college app resume format

How to Write a Resume for Colleges Using Your Common App + Examples

While many college applications do not require a resume (and many outright ban them), knowing how to write a resume for college using your Common App is an incredible time-saving move for a high school senior. Making a college application resume will help you when applying for internships, jobs, and scholarships. In this guide, we'll provide tons of example college resumes, tips for how to format your resume, and even templates you can download and use right away .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Part 1: Do I Need to Send a Resume to Colleges?
• Part 2: How to Write a Resume for Colleges Using Your Common App
• Part 3: Additional resume tips and another awesome sample resume

Do I Need to Send a Resume to Colleges? (Part 1)

Before you start making a resume to send to colleges, you should first consider this important question:

Do I need to create and send a resume to colleges?

What do I mean? Well, a few things.  Ask yourself:

1. DO MY SCHOOLS EVEN WANT ME TO SEND THEM A RESUME? 

Find out by checking each university admissions web page or logging onto the Common App to see which schools include a place to upload a resume. Each school has a different policy on whether or not to submit a supplemental resume and it’s usually a good idea to follow their instructions. #Sarcasm

The University of Virginia says clearly that they do not want students sending additional resumes .  Other schools like Brown University, Boston College, and Carnegie Mellon provide space for uploading optional resumes in the Common App, whereas some schools like the University of Texas - Austin say that submitting a resume is “strongly recommended.”  i.e. You should probably do it.

In short, look at what each school requires.

2. SECONDLY, DOES MY RESUME PROVIDE INSIGHT THAT ISN’T ALREADY ON MY APPLICATION? (OR JUST BECAUSE I CAN SEND ONE, DOES THAT MEAN I SHOULD?)

So if submitting a resume is optional, how do you know if your resume provides value beyond  your Activities List?  Easy. Take a look at your entire application, including your main Common App essay, your Activities List (maximum of 10 spots and 5 honors/awards), your supplemental essays, and your Additional Info section. 

( Note:  If you haven’t noticed, that’s a lot of space to submit information about what you’ve been doing.)

Then ask yourself this: Is there something important about my application that is not already being highlighted or communicated clearly to the university admissions board? One example might be:

Significant work experience. Have you worked multiple jobs almost full-time to help support your family? Or did you have an awesome internship that you couldn’t fully explain in the 150 characters that the Common App provides? Or maybe you spent hundreds of hours studying marketing and internet search engine optimization and started your own business? It might be worth mentioning these in more detail. Take a look at this (real) resume and ask yourself: Would it have been possible for this student to include all of this detail in 10 spots of 150 characters each? Probably not.

Example College Resume Template #1: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

I know, this resume looks unreal for a high school senior.  But even if your experience is 1/3rd of this and you’re not able to fit it into your Activities List, consider creating a separate resume that highlights your unmentioned accomplishments and experience

Sometimes you just need more space for all of your activities!

Here are some other reasons to create a separate resume:

So many awards. If you’ve won 28 awards as Captain of a Nationally Ranked Colorguard team, it might be worth creating a separate resume to list them all, since they definitely won’t fit on the 5 spots they provide you.

So much community service . If you’ve been involved with 6 or 8 separate service organizations in different capacities or led an unusually high number of projects, it might be worth creating a separate resume to highlight each of those and what you’ve done, rather than taking up all of the space on your extracurricular activities list.

So many responsibilities. Did you have a lot of different jobs within one particular organization? Is it difficult to list both what your responsibilities were and the impact you had on the organization in 150 characters? The resume is your chance to go into greater detail about your diverse roles and responsibilities, as long as it communicates and highlights new information.

IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE:  If there are just one or two smaller activities that you couldn’t fit in the ten spaces provided on the Common App activities list, you can actually probably just include those in the Additional Information section and not have to create a separate resume just to include those two. Check out this blog post  to learn how to use this space. 

3. LASTLY, ARE THERE OTHER REASONS FOR CREATING A RESUME?

Yes! For example, if you are:

Applying for outside scholarships: When applying to scholarships from 3rd party organizations, many require resumes in addition to essays.

Applying to jobs or Internships: If applying to either of these as a high school student or college freshman, it would be easy to tweak your college resume and gear it towards specific internships or summer jobs.

Attending an interview: If you have college interviews with alumni or for jobs or internships, it might be a good idea (read: you probably should) bring a copy of your resume to provide some talking points during your interview. They may have seen it already, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Read on to part 2 to see how to turn your Common Application into a simple and clear resume for your university admissions application and see two more awesome sample college resumes.

How to Write a Resume for Colleges Using Your Common App (Part 2)

To follow along,  click this link to open up a template , go to File > Make a copy and copy it to your Google Drive and replace the information with your own as you read.

To begin, your basic resume should have three sections: education, experience, and honors.

Oh hey, look. The Common App also has sections like these: “Current or Most Recent School”, “Activities”, and “Honors”. Reminder: this guide is how to translate these sections directly from the Common App into your resume sections. It’ll save you lots of time and produce a solid resume.

