ML PROJECT REPORT

ON

“Foreign College Admission Prediction”

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

OF DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
BY
Furkan Mustafa(41)

SUPERVISOR

Mr. Rahul Kapse

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING

PILLAI HOC COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY, PILLAI HOCL EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS, HOCL
COLONY, RASAYANI, TAL: KHALAPUR, DIST: RAIGAD, 410207
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
[2024-25]
 Mahatma Education Society’s
Pillai HOC College of Engineering and
Technology, Rasayani-410207
2024-25

Certificate
This is to certify that the ML Project Report entitled “ Foreign College

Admission Prediction” is a bonafide work of Furkan Mustafa(41)

submitted to the University of Mumbai in partial fulfillment of the

requirement for the award of the degree of “Undergraduate” in “Computer

Engineering”.

Mr. Rahul Kapse

(Supervisor)
 Declaration
I declare that this written submission represents my ideas in my own words and where
others ideas or words have been included. I have adequately cited and referenced the
original sources. I also declare that I have adhered to all principles of academic honesty
and integrity have not misrepresented or fabricated or falsified any idea/data/fact/source
in our submission. I understand that any violation of the above will because for
disciplinary action by the Institute and can also evoke penal action from the sources
which have thus not been properly cited or from whom proper permission has not been
taken when needed.

Furkan Mustafa

Date:
 Abstract
The Foreign College Admission Prediction system utilizes machine learning models to
predict a student’s chances of being admitted to a foreign institution. The system is built
to process student profiles, including their academic achievements, test scores, and
extracurricular activities. It leverages advanced regression models to provide accurate
admission predictions. The system aids students and counsellors by offering insights
based on historical data to enhance decision-making.

Keywords: Foreign College Admission, Machine Learning, Regression, Student

Profiles, Admission Prediction.

i
Figure No. Figure Name Page No.

Fig 4.2.1 Block Diagram 15

Fig 4.2.2 Flow Diagram 16

Fig 4.2.3 Use Case Diagram 17

ii
 Table of

Contents

Content Page
No.
Abstract i

List of Figures ii

Chapter 1: Introduction 1
1.1 Introduction 2
1.2 Background 3
1.3 Motivation 4

Chapter 2: Literature Survey 6

2.1 Basic Terminologies 7
2.2 Existing System 8
2.3 Problem Statement 10

Chapter 3: Requirement Gathering 11

3.1 Software and Hardware Requirements 12

Chapter 4: Plan of Project 13

4.1 Method of Work 14
4.2 Proposed System Architecture 15

Chapter 5: Conclusion 18

References 20
Foreign College Admission prediction

Chapter 1
Introduction

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1.1 Introduction

Foreign college admission prediction using machine learning is an emerging field

that helps students and institutions streamline the admissions process. This system
is designed to predict the likelihood of a student being admitted to foreign
colleges based on key features such as academic performance, standardized test
scores, extracurricular activities, and more. By leveraging data from past
admissions, the system offers a data-driven approach to decision-making for both
students and admission officers.

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Key Components of the Admission Prediction System:

1. Input Data:
The system collects data from student profiles, including academic history
(SGPA), standardized test scores (GRE, TOEFL, etc.), work experience,
extracurricular activities, and other relevant metrics.

2. Preprocessing Module:
Data preprocessing is crucial for cleaning the input data, handling missing
values, normalizing features, and encoding categorical variables like gender
or nationality. This ensures that the data is in the correct format for the
machine learning models.

3. Feature Selection and Extraction:

Important features are selected that most affect the chances of admission.
These could include GPA, test scores, and other factors such as work
experience or recommendation letters. Feature extraction helps transform
raw data into numerical values that can be used in the predictive models.

4. Machine Learning Model:

A variety of machine learning algorithms such as Linear Regression,
Random Forest, and Neural Networks are trained on historical data to
predict admission chances. These models are evaluated using various
metrics to ensure they are accurate and reliable.

5. Prediction Output:
Once the input data is processed, the machine learning model provides a
probability score indicating the likelihood of admission to the target
institution. This score can be used by students to assess their chances and
plan their applications accordingly.

1.2 Background

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With the growing demand for higher education in foreign institutions, students
from around the world are competing for limited seats in prestigious universities.
Admission officers rely on a variety of factors to make their decisions, but as the
number of applicants grows, manual evaluation becomes inefficient. To address
this challenge, machine learning offers a scalable, data-driven solution that can
automate and optimize the admission prediction process.

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Key Points in Background:

1. Globalization of Higher Education:

As more students seek education abroad, there is a growing need to
efficiently manage and evaluate large volumes of applications from diverse
backgrounds.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making:

Traditional methods of reviewing applications rely heavily on subjective
evaluations, which may lead to inconsistencies. Machine learning models
can provide objective, data-driven insights, reducing the likelihood of bias
and improving the fairness of the admission process.

