Irrefutably, the world is transforming at an unprecedented pace and so are the dynamics of success. Today, the idea of success is largely synonymous with holistic development and it should start right from high school. Simply put, in a growing competitive environment, well-rounded leaders have the best chance to thrive.
I say this from the virtue of my vast experience in the tertiary education sector. Almost all top universities of the world look for much more in students beyond their academics. Yes, academics have to be at the core of a student’s profile building. However, ignoring the significance of holistic development will be nothing short of a blunder.
As you read this blog, the world outside is becoming far more competitive. The chances of excelling both academically and in terms of career would have become a tad narrower. Individuals with average abilities and none to little exposure will not tread far. Irrespective of which field we talk about, the future belongs to exceptional leaders with diverse capabilities.
Going further, let us discuss how holistic development is cardinal to academic success and career success.
Holistic Development & Academic Success
Let me explain this with a simple example. The acceptance rates of Yale University and Princeton University are 4.6 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively. So, simply put, for every 100 students applying to the IVY League institutions, roughly 95 students face rejection. Why do you think that is the case?
Well, the answer is simple! These universities do not only want academic excellence. They rather look for well rounded individuals who have real passions and can make a positive impact. For top ranked universities anywhere in the world, excellence is a broad term. It also takes leadership skills, social impact, versatility of skills and personal branding into account besides academics.
“We strive to foster a culture of expansive inquiry, fresh thinking, searching discussion and freedom of thought – preparing students for leadership and engaged citizenship in the world.”
This is an excerpt from the official website of Stanford University. This exhibits the university’s mindset towards recruiting students and developing them into global citizens. All prestigious universities across the globe will look at it exactly the same way.
Moreover, a well rounded student profile will also make an individual a strong contender for distinguished study abroad scholarships. Top universities across the globe have profile-based scholarships to offer to students who portray genuine all round abilities. The worth of these study abroad scholarships can be as high as USD 50000 to USD 80000.
Now that is colossal, isn’t it?
You get to study at one of the top universities of the world with a scholarship that covers a large part of the expense. What more can you ask for in terms of academic success and securing your future? However, I reiterate, you have to be exceptional in so many ways to put up a contention for study abroad scholarships of this magnitude.
So, in a nutshell, holistic development opens doors for unparalleled academic opportunities. It enables you to put up a strong candidature for top universities across the globe that can fulfill your academic goals to the fullest.
In fact, even if you want to study at one of the best domestic universities, holistic development will still matter. You will have to sit through group discussions and personal interviews where your mindset, skills and diversity will be tested.
Any which way, systematic profile building and a diversity in capabilities will be vital for academic success. After all, academic success begins with getting admission to a credible institution of higher learning.
Holistic Development & Career Success
Let me ask a simple question, do all individuals with professional degrees have successful careers? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Again, it comes down to how competitive the job market is and it is only getting tighter each day.
What you need to acknowledge here is a paradigm shift in the global job market and hiring scenarios. Skill-based hiring is on the rise and educational backgrounds might be losing their relevance.
To substantiate, skill-based hiring refers to hiring methods which are more inclined to an individual’s abilities and skills irrespective of educational background. It is about hiring the right person for the right role.
As per statistics, 40 percent of employers now resort to skill-based hiring. The number is only expected to go higher in the years to come. What does this mean for students who would be competing for jobs in the next 5 to 10 years?
It implies that students will need to develop holistic competence over the coming years to have an edge over their peers. Finding a job and excelling in it will not solely rely on your educational qualification. It will rather be subject to how versatile your soft skills and hard skills are. Also. the innovation and value you bring to the table and how you can succeed with your confidence.
Employers in contemporary times expect candidates to have strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking abilities, problem solving proficiency and creative intellect. Now, all this would not come to you overnight or in a matter of a few days.
You will only be able to develop these capabilities effectively through a systematic journey of holistic development. The sooner you embark on that journey, the more worthwhile it will prove to be. In fact, your high school years will be the best time to commit to profile building and holistic development to reap the rewards in the future.
If you can make the most of it, you will always have an edge over your peers and you will have far better access to success.
What Does Holistic Development Entail?
I have been talking about holistic development at length and how it is critical to academic and career success. But what does holistic development exactly entail? What does it mean to be an all-rounder from the perspective of success?
To my understanding and from my experience, holistic development can be explained as a culmination of the following dimensions.
- Effective skill enhancement – critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, empathy, professional communication, negotiation skills, interview skills, et cetera.
- Experiential learning through worthwhile internship and job shadowing experiences.
- Academic development through online courses, summer schools, winter schools and research bootcamps.
- Enhancing academic/professional writing skills through rigorous practice.
- Participating in extracurricular, co-curricular and super-curricular activities of diverse nature in a thoughtful manner and with the idea of incremental achievements.
- Publications in the form of newspaper articles, review articles and research papers.
- Meaningful community service through self-led projects and collaborations with NGOs.
- Networking with like-minded individuals both offline and online.
- Effective and systematic personal branding through LinkedIn and other digital platforms by posting your opinions, achievements, experiences and so on.
- Competing for leadership roles, volunteering for leadership positions and acquiring exposure to effective leadership through real experiences.
- Projects like student start-ups, tech projects, social impact projects, research projects, et cetera.
- Engaging in educational tours, exploring new cultures, participating in immersion programs and giving new experiences a fair try.
So, from a student’s perspective, this is how I would like to explain holistic development. When you commit to holistic development, you evolve every day in terms of your confidence, competence and skills. This is exactly what the top universities and top employers seek out of candidates. The sooner you ingrain this realisation in your mind, the sooner you can start to act on it.