And if you haven’t yet completed your Common App Activities List,  read this article and complete that first before going any further. 

Here’s how to translate each section:

This is the simplest part. No need for fancy footwork--just plug in information. Your resume could look like this:

High School Name , City, STATE (start year – end year)                 

GPA: Weighted: #.## / Unweighted: #.##      SAT Subject Tests: SAT: ####                                                             Subj 1: ### ACT: ##                                                                  Subj 2: ###

Easy as this: Copy and paste all of the components asked for in each entry on the Common App into a new entry in the “experience” section of your resume. 

Here are the components that your Common App asks for:

Activity type.

Position/Leadership description and organization name. (50 character limit)

Please describe this activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received, etc. (150 character limit)

Participation grade levels.

Timing or participation: (Hours spent per week, Weeks spent per year)

Example of Common App entry:

Volunteer activity

Chief Facilitator, International Feed-the-Youth Summit, Philadelphia

Developed lesson plans, lobbied local businesses for sponsorships, held marketing sessions, established partnerships to run 2-wk leadership camp.

Summer 2015.

Here’s what that might look like when plugged into a resume:

Developed lesson plans, lobbied local businesses for sponsorships, held marketing sessions, established partnerships to run 2-wk leadership camp (Summer 2015).

Clean and simple. Feel free to break this down into bullet points and add a bit more detail so it looks like the examples in this guide. Maybe like this:

Chief Facilitator, International Feed-the-Youth Summit, Philadelphia (Summer 2015)

Held marketing sessions and lobbied local businesses to establish partnerships to run 2-week leadership camp

Developed lesson plans on leadership for 60 middle and high school participants

Also easy: Put all of the components listed per entry in your “honors” section into an entry into your “honors” section of your resume.

Your honors section in your Common App asks for these components:

Honors title.

Grade level.

Levels of recognition.

Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction

If you were to translate this into a resume, it might look like this:

Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction,  National Level (2014)

But don’t stop there. Notice you have 100-characters on your Common App, and you can use that space to emphasize selectivity. How? Like this:

Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction  – National Level (2014) - Award given to students scoring an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD INCLUDE ON MY RESUME?

There might be a few more things to include, if you have them. It also might depend on the purpose of your resume. Examples:

Additional Educational Opportunities

A summer enrichment experience such as the Center for Talented Youth, the Research Science Institute (RSI), or Duke TIP

MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses)

Online classes from a community college or elsewhere

Proficiencies:

Programming languages like Java, Python or C++

Spoken languages with proficiency level

Significant experience with software like Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, or others.

A cover letter:

If you’re using your resume for internship or job experiences, include a short half- to full-page explanation of your goals and experience that will make you an asset to the organization.

For examples of how to incorporate these into your resume, see these examples below.

Example College Resume Template #2: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Example College Resume Template #3: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Example College Resume Template #4: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Example College Resume Template #5: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

Example College Resume Template #6: Microsoft Word or Google Docs

For more on college resume templates , check out our other blog post.

Additional resume tips and another awesome sample resume (Part 3)

Finally, before you go off into the world and begin creating your resume, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind as you format and structure your resume. And, rather than repeat tips already provided elsewhere, here's a handy guide (thanks Klein High School!) that includes a few general tips, important sections to include, a few DOs and DON'Ts, and one more awesome resume example

Looking for some help with those supplemental essays? check out my course below.

another great read: how to decide which extracurricular activity to write about

*** Enter the $2,000 College Transitions No Essay Scholarship Contest ***

Resume for College Application – Examples & Template

July 8, 2024

College application resumes are different from professional resumes. There’s a certain way your resume for college applications should be to ensure your profile stands out. In one page, your resume will need to cover your academics, background, extracurricular activities and achievements. So to be asked to complete a resume, on top of everything else that goes into the college application? We know, it sounds like a lot. If you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Down below, we’ll dive right into what a college resume is and how to write a college resume. You’ll even find three college application resume examples and a college application resume template to help you start your own.

Let’s have a look at how to begin your resume for your college applications.

What goes into a college application resume?

A resume for your college application, otherwise known as your high school resume, should be one page long. It’s a space for you to show colleges all of your most important activities and achievements that they wouldn’t necessarily know in other parts of your college application. The overall objective of the college application resume is to demonstrate the bigger picture of who you are. It’s essentially a summary of what you’ve done, assembled in a way that serves as a snapshot of your greatest achievements.

There are a few core sections that will go into your college application resume:

– Contact information: Your full name, home address, email and phone number should be at the very top of your college application resume. The header of your resume should have all of this information. This includes any LinkedIn page or personal website that showcases your achievements. – Educational details and academic accomplishments: The full name of your high school and the dates of when you attended should go here. This is where you’ll include your GPA, your AP or IB courses, your ACT or SAT scores and your class ranking, if it’s significant.

