By Lindsey Kundel, Editor in Chief, InGenius Prep
Every morning, I watch my son test out new sounds as he begins to speak. For most toddlers, first words are exciting enough—but for him, it’s an extraordinary challenge. At home, he’s surrounded by English, Portuguese, and Italian. Outside our door, he encounters Mandarin Chinese. Learning across four languages is no small feat. Some days he nails it; other days he looks frustrated. But either way, he’s building resilience, patience, and adaptability—skills that don’t yet appear on a resume, but that matter profoundly.
I see the same unfolding in my students abroad.
Whether it’s my student in Singapore, Guangzhou, or Taipei, all share a common thread that goes beyond their transcript and test scores.
The Invisible Work of Living Abroad
In a recent meeting with one young woman I work with in Guangzhou, she admitted the deep embarrassment she felt about not being “good enough” at English—and even not liking the subject—despite wanting to study in the United States. I stopped her right then. Not only were we having this vulnerable conversation in English, but we were doing it early in our relationship, and online no less. Her GPA isn’t perfect, but her persistence and self-awareness tell a more important story: she has learned to navigate cultural and linguistic gaps with courage, and she has developed a resilience that will serve her far beyond the classroom. Her story is both remarkable and frustratingly common.
- For admissions readers, what could look like an academic weakness is, in fact, evidence of the adaptability and determination that colleges prize.
She later told me: “I thought my English made me unqualified. I didn’t realize it actually showed how much I’d grown.”
Another student I work with in Singapore demonstrates the same theme in a very different context. Though he grew up in Hong Kong, he was called to complete Singapore’s national service. Overnight, he had to adjust to military life in a country that wasn’t truly “home,” surrounded by peers with different backgrounds and expectations. He speaks multiple languages and has lived across cultures his whole life, but none of that showed up in his GPA, which is “solid” rather than perfect. What stands out is his flexibility, resilience, and ability to pursue his passions—whether in robotics, language learning, or leadership—despite constant transitions.
- For admissions officers, his record of adapting and thriving under pressure shows maturity that can’t be captured by numbers alone.
He summed it up simply: “National service wasn’t easy, but it taught me how quickly I can adapt.”
Often, the focus in international education lies in logistics—school systems, credit transfers, navigating curricula. But what doesn’t make it onto applications like my student’s are the smaller, daily shifts students undergo:
- Mastering new languages and accents.
- Navigating unwritten cultural norms.
- Rebuilding friendships from scratch.
- Balancing identity across cultural worlds.
These experiences don’t directly affect GPA—but research links multilingualism to enhanced adaptability, cultural awareness, and executive functioning, including problem-solving and self-control (Contentech, 2024; Omer, 2024).
Why Admissions Officers Care (Or Should Care)
Colleges don’t just seek academic excellence—they’re looking for students with resilience, perspective, and emotional intelligence. Multiple admissions experts affirm this: in a recent Business Insider article, a longtime Ivy League admissions officer said the three most valued soft skills in applications are adaptability, intellectual vitality, and executive functioning—even above spotless grades (Business Insider, 2025).
Additionally, data from CollegeData shows that 70% of admission officers rate character attributes (like resilience, empathy, and leadership) as “considerably” or “moderately” important (CollegeData, 2022). And according to NACAC’s Fall 2023 report, while high school grades and curriculum strength remain top factors, character traits still carry considerable weight—28% of colleges listed character attributes as considerably important, and 37.5% said they held moderate importance (NACAC, 2023).
And international students are at the center of this story: the Institute of International Education reports that more than 1 million international students are now enrolled in U.S. institutions, with Asian students representing nearly 70% of that total (IIE, 2024). Their presence is shaping not only campus demographics but also admissions priorities.
Living abroad naturally cultivates the very traits—resilience, adaptability, and perspective—that U.S. universities say they want in their communities.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth: Colleges only care about grades and test scores.
Reality: 70% of admissions officers say character traits like resilience and leadership are “considerably” or “moderately” important—and for some schools, those traits outweigh small differences in GPA or scores (CollegeData, 2022).
What Admissions Officers Might Not See
But here’s the catch: unless framed intentionally, these strengths stay hidden.
- Frequent moves can look like instability.
- Language struggles may read as a weakness.
- Cultural bridging—translating or mediating—might go unnoticed unless lifted to leadership.
Admissions readers may miss what’s shaping the student unless those experiences are named and narrated.
Helping Students Translate the Experience
This is where counseling becomes critical. Students shouldn’t just list experiences—they must turn them into growth narratives:
- Rather than “attended three schools,” students might say: “I learned to adapt quickly—leading group discussions even before feeling fluent in the language.”
- Rather than “struggled with Mandarin,” they could say: “Through daily language challenges, I developed perseverance, self-advocacy, and empathy.”
With thoughtful framing, the invisible becomes visible, highlighting traits admissions officers are actively looking for.
A Parent’s Parallel Perspective
Watching my son push toward communication across four languages, I see how hard—and how formative—this process can be. Language, for him, can feel both a barrier and a superpower. This perspective deepens my empathy for students who often feel “in between” cultures—and reminds me that what seems ordinary to them is, in fact, extraordinary.
The Real Story
Ultimately, admissions success is less about how full a resume is and more about how clearly a student reveals the human behind it. For students abroad, the experience of living between worlds is its own education.
What This Means for Families
For international families preparing for U.S. admissions, here are three key takeaways:
- Encourage reflection. Help your child name the small, everyday moments of growth—like adapting to a new school system or navigating a new language.
- Don’t undervalue resilience. Even if GPA or test scores aren’t perfect, colleges care about adaptability, empathy, and perspective.
- Seek guidance. A counselor can help students frame their experiences so that admissions officers see strength rather than instability.
If your family is navigating a global move—or if your child is wondering how to turn these experiences into compelling admissions narratives—our team at InGenius can help craft those hidden stories into powerful applications. Reach out to us for a free consultation today!
References
- Business Insider (2025). A seasoned college admissions expert highlights the importance of three key soft skills—adaptability, intellectual vitality, and executive functioning. https://www.businessinsider.com/college-admissions-counselor-looks-for-soft-skills-application-2025-5
- CollegeData (2022). 9 Personality and Character Traits Colleges Look for in Applicants. https://www.collegedata.com/resources/getting-in/9-personal-qualities‑colleges‑look‑for‑in‑applicants
- Contentech. (2024). 7 Benefits of Multilingual Education. https://contentech.com/benefits-of-multilingual-education/
- Institute of International Education (IIE) – Open Doors Report 2024 https://www.iie.org/publications/open-doors-2024/
- NACAC (2023). Factors in the Admission Decision: Fall 2023. https://www.nacacnet.org/factors-in-the-admission-decision/
- Omer, S. (2024). The Advantages of Multilingualism: Literature Review. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383948429_Literature_Review_The_Advantages_of_Multilingualism