High School Resume for College Application—College Resume 101

Here’s a college resume that stands out like Brie Larson in a Starbucks.

How?

Most college resumes are cookie-cutter.

They focus on GPA and work experience.

Bad idea.

Want to get interviewed?

List awesome things you don’t even know you did.

This guide will show you:

• A college resume example better than most.
• How to write a resume for college that gets you interviewed.
• How to pick and list activities on resumes so you turn heads like Macklemore.
• The fastest way to get your resume for high school students noticed.

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Free College Application Resume Template

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

• College Graduate

• Entry-Level Positions

• Graduate School Application

• High School Graduate

• High School Student

• Internship Resume

• Law School Application

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Application

• Scholarship

• Student Resume

• Teen Resume

Now here’s how to write a high school resume for college applications:

1. Pick the Best College Resume Format

Warning:

Your resume format must grab them at a glance.

• Choose the reverse-chronological resume format. It puts your best features first.
• Use the best resume fonts like Arial or Cambria, in 10–14pt. Add big headings, white space, and 1-inch margins.
• Write your resume header first. Add name, address, phone, email, and social media links. No photo.
• Add a college resume objective, then education, then activities and job experience.
• List bonuses like hobbies, volunteer work, and publications. They show a post-millennial can get things done.
• Write a one-page teenage resume unless you’ve got more achievements than Zendaya.

Expert Hint: Save your resume as a PDF. Using a high school resume template PDF used to be bad. In 2019 they’re machine-readable.

2. Write a College Resume Objective That Hurts

75,000.

That’s how many college application forms the average top-10 school gets.

The rest aren’t far behind.

Your college admissions resume must stand out like galaxy print.

Do it with a resume objective for high school students that shines.

These resume examples for students nail it:

College Resume Objective—Example

The first of those isn’t some generic resume for college applications. That’s Emma Watson Junior.

But they’re both the same kid.

The college admission resume screener will run, not walk, to show it to the Dean.

Don’t have activities for a resume objective like that?

You do. You just can’t see them.

Yet.

Expert Hint: Don’t make your college resume objective first. Build it after the rest of your high school resume for college. Then you’ll have a full curriculum to pick from.

3. List Activities on Resumes for College

Disaster!

Here’s the typical college application resume:

• SAT Scores
• GPA
• High School Sports
• Part-Time Job
• Maybe Drama or a Stem Club

What’s wrong with that?

It won’t get noticed.

To make your resume for college blaze—

List resume activities that’ll make them hope you choose them.

These college resume examples for high school seniors show how:

Activities on a College Resume—Example

The first of those college resume examples for high school students shows you’ll make the college better.

But that’s just a normal kid.

She just spent a few hours thinking about all the things she’s done that make her look like Rihanna at 18.

Skills to Put on a College Resume

Extra credit:

Don’t copy-paste resume skills from online lists.

The Dean will spot that from Serbia.

But for reference:

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.

Expert Hint: Don’t just list college resume activities. Add details and numbers. How many? How often? How much? What percent? Show the size of your accomplishment.

4. Turn Boring High School Education Into College Acceptance

Of course:

You need education section on a high school resume for college applications.

But—

There are two ways to do it.

Only one way gets you in.

These college resume samples show the difference:

Education on a High School Resume—Template 

The first of those resume examples for students proves you’ll do the college proud.

Expert Hint: In a cover letter for high school students applying for college, show passion. That means talking up core achievements that prove your drive.

5. See What Else Goes on a Resume for College

What to put on a college resume?

Put anything that makes you stand out.

Here are some examples of what to put on resumes for college:

• Class Rank if it’s impressive.
• Jobs. Jobs show work ethic on college admission resumes.
• Awards. Essay competitions, speaking, chess club, etc.
• Volunteer Work. Red Cross, bake sales, crowdfunding.
• Projects. Have you done public service or built a website? Projects show your dedication to a goal.
• Social Media Followings. Have you built a following on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? That shows communication and persistence.
• Passions. Have you done lots of paintings? Read a ton of books? Passions show you’ve got the drive to learn something that matters.
• Sports. Don’t just list sports on a college resume. Add accomplishments like races won or records broken.
• Positions. List captainships, Eagle Scout rank, or positions in church or 4-H groups. Those all energize high school resumes for college.
• Hobbies. Are you good a fishing? Crafts? Hobbies prove you can work toward a goal.
• Languages. Command of a foreign language looks great on college application resumes.

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

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Expert Hint: Should you list junior high in a resume for college? Only to add impressive accomplishments that make the Dean sit straighter.

Key Points

For a college resume that gets you past the watchdogs:

• Start with the college applicant resume template at the top. It’ll get attention.
• Use the right college resume format. That way you’ll show you care enough to do things right.
• List resume activities in your bullet points. Add details and numbers that show you’re not playing around.
• Make your education section mean something. Show accomplishments in your high school student resume education section.

Got questions on how to write a high school resume that sparkles? Still not sure what goes on a resume for college? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.