College Resume Template (Continued)

Extracurricular activities and work experience: Any special volunteering, internships, part-time jobs, or even had a unique experience studying or working abroad? You should mention those moments here. This section of the resume will amplify what kind of person you are in the community around you. To better understand you as an applicant, admissions officers want to know where you spend your time outside of school. Did you have any leadership positions? Was there a special job or position you had? – Awards and honors: If you have any accomplishments that you’re proud of, you should list them here. This is the part of the college application resume to list achievements like your first prize in a district-wide writing competition or your Most Valuable Player award in your tennis team. Remember, both academic awards and extracurricular awards can be mentioned, so be sure to include any relevant recognitions. – Special skills and interests: Let’s say you speak more than one language and you’re passionate about all things student leadership. Perhaps you know everything about computers. This part of the college application resume is where you should list those unique skills. Think of strong skills and interests you possess, while making sure they reflect your overall college application profile and ambitions. If you have any particular interests or even hobbies that can strengthen your application, then go for it.

Putting together the resume for your college applications can be a tedious process, so it’s best to pay careful attention to every line. You’ll want to focus on the format , style of language , brief but concise descriptions and crucial details .

Resume for College Application – Examples & Templates

College resume template #1.

Here are three different resume examples for college applications. They’ll go from the most basic college application resume to the most detailed:

1) For a standard college application resume, take a look at this student interested in studying anthropology or literature in college. The following is a very standard college application resume:

Dakota Lee 909 Park Avenue Portland, Oregon (012) 345-6789 [email protected]

Bloomington High School, Class of 2024 GPA: 3.85

• Lead students (K-6) in all camp-related activities relating to literature immersion.
• Organize art projects three days a week with senior counselors.
• Coordinate students’ final art show for parents.
• Assisted graduate students in their anthropology research 4 hours every week.
• Presented at the end of every month my own research findings between literature and anthropology.
• President, Student Anthropology Club: 2021-Present
• Vice President, Bloomington Book Club: 2022-Present
• Team Captain, JV Tennis Team: 2021-Present
• First Chair Violinist, Symphony Orchestra: 2022-Present
• High Honors List: 2024
• Principal’s List: 2023-2024
• National Honors Society: 2021-2024
• Most Valuable Player, JV Tennis Team: 2023-2024
• Languages: Spanish, French, Japanese
• Computer: Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop

College Resume Template #2

2) The next college application resume includes more details than the resume above, with a different layout. You’ll find that there is a short description of the student’s character and interests under a section called “Educational Goal” at the top:

Jon Jackson 678 Orange Street Austin, Texas (123) 456-7890 [email protected]

Educational Goal

Diligent, driven student with a passion for business and economic development. Dedicated to improving the livelihood of small businesses across the state of California. Focused on collaborating with business leaders, community organizers and students across the country to create a stronger, more sustainable economy.

High School Diploma                                                                                                                    2024 Springfield High School Austin, Texas GPA: 3.98 Courses: AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Macroeconomics, AP US History, AP Spanish

Austin Chamber of Commerce – Student Representative                                                     2021-2024 Austin, Texas – Served as representative of public schools across the city of Austin, advocating for student perspectives on Austin’s economic initiatives. – Developed campaigns and city-wide initiatives to encourage more student involvement in local elections, distributed pamphlets door-to-door to invite neighborhoods to participate in city-wide census polls. – Relayed information from commerce meetings back to our school district. – Advocated for the support of small businesses. – Created a bimonthly “Student Visit Day” to continue open communication between decision makers and high school student leaders across Austin.

• President, Business Club 2021-Present
• Treasurer, Young Economists 2022-Present
• Student Volunteer, Save the Children 2022-Present
• Editor, Springfield Student Gazette 2022-Present
• High Honors List 2024
• Principal’s List     2023-2024
• National Honors Society     2021-2024
• Best Student Entrepreneur, Business Club     2023-2024
• Languages: Spanish, German, Arabic
• Advocacy, Debate, Public Speaking
• Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop

College Resume Template #3

Now let’s look at a college application resume that has a different structure and even more details. Keep in mind the first two resumes you just saw above:

Cassandra Zimmerman Los Angeles, CA ✦ (012) 987-6543 ✦ [email protected]

Driven student with a track record of community and student leadership. Passionate about women’s rights and girls’ education, eager to make a difference through service and mentorship. Committed to applying my leadership and communication skills to contribute to my college community, I am excited to major in business marketing and sociology to create a better working environment for women around the world.

High School Diploma                                                                                       Expected in June 2024 Valley High School Los Angeles, CA GPA: 3.88 – Awards: Academic Achievement Award (2021-2023), Community Service Excellence Award (2022-2023), Student Role Model Award (2024) – Courses: AP Microeconomics, AP Literature, AP European History, AP Spanish, AP French – Clubs: Journalism Club, UNICEF Club, Girls Empowerment Club, Entrepreneurial Club – Sports : Track and field team captain

• Critical thinking
• Innovation and adaptability
• Project management
• Organization and coordination

Professional Skills

Leadership – Led a team of 10 senior students across the Los Angeles School District to meet with the Mayor of Los Angeles and discuss our hopes for women in business. – Steered the track and field team as team captain, maintaining a positive spirit throughout every season. – Initiated the weekly column of our student newspaper to focus on areas of local community improvement. Communication – Showcased results from community polling to 50 members of the school district leadership. – Proactively participated in journalism club, leading student investigation pieces on local incidents affecting women-led businesses. – Collaborating across different school clubs to foster an interdisciplinary education and promote a united community. Computer and Technology Proficiency – Highly skilled in Microsoft Excel to aggregate and process data, while also proficient in the entire Microsoft Office Suite applications. – Adept in creating social media campaigns on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and TikTok.

