Spencer Lanoue
Writing a resume for college can feel like a real-life puzzle. You’ve got all these bits and pieces from your academic life, extracurricular activities, and maybe a few part-time jobs. But how do you fit them together to create a picture that screams, "Pick me!"? That's exactly what we're here to figure out. In this post, I'll show you how to craft a resume that not only captures your accomplishments but also convinces admissions officers or potential employers that you're the right fit. Let's dive into the nuts and bolts of building a standout college resume.
The Basics: What to Include in a College Resume
Every resume tells a story, and your college resume should reflect your journey through high school and your preparation for college. Here’s what you should include:
Contact Information: This is straightforward, but make sure it’s up to date. Include your name, phone number, email address, and home address. Use a professional email address—something simple like your first and last name works best.
Education: Start with your high school’s name, city, and state. Note your expected graduation date and your GPA if it’s something to be proud of. You can also list relevant coursework if it applies to the college program you're eyeing.
Experience: This includes jobs, internships, volunteer work, and significant school projects. Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements.
Extracurricular Activities: Sports teams, clubs, and other organizations should be listed here. Focus on leadership roles and any major accomplishments.
Skills: Highlight skills relevant to the college or job you’re targeting. Think computer skills, languages, or specific talents like public speaking.
Awards and Honors: If you’ve won any awards or received honors, this is the place to list them. This can include things like the honor roll, student of the month, or any scholarships.
This basic structure will help guide you as you gather the details of your educational and extracurricular journey. Once you've got this framework, you can start filling in the blanks with your specific experiences and achievements.
Crafting a Strong Objective or Summary
When it comes to writing a resume, the objective or summary can be a game-changer. It's a brief section at the top of your resume that gives a snapshot of who you are and what you're aiming for.
Objective Statement
An objective statement is a concise way to explain your goals. Here’s an example:
"Motivated high school senior with a passion for environmental science, seeking admission to [College Name] to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies. Experienced in leading community clean-up projects and eager to contribute to campus sustainability initiatives."
This statement provides a clear picture of your goals and how they align with the college's offerings. Tailor your objective to each college or job application to show that you've done your homework.
Summary Statement
A summary statement is a bit more detailed than an objective. It highlights your skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position or program. Here's an example:
"High-achieving student with a 4.0 GPA and over 100 hours of volunteer work in community health initiatives. Skilled in research and public speaking, with a strong desire to contribute to [College Name]'s pre-medical program. Recognized for leadership in student government and serving as captain of the debate team."
Whether you choose an objective or summary, keep it concise—one to three sentences is ideal. Make it personal and specific to set yourself apart from other applicants.
Showcasing Your Education
Your education section is one of the most straightforward parts of your resume, but it’s still important to get it right. This section usually comes after your objective or summary and should include:
School Name and Location: List the full name of your high school and its location.
Graduation Date: Mention your expected graduation date. If you’ve already graduated, list the month and year.
GPA: If your GPA is above 3.0, include it. If you’re proud of your class rank, that can go here too.
Relevant Coursework: If you’re applying to a specific program that values certain subjects, list relevant classes you’ve taken.
Example
Mountain High School, Denver, CO
Expected Graduation: June 2024
GPA: 3.8
Relevant Coursework: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Environmental Science
This section is your chance to highlight your academic achievements, so be thorough but concise. If you're a standout student in a particular subject, make sure it shines through here.
Detailing Your Experience
Your experience section is where you get to show off what you've done outside of school. This can include jobs, internships, volunteer work, or significant projects. Here’s how you can structure it:
Position Title: Start with your role or job title, even if it was a volunteer position.
Organization Name and Location: Include the name of the company or organization and where it’s located.
Dates of Employment: List the months and years you worked there.
Responsibilities and Achievements: Use bullet points to describe what you did. Start each bullet with an action verb and be specific about your accomplishments.
Example
Volunteer Coordinator, Green Earth Initiative, Boulder, CO
June 2022 - Present
- Organized and led monthly park clean-up events, increasing volunteer participation by 30%.
- Developed educational materials on environmental conservation for local schools.
When writing about your experiences, focus on what you achieved and learned, not just what you did. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to give them more weight.
Highlighting Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities are a crucial part of your college resume, providing insight into your interests and skills outside the classroom. Here’s how to effectively showcase them:
Activity Name and Position: Include the name of the activity and any leadership position you held.
Organization Name: If applicable, mention the organization associated with the activity.
Dates of Involvement: Note when you participated in the activity.
Responsibilities and Achievements: Use bullet points to describe your role and any significant accomplishments.
Example
President, Science Club, Mountain High School
August 2021 - June 2023
- Led weekly meetings and organized guest speaker events to promote interest in STEM fields.
- Coordinated a team of 15 members to develop a winning project for the State Science Fair.
In this section, highlight the skills you developed, such as leadership, teamwork, or communication. Admissions officers or employers want to see that you’re well-rounded and capable of contributing to the campus or workplace community.
Listing Skills That Matter
The skills section of your resume is where you can highlight specific abilities that make you a strong candidate. Focus on skills that are relevant to the program or job you're applying for.
Technical Skills: Include any computer programs or technologies you’re proficient in, such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or coding languages.
Language Skills: If you’re fluent or proficient in any languages other than English, list them here.
Soft Skills: These could include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, or time management.
Example
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Fluent in Spanish
- Strong leadership and organizational skills
Tailor your skills section to the specific college or job application. This shows you’ve taken the time to consider what they’re looking for and how you fit the bill.
Including Awards and Honors
Your awards and honors section is the place to brag a little. This is where you can list any academic, athletic, or extracurricular awards you’ve received.
Award Name: Start with the name of the award.
Organization or Institution: Include where you received the award if it’s not obvious from the award name.
Date: Note when you received the award.
Example
- National Merit Scholar, 2023
- First Place, State Science Fair, 2023
- Varsity Letter in Soccer, 2022
This section doesn’t need to be long, but it should highlight your most impressive achievements. If you have a lot of awards, focus on those that are most relevant to your college or job application.
Formatting Your Resume
How your resume looks is almost as important as what it says. A clean, professional layout makes a great first impression. Here are some tips:
Keep it to One Page: As a high school student, your resume should fit on one page. This forces you to be concise and only include what’s most important.
Use a Simple Font: Stick to easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Font size should be between 10 and 12 points, with your name at the top slightly larger.
Use Consistent Formatting: Make sure your headings, bullet points, and dates line up properly. Consistent formatting makes your resume look polished and professional.
Check for Errors: Proofread your resume multiple times to catch any spelling or grammatical errors. Consider having a teacher or mentor review it as well.
If you're struggling with how to format your resume, using a tool like Spell can be a lifesaver. Spell can help you create a polished resume layout and even offer suggestions for content to include.
Customizing Your Resume for Each Application
One size does not fit all when it comes to resumes. Tailoring your resume to each college or job application shows that you’ve done your research and know what they’re looking for.
Research the Program or Job: Read the description carefully to understand what they value in candidates.
Adjust Your Objective or Summary: Tweak this section to align with the specific program or job.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the application.
Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job or program description into your resume to make it more likely to catch the eye of admissions officers or hiring managers.
Customizing your resume takes a little extra time but can make a big difference in how you’re perceived by colleges or employers.
Final Thoughts
Crafting a college resume is about more than just listing your accomplishments—it's about presenting your story in a way that highlights your strengths and potential. With the tips outlined above, you'll be well on your way to creating a resume that stands out. And if you ever need a little extra help, Spell can assist you in writing and formatting your resume quickly and effectively, ensuring it projects the professionalism and confidence you want to convey.
