When it comes to college applications, there are a few pieces everyone remembers without having to think too hard: the supplements, the activities section, the endless biographical information, and the all-important essay. There’s one part of the application, though, that tends to be forgotten. Hidden deep into the application process, and most often optional, the resume is consistently overlooked, ignored, or forgotten about.
This is an enormous error. All of the students we work with know that “optional” is not optional. When you’re applying to college, completing “optional” pieces of the application is how you differentiate yourself from the pack. So, if you want to get into your dream school, you need to submit a resume if it is an option.
Now you may be asking, “but what do I put on it?” That’s what we’re going to outline below, but there are a few overarching concepts and rules to go over first.
First, the resume isn’t about introducing brand-new information. Instead, the resume serves as a cheat sheet for your application that is focused on the most academically pertinent parts of your profile as an applicant. Summarizing them in one place — and on one page — gives application readers a concentrated view of who you are, what you want to pursue, and where you see yourself in the future.
Secondly, if you caught that “one page” drop you’re not crazy. We did say one page. Your resume must fit on one single-spaced page in size 12 font with regular or narrow margins. It doesn’t say this on the application, and you technically could submit a multi-page resume if you’d like, but we cannot understate the importance of limiting yourself to one-page. You’re a teenager. You have very limited academic and professional experience. You do not need more than one page.
Now that the rules are clear, we’ll lay out the four core sections of most resumes. If you don’t think this resume format will work for you, send us an email. We help exceptional students tell their stories to their dream colleges.
SECTION I: OBJECTIVE
After you’ve picked a resume template (don’t overthink it, Microsoft Word has great simple options — or just ask your parents or older siblings!), you’ll need to write an ‘Objective.’ The Objective is a 2-3 sentence statement that summarizes the ‘point of view’ of your resume, stating for the reader what you are trying to communicate and what you’d like to accomplish. If you are looking for a job, this would be the type of position you’re seeking. Since you are applying to college, it’s the type of collegiate path you’re charting for yourself.
For example, a student looking to double major in photography and journalism might say:
Student photographer seeking to double major in photography and journalism with the goal of pursuing a career in photojournalism focused on global climate justice and human rights.
SECTION II: EDUCATION
After the objective comes the Education section. This is the most simple and straightforward section, and will include the name and location of your high school, your GPA, and 1-3 awards or honors that are pertinent to the objective you stated above. If you formally attended any other institutions for a minimum of one semester (or trimester), such as study abroad or a community college, you should include it as well in the same format.
John Jay High School
Providence, Rhode Island
GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
Awards and Honors: Gold Key in Photography, Green Champion Award
SECTION III: ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES
The next section is your Academic Experiences. For this section, you will list 3-4 elective courses, academic camps, or intensives you’ve taken part in. Each entry should include a title, the range of dates or period of time you took part (ex. February 2022-May 2023 or Summer 2022), and a short 1-2 sentence description. Keep in mind that your description does not need to be a work of high-level prose. Instead, you should focus on communicating as much information as succinctly as possible. This may mean ‘clipping’ removing unnecessary words, as shown in the example below.
Photojournalism Intensive, Columbia University — Summer 2021
Six-week intensive taught by New York Times photojournalist focused on storytelling through image and text.
SECTION IV: EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCES
Whereas the section above was for academic experience, this section is for experiences you’ve had that are relevant to your desired area of study, but that weren’t necessarily academic. This may include workshops, internships, and jobs. You will format it like the previous section.
Internship, Name of Professional Photographer — May-September 2022
Long-term internship with professional photographer assisting at jobs setting up gear, taking notes on shots and settings, and caring for equipment.
BONUS SECTION: OTHER INTERESTS
The last section isn’t necessary, so if you don’t have room left on the page don’t stress yourself on this. But if you do have a few lines left on the page, you should add 2-4 “other interests” as simple bullet points that highlight interests related to your objective but not entirely overlapping. Maybe it’s something you’re passionate about, or a hobby that has become a form of self-care. For example:
Rock climbing
Climate advocacy
FINAL THOUGHTS
Before you begin to build your resume, remember to ask your parents, an older sibling, your college counselor, or a mentor to see theirs. Using a well-formatted resume as a template is the best way to make sure that yours appears professional.
If you’re looking for hands-on guidance as you craft your application, send us an email. We help students like you get into the most prestigious colleges and universities in the United States.