How To: Resumes for Colleges and Scholarships
Perhaps one of the most important and frequently forgotten parts of transitioning from adolescence into the adult world is creating a resume. You’ve heard about resumes (a.k.a CVs) for years, and maybe even made one while applying for a job.
Resumes seem daunting, but they’re actually quite simple. They can also come in handy when it comes to applying for colleges and scholarships. College and scholarship resumes share the structure and many qualities of a job resume, but there are a few specific things that make them unique. Below are the guidelines and tips for crafting your college/scholarship resume.
When should I include one?
Not all colleges and scholarships require students to submit a resume. However, unless explicitly stated not to, it would not hurt to include one. As long as your information is relevant and accurate, a resume could help set you apart from other applicants. A resume could be a way to get across the information you did not have an opportunity to share in your application. However, certain public universities/colleges do not check attached resumes. Rather, they focus on test scores, grades, and what is included in your application. I highly recommend checking the place you are applying to for their preferences on attached resumes.
How do I format it?
Here’s a website that has a bunch of information on picking a format and also offers free templates for a variety of platforms.
Here’s another one.
And one more.
Basic Formatting
Font: Times New Roman or similar
Size: 12 pt
Spacing: Single (however, add a gap between sections)
Alignment: Left
Headlines: Bolded, italicized, underlined, or increased to 14/16 pt
Length: 1 to 3 pages, without incomplete/half pages, while paying attention to application instructions
Style
There are many different formats and styles to follow for resumes. For example, there’s a chronological resume where you would be listing your jobs in chronological order, then there’s a targeted resume where your information is concentrated with experiences that relate to what you are applying for. The Balance Careers has a great list of the different styles of resumes and how to pick yours.
For any kind of resume, keep it concise, accurate, and formal. For example, refrain from the use of “I” and utilize bullet points for organization. It should be easy to read through and comprehend, while adequately displaying your achievements and traits. An extra tip is to be straightforward with your words and avoid ‘fluffing’ up your resume.
What should I put in it?
Contact information. Include your name, address, email, and phone number near the top of the document.
Education. Include your high school, your class ranking, and your GPA.
Employment. Include your title, the dates, company, and a description of your tasks.
Example of Employment section:
Sales Associate, PacSun
May 2017 — June 2018
- Operated cash register
- Assisted customers
- Maintained stock of the store
Extracurricular Activities/Leadership. An essential component of your resume is the details that make you unique. This section can be especially useful when you are trying to convey your passion in a particular field as it relates to the college or scholarship you are applying for. Colleges and scholarships can look at this section and see examples of the action you take because of your passions. Anything relating to leadership in a specific area is also helpful as it portrays how you are not only interested in something but are excited about and successful in making others participate in it as well. You could also include any volunteering you have done.
Example of Extracurricular Section:
President of Physics Club 11th/12th
- Planned weekly meetings for club members
- Lead discussions within these meetings on complex and theoretical topics
- Produced and presented several educational presentations to the entire school
- Elevated school participation in the club by recruiting new active members
- Tutored underclassmen
Recognition. This is the place to include any relevant awards you have received throughout high school. Make sure to include the date, name of the award, and a description of how it was obtained.
Example of Recognition Section:
1st Place, 2017 National Geographic High School Photography Award
- Awarded a trip to Sydney, Australia for the photograph to best capture the theme of “exploration”.
Skills/Passions. This is a good place to include different skills such as fluency in a language or ability to play a certain instrument. Choose carefully what you include in your skills. (E.g. the person reading your resume may not be interested in your ability to play Fortnite for five hours straight)
Overall, use your judgment to determine what aspects of your high school career are most impactful to include. Consider what you are passionate about and what message you want to get across. Also, if you are applying for a scholarship related to something specific, say volunteering, you may want to structure your resume to present the most essential details. In this case, volunteering, first. Another thing to note is that colleges and scholarships alike love to see the visible expression of a continued passion rather than a bunch of random clubs that you were involved with. Good luck!
