton Ultimately, I’ve learned that the name of the university isn’t everything—having a strong co-op program can be far more important. I’ll delve into that topic in another post.