How to Write a Resume for a College Application

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If you’re sending out college applications, you may have the option to include a college admissions resume. If so, don’t skip it.

A college admissions resume summarizes your extracurricular accomplishments for admissions officers, showing who you are beyond your academic achievements and giving a fuller picture of you as an applicant.

Your resume is also a useful tool for prepping the teachers and mentors writing your letters of recommendation, helping you shape the overall impression you give to admissions officers.

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What to include

College resumes are different from the standard resume you’d write to apply for a job after college.

The focus is on who you are and what makes you a well-rounded, unique, and curious candidate. Here’s what to include when writing your college application resume:

Resume header (with contact information)
Resume objective statement
Education section (with GPA, SAT/ACT scores, class rank)
Academic award & achievements (including publications
Extracurricular activities
Volunteer work & community service
Work experience
Hobbies and interests
Special skills

College application resume template

YOUR NAME

Email: youremail@gmail.com | Phone: 713 220 7452 | Location: City, ST

OBJECTIVE

Motivated and dependable [student/individual] seeking to pursue my academic goals and career path at the distinguished [Name of University]. Currently studying at [Name of school]. Possess [relevant skill #1], [relevant skill #2] and a passion for personal development and student involvement. Looking for an opportunity to develop my knowledge and make a significant contribution as a student for the upcoming [# of year] school year.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Job Title
Organization Name | City, ST | Start Year–End Year

Use 3–5 bullet points for each entry to explain your responsibilities
Begin each bullet point with a resume action verb to portray yourself as a student leader so college admissions committees can see what you’ve done (e.g., Raised $10,000 in fundraising efforts for Hurricane Alex which resulted in helping 1350+ displaced citizens in the Central Caribbean)
Add hard numbers (like percentages, dollar amounts, time spent, number of teammates) within your bullet points to highlight the accomplishments on your resume (e.g., the total number of hours you volunteered at an event or worked part-time)

Earlier Job Title
Organization Name | City, ST | Start Year–End Year

Use past tense verbs if the experience has already happened (e.g., “supervised,” “guided,” “won”)
Be specific when writing your resume (e.g., list the actual names of events you were a part of, number of people you assisted, or tools and software you used)

EDUCATION

High School | City, ST | Graduation Date (or the date you intend to graduate)

For example, Ohio Liberty High School, Columbus, OH | Graduation: 20XX | GPA: 3.8/4.0

SKILLS

List 3–6 hard and soft skills as bullet points that relate to the college’s values, culture, or mission statement (e.g., organizational skills, leadership skills, teamwork skills, and people skills are skills that show you’ve made positive contributions in past roles)

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Show employers more of your accomplishments or additional skills by including other sections such as your hobbies and interests, extracurricular activities, or foreign language skills

Example college admissions resume

This sample resume balances work experience and academic drive. Unlike resumes for college internships and recent graduates, The focus is on the applicant, rather than a specific opportunity.

College application resume example — See more resume samples like this one.

Download This Free College Resume Example

Tips for a strong college application resume

Follow these tips to present admissions officers with a complete picture of your skills, interests, and experience.

Start early

The best time to begin working on your college admissions resume is in Freshman year of high school.

Starting early will help you track your activities and achievements as they happen. This will save you from having to recall everything you did while you’re preparing your college application.

If you’re already in senior year, don’t worry. Focus on current activities and recent achievements, then work your way backward. This approach will ensure that you include your most recent and relevant wins.

Tailor your resume to each college

Because each college is different, you should adjust your resume to reflect the requirements of each college.

Study the college you want to apply to by reading its requirements carefully. Look for what features stand out at the particular college and build on them.

For example, if you’re applying to an arts-focused school, start your resume with a resume section called “creative accomplishments” or “artistic talents.”

Format your college application resume correctly

Choose a simple, professional resume format so admissions officers can quickly skim your document for key details.

Choose a professional font like Times New Roman or Georgia. Serif fonts are safest for college admissions resumes because they have a neat formal appearance.

Set your body size to 10–12 points to make it easy to read. Size up and bold headers so they clearly separate each section of your resume.

Finally, set your resume margins to 1 inch on all sides to give your resume a professional finish.

Include an objective statement with your academic goals

A resume objective sits at the top of your resume and details your training, credentials, and skills.

Keep your resume objective clear and focused by targeting it to the college’s needs by using 2–4 concise sentences to explain why that particular college will help you accomplish your goals.

Use the rest of your resume to back up everything you write in your resume objective.

Example objective statement

An ambitious and conscientious high school graduate with a creative mind, seeking admission to Baylor University to further my skills in fashion. Great interpersonal skills, exceptionally stylish, and ready to take the fashion industry by storm.

Highlight family responsibilities if necessary

Caring for siblings or working to help pay bills are valid examples of leadership and responsibility, especially if family obligations limit your ability to join traditional clubs.

If this reflects your situation, make sure you communicate it clearly — supporting your family demonstrates commitment, reliability, and maturity.

Example statement

Provided daily care for two younger siblings, including school drop-offs, homework support, and meal preparation while parents worked long shifts.

Include a detailed education section

Your resume’s education section provides essential details about your educational background.

When writing a resume for college, there are a few things that make a great education section.

To start, include the most important details first (like graduation year) so an admissions member reading this section can easily access your information.

Also, keep the details in your education section short and concise so you can showcase your most relevant information.

For instance, try using bullet points to break up long lists of activities, honors, and awards into more manageable chunks.

Example education section

East Side High School
Rutgers University-Newark— Newark, NJ
Expected Graduation: 20XX

GPA: 3.8 / 4.0
Relevant classes: AP English Literature, AP US History, Algebra II, Biology
Honors: Honor Roll (20XX–20XX), National Honor Society (Member)

Emphasize specific achievements rather than general duties

When listing your extracurricular activities and achievements, write experiences that are relevant to a particular college to stand a better chance of getting admitted.

List specific achievements instead of generalizing by using hard numbers and relevant details, so that the admissions committee can be clear about where you stand in relation to other applicants.

For instance, instead of just saying you like sports and are part of student clubs, your list of achievements should include which sports teams, clubs, and other activities you’ve been involved in at school.

Here’s an example of a college resume’s experience section with hard numbers:

College resume example with hard numbers and details

I volunteered in a community clean-up and established garbage bins that saw a 95% reduction in litter

Next, take a look at this college application resume example without hard numbers:

College resume example without hard numbers and details

I was part of a community clean-up

Try separating these activities into categories such as “volunteer work” and “community service” to make it easier for the admission board to scan your resume.

Years of Experience

Articles Written

Articles Reviewed

Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in International Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan), he helps job seekers translate their experience into employer-ready applications for global job markets.

Certifications

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

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