A college application resume shouldn't be a snooze-fest of grades and dull work history. It's time to flip the script.
Say goodbye to the cookie-cutter approach and dive into crafting a resume for a college application that speaks volumes about the awesome things you've achieved—things you may not even realize.
This guide will show you:
A great college application resume example.
How to write a resume for college application that gets you into the best institutions.
What to include on a high school resume for college.
Tips & tricks to get your college resume template noticed.
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Now, I’ll show you a fantastic college application resume.
College Application Resume Example
Phoebe Parsons
High School Graduate
Personal Info
Address: [Phoebe's Address]
Phone: 555-123-4567
Email: phoebeparsons@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phoebeparsons
Objective
Driven high school graduate with a 3.85 GPA, seeking admission to The University of Iowa. Dedicated part-time zookeeper with a passion for animal care and extensive volunteering experience at an animal shelter. Demonstrated academic commitment by maintaining a 3.85 GPA, and led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.
Education
Linden Heights High School, Des Moines, IA
September 2021–May 2024
Maintained a 3.85 GPA, excelling in Physics, English, and History.
Recognized by four teachers for exceptional communication skills.
Graduating in May 2024.
Combined SAT scores of 1350 (700 Verbal, 650 Math).
High School Project: Green Oasis Initiative
Led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden on the school premises.
Implemented eco-friendly practices, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage.
Provided fresh produce to the school cafeteria, contributing to a 20% increase in students choosing healthier meal options.
Activities
Zookeeper Assistant
Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA
July 2022–Current
Assisted in daily animal care routines, focusing on the well-being of diverse species.
Collaborated with senior zookeepers to implement enrichment programs, improving animal welfare.
Maintained a 98% positive feedback rating from zoo visitors.
Volunteer
Furraria Animal Shelter, Des Moines, IA
January 2020–July 2022
Devoted over 500 hours to animal care and community outreach.
Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25%.
Co-founder, Operator
Paws for a Cause, Des Moines, IA March 2021–Present
Launched and managed a social fundraising campaign for animal welfare.
Mobilized a network of volunteers, raising $15,000 for shelter improvements.
Established an online presence with 10,000 followers across social media platforms.
Skills
Animal Care
Social Media Management
Fundraising
Project Leadership
Team Collaboration
Time Management
Communication
MS Suite
Languages
Spanish—Bilingual
Italian—Full Working Proficiency
Interests
Wildlife photography: Organized a trip to photograph several endangered bird species in North America.
Passionate about wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
Creative Writing: Runs a nature-oriented blog with around 2,000 monthly readers
A college application resume serves as a supplement to the college application. It offers admissions officers a quick overview of the applicant's accomplishments. A college application resume often includes extracurricular activities, academic performance, volunteer experience, hobbies, and awards.
Here’s how to write a resume for college applications that opens the doors to the best colleges.
1. Pick the Best Format for College Application Resume
There are around 57,000 applicants that try to get into Harvard each year. And only about 2,000 get admitted. So, about 3.5–4%. To be in the 4% that do get in, you need to have jaw-dropping academic achievements from high school—
And your college application resume format needs to be flawless. Follow this formula for the best college resume template:
Save your resume as a PDF rather than a DOC. PDFs are machine-readable and keep their formatting on all software and devices. But, some colleges will prefer other file types or applications through The Common App.
Expert Hint: Since you’re applying to college, you might’ve heard the term CV being tossed around. But you don’t need to create a detailed CV when writing a high school resume for college. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between CVs and resumes, click the embedded link.
2. Craft a Powerful College Resume Objective
With an impeccable format all ready, your college admission resume has been given the privilege of being read for a couple of seconds. That’s not a lot of time.