3. Challenges in Admission Prediction:

Predicting admissions is a complex task due to the variety of factors
involved, including both quantitative (GPA, test scores) and qualitative
aspects (essays, recommendations). While models are effective at handling
quantitative data, qualitative aspects can still pose a challenge.

4. Advances in Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics:

Machine learning techniques like regression, decision trees, and neural
networks have shown promising results in classification tasks, making them
well-suited for admission prediction. These models can analyze historical
data and identify trends, improving accuracy and efficiency.

5. Improving Institutional Decision-Making:

By using predictive models, universities can better understand the
likelihood of a student succeeding based on their profile. This allows
institutions to optimize their admission processes and make data-backed
decisions.

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6. Scaling for Large Volumes of Applications:

As top universities receive thousands of applications every year, machine
learning models offer the scalability needed to quickly process and predict
admission outcomes for a large number of applicants.

1.3 Motivation

The rising number of students applying to foreign universities and the complexity
of the admission process motivates the development of a system that can provide
predictive insights to ease decision-making for both students and institutions.

 Global Competition in Higher Education:

As more students apply for limited seats at foreign universities, there is a
growing need for tools that can help students target their applications more
strategically. A prediction system can provide insights into where a student
has the highest chances of admission
 Assisting Students in Decision-Making:
Applying to colleges abroad can be an overwhelming process. A machine
learning-based prediction system can help students prioritize their
applications and focus on universities where they are more likely to be
accepted based on their profile.
 Streamlining the Admissions Process:
For institutions, evaluating large volumes of applications can be time-
consuming. By automating the initial prediction of admission likelihood,
universities can reduce the manual workload of admission officers and
focus on evaluating borderline cases or exceptional candidates.

 Improving Accuracy in Predictions:

Machine learning models trained on historical data can identify patterns in
past admissions that are not immediately apparent through manual review.

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This improves the accuracy of predictions, helping both students and

universities make better decisions.

 Preparing for the Future of Education:

As the use of AI and machine learning in education continues to grow,
developing advanced tools for tasks like admission prediction aligns with
the broader trend of using technology to enhance education systems
globally.

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Chapter 2
Literature Survey

2.1 Basic Terminologies:

1. Machine Learning (ML):
A field of AI that enables computers to learn patterns from data and make
predictions or decisions without explicit programming.
2. Regression:
A type of supervised learning used to predict a continuous outcome based
on input data (e.g., predicting admission probability).
3. Classification:
A machine learning task that assigns data to predefined categories (e.g.,
admitted or not admitted).
4. Training Data:
Historical data used to teach the machine learning model by showing input
features and known outcomes.

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5. Test Data:
A dataset used to evaluate the performance of the trained model on unseen
data.
6. Feature Engineering:
The process of selecting and transforming variables (features) from raw
data to improve model performance.
7. Data Preprocessing:
Cleaning and preparing raw data for the model by handling missing values,
normalizing data, and encoding categorical features.
8. Cross-validation: A technique used to evaluate the performance of a model
by splitting the dataset into training and validation sets multiple times to
test the model's accuracy.

2.2 Existing System:

Several systems and platforms currently utilize machine learning models to
predict college admissions, particularly for foreign institutions. These systems
often rely on historical data such as academic scores, standardized test results,
extracurricular activities, and more. Some of the popular existing systems are:

 GradCafe Predictor: GradCafe is a platform that collects and shares

admission results from applicants across various fields of study. Its
prediction tool uses historical data from users to provide applicants with an
estimate of their chances of being admitted to specific programs based on
their profile. The system primarily focuses on user-generated data and
provides rough estimates, but its accuracy is limited due to the variability in
data and the absence of machine learning techniques for deep analysis.
 Admit Predictor: Admit Predictor is another widely used tool that

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leverages past admission data to predict outcomes. It incorporates

regression-based machine learning models to estimate the probability of
admission based on factors like GPA, GRE scores, and TOEFL results.
While the tool is useful for students to gauge their chances, it often lacks
detailed institution-specific insights, limiting its effectiveness in certain
cases
 CollegeVine: CollegeVine offers a more personalized prediction model
by using advanced machine learning algorithms to assess a student's
chances of admission based on a variety of factors, including
extracurricular involvement, essay quality, and personal background. Their
models incorporate both quantitative (test scores, GPA) and qualitative
(essays, recommendations) aspects of an application, providing more
accurate predictions. However, their system focuses mainly on U.S.
colleges and universities, limiting its scope for predicting admission to
foreign institutions.