Work History

University of Southern California, Young Leaders Internship                                      2022-2024 Los Angeles, CA YMCA Girls Leadership                                                                                                 2021-2024 San Francisco, CA

Volunteer Experience

UNICEF Local Chapter Volunteer                                                                             2021-2024 Volunteered as a student leader UNICEF member for our local chapter every month. Disseminated pamphlets and helped organize Los Angeles events that focused on girls’ education. Mentoring freshmen with All Hands On Deck                                                            2022-2024 Served as a mentor to freshmen students across the Los Angeles Unified School District. Coordinated activities with arts organizations and businesses across the city to help struggling students have more access to educational and extracurricular resources. Dog Rescue Volunteer                                                                                                 2021-2024 Participated as a weekly volunteer at the local animal shelter to help clean, feed and walk dogs. Promoting adoption events and animal rescue awareness across the city.

College Application Resume Styles

By looking at the resumes for college applications above, you’ll see that the three are quite different from each other. The first was a very simple college application resume example, while the second was a bit more informative, though not entirely. The third college application resume example provided more background information and relevant details. However, it’s always important to keep in mind that you’ll want your college application resume to be around one page.

The top general tips for writing your resume for college applications are:

1) Write your contact information and professional email address. Make sure your email address is something that colleges won’t have to think twice about.

2) Begin with education . Colleges know that you won’t have a lot of work experience. They’re academic institutions, so first and foremost, they’re interested in your academic performance. Start your college application resume with your education.

3) Bulleted lists over paragraphs. Elaborate on your achievements and experiences with brief descriptions in bullet points, not in lengthy paragraphs . Admissions officers will want to read clear and concise descriptions that are straight to the point.

4) Use strong action verbs that empower you. If you led a group of children at camp or presented your research in front of a committee, use an action verb that encapsulates your responsibilities. This means that instead of writing “It involved leading groups of children…” try something like “Directed groups of children to…”

5) One page does the trick. It’s tempting to want to make your resume as long and informative as possible. But the moment that happens, the quicker the reader will lose interest. College admissions offices are looking through thousands of applications. Keeping your college application resume concise will only work in your favor. Doing so is also a great exercise for future job applications and helps you decide what you really want to focus on sharing.

As seen from the examples above, you can personalize the style of your college application resume. But a general college application resume template will look like the following:

Your name Home address, City, State (Your) phone number | [email protected]

The name of your high school                                                                City, State, Year of Graduation

GPA: Your score ￭  SAT: Your score  ￭  ACT: Your score

Relevant Coursework : The names of any relevant, important classes

Your role, The name of your experience                                                                      City, State, Year

• Description of your experience.

Awards/Honors

• The name of your award: Date you were awarded

Description of your award. Any specific numbers and information that provides more context.

Additional Skills

List your skills that are relevant to your overall college application. They can be both professional and unique skills.

Resume for College Application – Examples & Template – Additional Resources 

• How to Complete the Common App Activities Section
• How to Complete the Honors Section on the Common App 
• 300 Best Colleges in the US
• Common App Essay Prompts 2024-25
• 10 Instructive Common App Examples 
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay 
• Application Strategies

Joanna Hong

With a BA from Pitzer College and an MA from University College London, Joanna has worked in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles covering many cultural and political issues with organizations such as Byline Media, NK News, and Free Turkey Media. A freelancer for The New York Times, her work has also appeared in Newsweek, Dazed and Confused Magazine, and The Guardian, among others. In addition, Joanna was the recipient of the 2021 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship in Fiction and is currently completing her first novel.

• 2-Year Colleges
• ADHD/LD/Autism/Executive Functioning
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• General Knowledge
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Middle School Success
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

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Nationally Recognized College Expert

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• Resume Examples

How to Write a College Application Resume (+ Examples)

Looking for the perfect college resume template? Learn how to write your college application resume with this guide and secure a spot in the top colleges.

You spent a long time in high school, studying diligently to grasp the chance to finally get into college.

To show admission officers that you’re the best candidate to join their prestigious school, you might need a resume for college application. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. I’ll show you how to write a resume that gets you into college.

In this guide, I’ll show you:

• 4 college application resume examples.
• How to write a resume for college application that gets you into the best institutions.
• What to include on a high school resume for college.
• Tips & tricks to get your college resume template noticed.

