For many UAE students preparing to study abroad, especially at postgraduate level, the pressure feels relentless.
- Get top grades
- Have multiple internships
- Do research
- Join student societies
- Publish papers
- Build a LinkedIn brand
And somewhere in between? Sleep, mental health, and self-reflection often get left behind.
At Erudmite, we want to say this clearly: You don’t have to be excellent at everything to build a great career.
1. The Myth of the Perfect All-Rounder
A recent article from Times Higher Education made an important point: we’ve created a heptathlon-style model for success in academia and careers. Just like athletes in a heptathlon are expected to excel in seven different disciplines, students now feel pressure to do the same across academics, leadership, volunteering, social media presence, and research.
But here’s the truth: Most successful people didn’t master all seven. They picked two or three and went deep.
2. The UAE Student Context: Why This Pressure Feels Even Stronger Here
For students from the UAE, this pressure often feels amplified. Family expectations are high. Social comparison is common. And many students fear falling behind peers studying in the UK, Canada, or Australia.
But chasing every “achievement area” at once can lead to burnout, poor mental health, and even disengagement.
That’s why it’s essential to focus on alignment, not appearance.
3. Play to Your Strengths And Own Them
Here’s what we tell students at Erudmite during career counselling:
- If you’re great at research, go deep into that.
- If you shine in leadership, take on project coordination roles.
- If you’re a natural communicator, build your personal brand and network.
You don’t have to be the best at everything. You just have to be clear about what your strengths are — and how they align with your future goals.
4. Quality Over Quantity Always
Employers (and future PhD supervisors) care more about:
- The depth of your achievements
- Your ability to reflect on what you’ve learned
- How you can apply your experience to solve real problems
Rather than listing 10 average internships, it’s better to focus on one meaningful project that taught you resilience, leadership, or problem-solving.
5. Mental Health Matters
One of the most overlooked areas in student preparation is emotional sustainability.
Trying to meet unrealistic standards can lead to anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt — especially when studying abroad, away from family support systems.
At Erudmite, we build this into our student prep:
You don’t have to break yourself to build your career.
6. The Erudmite Approach: Personalisation, Not Pressure
We help UAE students focus on:
- Career alignment: Choosing courses and extracurriculars that suit long-term goals
- Mindset building: Preparing emotionally for life abroad
- Balanced application portfolios: Showing strength without spreading yourself thin
Because it’s not about collecting certificates. It’s about building a story that makes sense for you.
7. A New Definition of Success
Success isn’t scoring 10/10 in every area.
It’s about knowing your strengths, building on them, and choosing a path that matches your goals, skills, and personality.
So when you start your study abroad journey, remember this:
You don’t have to run a heptathlon.
You just have to run your race — well and with purpose.
Inspiration Behind This Article
This article was inspired by a piece published in Times Higher Education titled “An Academic Career Is Not a Heptathlon” by Tim Bradshaw (May 2024). The original article focused on the unrealistic pressure placed on early-career academics to excel in multiple, unrelated areas all at once.
At Erudmite, we found this message especially relevant for UAE students preparing to study abroad. The same pressure now exists at the student level—where many feel they must juggle grades, leadership, internships, volunteering, and personal branding just to feel “good enough.”
We’ve adapted the core message to reflect the emotional and academic realities of international students from the UAE.
Source:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/academic-career-not-heptathlon
FAQs
1. Do universities abroad expect students to excel in every area?
No. They value focused, authentic profiles that show self-awareness and alignment.
2. What if I don’t have leadership experience?
Focus on your academic, research, or technical strengths. Quality matters more than ticking every box.
3. How can Erudmite help me build a strong profile?
Through free counselling, personalised guidance, and workshops on CV building, SOP writing, and interview prep.
4. Can overloading my application hurt my chances?
Yes. Admissions teams often spot when a profile looks over-stuffed or lacks depth.
5. Does Erudmite offer emotional prep for students going abroad?
Absolutely. We cover both academic and emotional readiness as part of our support model.