Limitations of Existing Systems:

 Accuracy Variations: Most existing systems are limited by the quality

and amount of data available. Without comprehensive, institution-specific
datasets, their predictions can lack accuracy, especially for lesser-known
schools or programs.
 Lack of Qualitative Analysis: While some platforms like
CollegeVine consider qualitative factors such as essays and
recommendations, many tools are overly reliant on quantitative data (GPA,
test scores). This leaves out important aspects of the application process,
leading to incomplete predictions.
 Generalization Issues: Many models are trained on data from a limited
set of universities, which can cause them to generalize poorly to new or
foreign institutions with unique admission policies.
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 Inconsistent Data: User-reported data on platforms like GradCafe can

be unreliable, affecting the accuracy of the predictions.
 Low-Resource Institutions: Predictive tools often struggle with
institutions that don’t receive a high volume of applications, as the data
needed to train models effectively is scarce for these schools.

2.3 Problem Statement:

Despite the availability of various prediction tools, students seeking admission

to foreign colleges often face difficulties in accurately assessing their chances of
acceptance. Admission decisions depend on a range of factors, such as academic
scores, standardized test results, research experience, and extracurricular
activities, making the process highly complex. Existing systems may struggle to
generalize across different colleges and academic programs, as well as
accurately predict outcomes for diverse student profiles due to limitations in
training data and model performance.

Thus, there is a crucial need for a more advanced and accurate College
Admission Prediction System. This system should be capable of handling a
wide range of features—such as SGPA, GRE scores, TOEFL scores, research

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experience, and recommendation letters—while offering high accuracy across

different academic programs and student backgrounds. Moreover, the system
must be adaptable to evolving admission criteria and scalable to accommodate
new data, ensuring robust support for students applying to foreign institutions in
real-time scenarios.

Chapter 3

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Requirement Gathering

3.1 Software and Hardware Requirements:

Software Requirements:

 Programming Language: Python

 Libraries: scikit-learn, Pandas,Numpy,Matplotlib
 IDE: Google colab
 Operating System: Windows 11

Hardware Requirements:

 Processor: Multi-core (Intel i5 or equivalent).

 RAM: Minimum 8 GB (16 GB recommended).
 Storage: Minimum 256 GB SSD.
 GPU: Dedicated GPU (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce) for deep learning tasks.

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 Internet Connection: Stable connection for accessing datasets and libraries.

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Chapter 4
Plan of Project

4.1 Method of Work:

1. Data Loading and Exploration:

 Load the dataset using Pandas (admission_predict.csv).
 Explore the dataset: check shape, first/last rows, and column names.
 Review summary statistics and data types.

2. Data Preprocessing:
 Rename columns (GRE Score → GRE, etc.) and drop unnecessary ones
(e.g., Serial No.).
 Replace zero values in key columns (GRE, TOEFL, etc.) with NaN to
handle missing data.

3. Data Visualization:
 Plot histograms for features like GRE, TOEFL, CGPA, University
Rating, SOP, LOR, and Research to analyze distribution.

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4. Feature Selection:
 Separate the dataset into features (X) and target label (y), with y as the
admission probability (Probability).

5. Model Selection and Tuning:

 Test multiple models: Linear Regression, Lasso, SVR, Decision Tree,

Random Forest, and KNN.
 Use GridSearchCV to optimize hyperparameters and find the best
model, which turned out to be Linear Regression.

6. Model Evaluation:

 Apply cross-validation, achieving 81% accuracy with Linear

Regression.
 Split data into training (80%) and testing (20%) sets for training and
evaluation.

7. Model Training:
 Train the Linear Regression model on the training data, achieving an R²
score of 0.821 on the test set.

8. Prediction:
 Predict admission chances based on input features (GRE, TOEFL, CGPA,
etc.),

4.2 Proposed System Architecture:

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Fig 4.2.1 Block Diagram

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Foreign College Admission prediction

Fig 4.2.2 Flow Diagram

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Fig. 4.2.3 Use Case Diagram

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Chapter 5
Conclusion

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Conclusion

The foreign college admission prediction project provides a machine learning-

based solution to help students predict their chances of getting accepted into
foreign institutions. By analyzing key applicant data like SGPA, test scores, and
extracurricular activities, the system delivers data-driven admission predictions.
This automated process enhances decision-making for applicants, offering
insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. With the ability to
optimize model performance and display accurate results, the project streamlines
the application process, empowering students to make more informed and
strategic choices when applying to colleges abroad.

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References

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References
 Borah M.D., Application of knowledge based decision technique to predict
student enrolment decision , Recent Trends in Information Systems (Re TIS),
21-23 Dec. 2021,180-184.
 Ragab, A.H.M. , Hybrid recommender system for predicting college
admission, Intelligent Systems Design and Applications (ISDA), 29 Nov.
2022, 107-113.
 Rensong Dong,The module of prediction of College Entrance Examination
aspiration, Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery (FSKD), 31 May
2023 ,1559-1562.
 E. Gottlieb, “Using integer programming to guide college admissions
decisions: a preliminary report”, Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges,
Volume 17, Issue 2, Pages: 271 – 279, 2024

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