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Looking for a different kind of college resume? We've got you covered:

• Academic CV Template
• College Freshman Resume
• College Student Resume
• Engineering Student Resume

High School Graduate

• High School Student Resume
• Law School Application
• Law Student Resume
• Recent College Graduate Resume
• Undergraduate College Resume

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- Students usually finish building their resume in just 26.3 minutes.

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- Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Multitasking rank as the most common skills listed by users.

- 29.73% of our users include certifications on their resumes. 

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Now, I’ll show you one fantastic college application resume. You can find the other three at the bottom of this article.

College Application Resume Example

Phoebe Parsons

Personal Info

Address: 731 Bay Ridge Dr, Iowa City, IA 52246

Phone: 555-123-4567

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phoebeparsons_11

Driven high school graduate with a 3.85 GPA, seeking admission to The University of Iowa. Dedicated part-time zookeeper with a passion for animal care and extensive volunteering experience at an animal shelter. Demonstrated academic commitment by maintaining a 3.85 GPA, and led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.

Linden Heights High School, Des Moines, IA

September 2021–May 2024

SAT: 1350 (700 Verbal, 650 Math)

• Excellence in Environmental Science Award, 2023
• Academic Excellence Scholarship, 2022

High School Project: Green Oasis Initiative

• Led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.
• Implemented eco-friendly practices, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage.
• Provided fresh produce to the school cafeteria, contributing to a 20% increase in students choosing healthier meal options.

Work Experience

Zookeeper Assistant

Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA

July 2022–May 2024

• Assisted in daily animal care routines, focusing on the well-being of diverse species.
• Collaborated with senior zookeepers to implement enrichment programs, improving animal welfare.
• Maintained a 98% positive feedback rating from zoo visitors.

Furraria Animal Shelter, Des Moines, IA

January 2020–July 2022

• Devoted over 500 hours to animal care and community outreach.
• Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25%.

Co-founder, Operator

Paws for a Cause, Des Moines, IA

March 2021–May 2024

• Launched and managed a social fundraising campaign for animal welfare.
• Mobilized a network of volunteers, raising $15,000 for shelter improvements.
• Established an online presence with 10,000 followers across social media platforms.
• Animal Care
• Social Media Management
• Fundraising
• Project Leadership
• Team Collaboration
• Time Management
• Communication
• Spanish—Bilingual
• Italian—Full Working Proficiency
• Wildlife photography: Organized a trip to photograph several endangered bird species in North America.
• Passionate about wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
• Creative Writing: Runs a nature-oriented blog with around 2,000 monthly readers

A college application resume adds extra information to your college application document. It gives admissions officers a quick look at your achievements and experiences, helping to assess your suitability and readiness for college.

Do You Need a Resume for College Application?

You should use a resume for your college applications when you're applying to colleges, scholarships, or even certain academic programs that ask for a detailed account of your experiences. It's also a good tool to have ready for college fairs, meetings with admission counselors, and during the application process itself.

However, it is not a necessity in all places. For example, the University of Virginia’s FAQ states that they don’t accept college application resumes .

Even if there is a chance you won’t need a college resume, I still recommend you write one. Not only will it help you stand out if you can include it, but it’s also good training for when you’ll inevitably need to look for your first/next job.

Now, I’ll tell you how to write a resume for college applications that opens the doors to the best colleges:

1. Pick the Best Format for College Application Resume

There are around 57,000 applicants that try to get into Harvard each year. And only about 2,000 get admitted. So, about 3.5–4%. To be in the 4% that do get in, you need to have jaw-dropping academic achievements from high school.

But that’s not all. Your college application resume format needs to be flawless. I’ll give you a formula for the best college resume template:

• Pick a professional, simple resume template . It will make the process much quicker.
• Use the best resume fonts , like Cambria, Georgia, or other Serif-type fonts, in 10–12pt. Add big headings, utilize white space, and set 1-inch margins on your resume .
• First, create your resume header . Add your name, address, phone, email, and social media links. Do not include a photo.
• Write a one-page resume . One page is the perfect length for a resume for college applications.
• Save your resume as a PDF rather than a DOC . PDFs are machine-readable and keep their formatting on all software and devices. However, some colleges will prefer other file types or applications through The Common App .

Expert Hint: Since you’re applying to college, you might’ve heard the term CV being tossed around. But you don’t need to create a detailed CV when writing a high school resume for college. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between CVs and resumes , click the embedded link.

2. Show Educational Prowess

If there is one part you really need to focus on when writing a high school resume for college, it’s the education section . But, you’ll include a bit more information than if you were writing a resume tailored for a job .

A university cares for your grades. So you need to show your GPA and SAT. And it’s kind of non-negotiable. Normally I’d only recommend you show your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher , but you’re not applying for a job this time.

You can also highlight your best A+ subjects. On top of that, include additional information that shows your commitment to gaining knowledge, as well as other practical, relevant achievements gained during high school.

These can include:

• Academic Honors and Awards
• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses
• School Projects or Research
• Extracurricular Academic Activities
• Relevant Workshops
• Study Abroad or Exchange Programs
• Club Activities

See the examples below on how to create a great education section.