This is why you need a resume objective. Present the admission officers with something that will open their eyes faster than a project deadline. Use:
Your goal (seeking admission to The University of Iowa)
An attention-grabbing achievement (led a team of 10 students in creating a sustainable garden)
Here is a practical example of what to do and not do:
College Application Resume Objective—Example
The first example is effective because it succinctly highlights the candidate's outstanding GPA, combines academic excellence with relevant, practical experiences, and showcases leadership through a sustainability project.
The bad example falls short as it lacks depth, offering only basic information without providing insights into the candidate's character, skills, or accomplishments. It's generic and doesn't engage the reader with meaningful details.
As for GPA, the higher it is, the better. But what constitutes high? We can extrapolate from a study on undergraduate GPA as a selection tool. For the best results, you want a 3.6+ GPA score.
If you graduated from high school long ago, pursued a career, and are only now trying to get into college, use a resume summary. Instead of focusing strictly on your academic achievements, present 1–2 quantified professional work achievements. Especially if they’re relevant to the course you’re trying to get into.
Expert Hint: Don’t make your college application resume profile first. Build it after the rest of your high school resume for college. Then, you’ll have a full curriculum to pick from.
3. Show Educational Prowess
That goes without saying. You need to build a strong education section on a college application resume. But, you’ll include a bit more information than if you were writing a resume tailored for a job.
A university cares for your grades. So you need to show your GPA, SAT, and you can also highlight your best A+ subjects. On top of that, include additional information that shows your commitment to gaining knowledge, as well as other practical, relevant achievements gained during high school.
These college resume samples show the difference:
Education on a High School Resume for College—Example
The first of these two examples shows you weren’t just stuck to your classroom desk. It presents stunning achievements that are certain to catch an eye.
Meanwhile, the second example is bland and gives an inconclusive SAT score value.
Expert Hint: If you’ve already graduated once, present your university projects, relevant coursework, internships, and other achievements you can pull from your time studying.
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4. List Activities on a Resume for College Applications
A typical college application resume would end here, which is fine if you DON’T want to get into a university. To make your resume for college application fire—
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 & Interests: Are you good a fishing? Crafts? Hobbies prove you can work toward a goal.
Known Languages: Command of a foreign language looks great on college application resumes.
Expert Hint: Remember to prove as many statements as possible by providing details. Strong college application resume bullet points like “Successfully implemented a social media campaign, increasing shelter adoptions by 25%” are incredibly effective.
5. Showcase Your Skills
In the previous section of the article, I mentioned skills several times. And I’m going to talk about resume skills again. This is because you’re going to write a skills section on your college application resume.
Normally, you’d do it to target some resume keywords from the job application. This time, you’re mostly targeting what the admission officer might value. This means hard skills that are important for the curriculum, and soft skills that highlight your character and potential contributions to the university community.
Don’t copy any lists you find on the internet. Always take your time and choose 5–10 most relevant skills. Here’s a list of some of the most crucial ones for inspiration:
6. Supply Your College Application Resume With a Cover Letter
Some colleges will require you to send a cover letter and your college application resume. Other ones will not specify, even though they most likely consider cover letters necessary.
Keep to the standard cover letter format. Start with your and the recipient’s contact information. Next, write an introductory paragraph that works similarly to the resume profile. In the middle section, showcase your achievements and skills. In the end, focus on your motivation and values.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Key Points
For a college application resume that puts you in a toga:
Use the college resume template at the top.
Set the right college application resume format. That way, you’ll show you’re organized and take things seriously.
Make your education section meaningful. Show accomplishments in your high school student resume education section.
List resume activities in your bullet points. Add details and numbers that show you’re not playing around.
Add a college application cover letter. In it, elaborate on your achievements, motivations, and personal aspirations.
Do you have any questions on how to write a high school resume for college that sparkles? Still not sure what goes on a resume for college application? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.
About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Mariusz is a career expert with a background in quality control & economics. With work experience in FinTech and a passion for self-development, Mariusz brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s dedicated to providing the most effective advice on resume and cover letter writing techniques to help his readers secure the jobs of their dreams.