Education on a High School Resume for College—Example

New West Charter School, Los Angeles, CA

2020–2024

• Co-Captain of Track Team.
• SAT Scores >1300

The first of these two examples shows you weren’t just stuck to your classroom desk. It presents stunning achievements that are certain to catch an eye. Meanwhile, the second example is bland and gives an inconclusive SAT score value, even though the candidate still appears to have a strong academic background.

I’ll give a word of advice in case your GPA isn’t that high: Different universities and programs have varying acceptance criteria, so it’s wise to prepare a second or third choice in case you’re not admitted into your first one. Additionally, a 3.2 GPA from one of the top high schools in America may be viewed more favorably than a higher GPA from a lesser-known school.

Expert Hint: If you’ve already graduated from college, present your university projects, relevant coursework , scholarships, and other achievements you can pull from your time studying.

3. List Work Experience on a Resume for College Applications

Look, work experience isn’t necessary here. But if you have some experience that’s relevant to the course you’re pursuing, adding it to your college application resume will be a huge boon.

That’s because, through work experience , you show that you have practical knowledge and skills alongside your theoretical knowledge.

Here are some types of work experience you may want to include:

• Full-Time Employment
• Part-Time Employment
• Contract Work
• Freelancing
• Internships
• Volunteer Work

These examples of high school resumes for college show how:

Work Experience on a Resume for College—Example

• Assisted in daily animal care routines, including feeding, cleaning enclosures, and monitoring animal health.

Local Zoo Animal Care Intern

• Assisted zookeepers with daily animal care tasks.
• Facilitated educational tours.
• Performed various project tasks as assigned by senior zookeepers.
• Attended staff meetings and briefings.

The second example only shows a small list of job responsibilities and no impressive work achievements . It’s just too underdeveloped to impress anyone. Meanwhile, the first sample shows resume bullet points that are both detailed descriptions of responsibilities and quantified accomplishments.

Expert Hint: Remember to prove as many statements as possible by providing details. Strong college application resume bullet points like “Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25%” are incredibly effective. Also, start each sentence with an action verb .

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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4. Showcase Your Skills

In the previous section of the article, I briefly mentioned skills once. This time, I’m going to talk about resume skills in more detail. This is because you need to write a skills section on your college application resume.

Normally, you’d do it to target some resume keywords from the job application. This time, you’re mostly targeting what the admission officer might value. This means hard skills that are important for the curriculum and soft skills that highlight your character and potential contributions to the university community.

Don’t copy any lists you find on the internet. Always take your time and choose 5–10 most relevant skills. Here’s a list of some of the most common ones for inspiration:

Skills for a College Application Resume

• Communication Skills
• Strong Work Ethic
• Collaboration
• Self-Motivated
• Fast Learner
• Critical Thinking
• Creative Thinking
• Presentation
• Negotiation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Physically Fit
• Problem-Solving
• Tech Skills
• Computer Skills
• Programming
• Public Speaking
• Social Media

Expert Hint: If you don’t know the differences between hard and soft skills , click the embedded link to learn all about this subject.

5. Add Extra Sections to the Resume

Take as much time as you need and list interesting activities on your college resume. Hobbies, interests & extracurricular activities on a college admission bring a plethora of advantages . Think of these activities that are:

• Relevant to the course you want to enroll in.
• Prove vital skills.

What activities can you show on a resume for college applications?

• Class Rank: if it’s impressive.
• Gained Certifications : They prove your skills and show your dedication and motivation towards learning a specific subject.
• Volunteer Work : Unless you added it under your work experience section.
• Community Projects: Have you done public service or built a website? Projects show your dedication to a goal.
• Sports: Don’t just list sports on a college resume. Add accomplishments like races won or records broken.
• Professional Memberships: Include memberships in professional organizations or academic societies that are relevant to your field.
• Publications: List any articles, research papers, or blog posts you have authored or contributed to, particularly those related to your field of study.
• Positions: List captainships, Eagle Scout rank, or positions in church or 4-H groups. Those all energize high school resumes for college.
• Hobbies & Interests : Are you good at robotics? Crafts? Relevant hobbies prove you can work toward a goal.
• Known Languages : Command of a foreign language looks great on college application resumes.

Here are two examples:

Examples of Bonus Sections on a Resume for College Application

Best Project Award: Coding Club, 2022

• Recognized for developing a comprehensive library management system using Python, enhancing the school's book inventory and borrowing process.
• High School Coding Competition Winner: 2022
• First place in a school-wide coding competition, demonstrating outstanding programming skills and innovative problem-solving.

Certifications

• Introduction to Computer Science (CS50), Harvard University (edX), June 2023
• JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Certification, freeCodeCamp, May 2023
• Python for Everybody Specialization, University of Michigan (Coursera), April 2022
• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers Certification, Johns Hopkins University (Coursera), January 2021
• Participation Award, Science Fair, 2020
• Certificate of Attendance, School Assembly, 2019
• Certificate of Completion, Online Time Management Course, 2021
• Attendance Certificate, Public Speaking Workshop, 2019

The bad example is presented by the Four Horsemen of Bad Resumes. Lack of relevance, Vagueness, Generalized titles, and Insignificant achievements. It’s not going to impress anyone.

6. Craft a Powerful College Resume Objective

Now that your high school resume for college is ready, it’s time for a finishing touch.

Universities receive tens of thousands of applications each year. To browse through them efficiently, the admission counselors can’t spend much time looking at each one. With only a couple of seconds to pique their interest, you need a strong resume introduction .

With a good resume objective , you’ll present the admission officers with something that will open their eyes faster than a project deadline. Use:

• A resume power adjective (enthusiastic, passionate).
• “High school graduate” or “student”.
• GPA if above 3.5.
• Your goal (seeking admission to The University of Iowa)
• An attention-grabbing achievement (led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden)

Here is a practical example of what to do and not do:

College Application Resume Objective—Example

Resume Objective

Passionate high school graduate with a 3.3 GPA and 1300 combined SAT scores. Graduating from high school in May 2024.

The first example is effective because it succinctly highlights the candidate's outstanding GPA, combines academic excellence with relevant, practical experiences, and showcases leadership through a sustainability project.

The bad example falls short because it lacks depth. It offers only basic information without providing insights into the candidate's character, skills, or accomplishments. It's generic and doesn't engage the reader with meaningful details.

If you graduated from high school long ago, pursued a career, and are only now trying to get into college, use a resume summary . Instead of focusing strictly on your academic achievements, present 1–2 quantified professional work achievements. Especially if they’re relevant to the course you’re trying to get into.

To finish the college application resume part, I prepared a handy checklist you can use to see if your resume for college application is ready:

7. Supply Your College Application Resume With a Cover Letter

One more thing before we wrap things up. Some colleges will require you to send a cover letter and your college application resume. Other ones will not specify, even though they most likely consider cover letters necessary .

Keep to the standard cover letter format . Start with your and the recipient’s contact information. Next, write an introductory paragraph that works similarly to the resume profile. In the middle section, showcase your achievements and skills. In the end, focus on your motivation and values.

You can learn how to write a cover letter from our guide.

Expert Hint: Do you have what it takes to win a scholarship? Write a scholarship resume and a scholarship cover letter that will make you stand out from the crowd.

More College Application Resume Examples

As I said in the beginning, here are 3 more resumes for college applications you can use as templates or just get inspired by.

The first sample comes from a recent high school graduate with zero work, internship, or volunteering experience. Through this candidate, I’ll show you some great ways to expand on your education section.

Sample College Application Resume With No Work Experience

John A. Smith

Address: 3535 E Cook St, Springfield, IL 62703

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (123) 456-7890

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnasmith_06

Dedicated high school graduate with a strong interest in computer science. Seeking to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois to develop technical skills and contribute to innovative projects. President of the school coding club, who Created a library management system using Python to better handle book inventories, member registrations, and borrowing records.

Springfield High School

Springfield, IL

September 2021–June 2024

GPA: 3.5/4.0

Honors & Awards

• Honor Roll: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022
• National Merit Scholar, 2023
• Winner of the High School Coding Competition, 2022

Club Memberships & Activities

• Coding Club: President, organized school coding workshops, hackathons, and guest speaker sessions.
• Robotics Club: Member, contributed to designing and programming robots for regional competitions.
• Math Team: Captain, led the team to first place in the inter-school math competition.
• Chess Club: Member, participated in local and state-level chess tournaments.

School Projects

Personal Portfolio Website

• Designed and developed a personal portfolio website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to showcase school projects and coding challenges.
• Integrated responsive design techniques to ensure optimal viewing on various devices.

Library Management System

• Created a library management system using Python to handle book inventories, member registrations, and borrowing records.
• Implemented a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for efficient interaction.

Weather App

• Developed a weather application using JavaScript and API integration to fetch real-time weather data.
• Implemented features such as location-based weather updates and a five-day forecast.

High School Coding Competition Winner : 2022

• Front-end Development
• Responsive Design
• Linux/Windows
• Attention to Detail

Programming Languages:

As you can see, this candidate focuses mostly on his school projects to show that he’s driven, motivated, and possesses practical knowledge.

If you never did school projects, you can always substitute them with personal projects. Treat them similarly, so focus mainly on what you did and what impact these projects made.

Now, I’ll switch focus from an inexperienced high school graduate to an experienced working professional who wants to finish university to help them get a promotion and advance in their career.

Sample Resume for College Application for an Experienced Professional

Mary L. Thompson

Office Manager

Address: 6109 S Langley Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (456) 789-0123

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marylthompson

Resume Summary

Experienced office manager with 5 years of professional experience in office administration and team management. Seeking to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago to further professional growth. As a manager at Bright Solutions, streamlined office operations, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity and efficiency. Successfully managed a budget of $500,000, reducing operational costs by 15% through effective vendor negotiations and resource optimization.

Professional Experience

January 2019–Current

Bright Solutions, Chicago, IL

Key Responsibilities:

• Managed day-to-day office operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow.
• Supervised and supported a team of 10 administrative staff, including hiring, training, and performance evaluations.
• Coordinated meetings, conferences, and travel arrangements for senior executives.
• Oversaw budget management, procurement, and vendor relations.
• Implemented office policies and procedures to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Maintained office equipment and supplies, ensuring optimal functionality and availability.

Key Achievements:

• Streamlined office operations, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity and efficiency.
• Successfully managed a budget of $500,000, reducing operational costs by 15% through effective vendor negotiations and resource optimization.
• Developed and implemented a new employee onboarding program, reducing turnover by 25%.
• Recognized for exceptional leadership and awarded Employee of the Year in 2020.

High School Diploma

Springfield High School, Springfield, IL

Graduated: June 2013

Honors & Awards:

• Honor Roll: Fall 2012, Spring 2013
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Management Skills
• Team Leadership
• Office Administration
• Budget Management
• Policy Development
• Organizational Skills
• Project Management Software (Asana, Trello)
• Database Management
• Certified Office Manager (COM), International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), March 2021
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute (PMI), July 2020
• Certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Microsoft, January 2018

Professional Development

• Leadership and Management Training: Completed a series of workshops on leadership, team building, and conflict resolution through the American Management Association (AMA), 2019-2021.
• Business Communication Course: Attended a business communication course focused on enhancing written and verbal communication skills, 2020.

Memberships

• International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), Member
• Project Management Institute (PMI), Member
• American Management Association (AMA), Member

Unlike the previous candidate, this one uses her work experience as the main section of the college application resume. Since she graduated high school a long time ago, her education section can be put on the backburner.

But, If she were applying for a Master’s program, she would’ve benefited greatly from expanding her Bachelor’s education section.

Let’s combine these two college application resumes to create a recent high school graduate candidate with some work experience.

Sample College Application Resume for a Recent Graduate With Work Experience

John A. Doe

Recent High School Graduate

Address: 3101 Lakeshire Dr, Springfield, IL 62707

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe

Enthusiastic and dedicated high school graduate with a 3.84 GPA, one year of internship experience at a hotel, and two years of relevant volunteering experience. Seeking to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management at the University of Illinois to develop industry-specific skills and contribute to creating exceptional guest experiences. Committed to continuous learning and professional growth in the hospitality sector.

Graduated: June 2024

GPA: 3.8/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Business Studies, Economics, English, Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism Management

• Honor Roll: Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
• National Honor Society Member

Senior Project:

• "Revamping Guest Experience in Local Hotels": Conducted research on guest satisfaction and proposed strategies for improving services in local hotels. Presented findings to school faculty and local business leaders.

Club Memberships & Activities:

• Business Club: Vice President, participated in business plan competitions and community outreach programs.
• Student Government: Treasurer, managed the budget and financial planning for school events.

Hotel Assistant Intern

June 2023–June 2024

Grand Springfield Hotel, Springfield, IL

• Assisted in daily operations at the front desk, including guest check-ins and check-outs.
• Provided concierge services, answering guest inquiries and arranging reservations.
• Supported event planning and coordination for weddings, conferences, and banquets.
• Collaborated with the housekeeping team to ensure rooms met the hotel's high standards.
• Maintained a welcoming atmosphere in the lobby, greeting guests and providing assistance.
• Improved guest satisfaction scores by 15% through exceptional service and prompt issue resolution.
• Played a key role in organizing three large-scale events, contributing to their successful execution.
• Received commendation from supervisors for dedication and professionalism.

Volunteer Experience

June 2022–June 2023

Springfield Community Center, Springfield, IL

• Helped increase event participation by 20% through effective promotion and outreach.
• Recognized for exceptional organizational skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Contributed to raising over $10,000 in funds for community projects.
• Guest Services
• Event Planning and Coordination
• Front Desk Operations
• Housekeeping Coordination
• Concierge Services
• Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP), American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, March 2024
• CPR and First Aid Certification, American Red Cross, January 2023
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Member
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Association (HTMA), Member

And that’s how you can combine both your expansive academic achievements and work experience.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

For a college application resume that puts you in a toga:

• Use the college resume template at the top.
• Set the right college application resume format. That way, you’ll show you’re organized and take things seriously.
• Make your education section meaningful. Show accomplishments in your high school student resume education section.
• List resume activities in your bullet points. Add details and numbers that show you’re not playing around.
• Add a college application cover letter. In it, elaborate on your achievements, motivations, and personal aspirations.

Do you have any questions about how to write a high school resume for college that sparkles? Are you still not sure what goes on a resume for a college application? Leave a comment. I’ll happily reply.

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Mariusz is a career expert with a background in quality control & economics. With work experience in FinTech and a passion for self-development, Mariusz brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s dedicated to providing the most effective advice on resume and cover letter writing techniques to help his readers secure the jobs of their dreams.

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