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College Resume Templates

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A  college resume is a document that represents a high school student’s academic achievement, after-school activities, work experience, and other relevant accomplishments.

It is used when applying for college or university and will accompany the student’s overall college application. Since high school students do not have an extensive list of professional work experience, the college resume highlights the student’s extracurricular involvement and achievements.

Sample College Application Resumes

What Should a College Resume Look Like?

While college resume templates have many structures and designs, each form must look clean and professional. University administrators prefer easy-to-read documents written in a business-like tone and free of grammar, spelling, and mechanical mistakes. Students should avoid flashy, distracting, or gimmicky resumes to boost the chances of receiving an acceptance letter. All information listed in the template needs to represent the student’s authentic experiences and accomplishments. Colleges automatically reject applicants who lie or include false information on their resumes.

College Resume Examples

How to Make a Resume for College

Identify what the college admissions committee is looking for in its candidates. Specific colleges or programs search for applicants who have served in leadership positions while others only emphasize academic achievement. Knowing this information ahead of time allows students to tailor their resumes to match the application requirements.

Compile a list of all the student’s relevant accomplishments, experiences, and awards. Consider exciting and innovative projects or presentations, in addition to standardized items, such as high grade-point-average (GPA) or being a captain of a varsity sports team.

For instance, if the college application is for a design school, the candidate should include their work from a high school project. Yearbook designs and other visual content or images help the applicant demonstrate their skill(s).

Which Skills Should be Included?

Each college resume has a unique style and format with specific information about the applicant. Although the templates look different from one another, they generally include the following information:

• Work experience (including seasonal and part-time positions)
• Extracurricular / club activities
• Volunteer work
• Leadership positions
• Projects, performances, and/or presentations
• Summer internships
• Academic achievements (i.e., high GPA, Honor roll, etc.)

Include both “hard” and “soft” skills in a resume. “Hard” skills are technical in nature and typically job-specific, such as coding in HTML, audio/video editing, or cabinetry. “Soft” skills are character or interpersonal traits that are transferrable to many types of positions, such as being a self-starter, possessing close attention to detail, or resolving conflicts effectively. Colleges want to see how applicants align with the goals and values of their program or institution.

For example, a student applying to a pre-med program should include the hard and soft skills that best match the program’s requirements. Applicants who can provide first aid (hard skill) and personable patient care (soft skill) best demonstrate that they are a good fit for the program.

College Application Resume Examples

Key Takeaways

A college resume summarizes the student’s background and achievements. It allows the candidate to highlight their best qualities, relevant experiences, and skills to admissions officers in the prospect of receiving an acceptance letter.

Recruiters will read a well-crafted resume that stands out against other candidates. For instance, a student can provide information about club activities or high school leadership positions to counteract a lack of work experience. Overall, applicants have the freedom to include the skills, experiences, and accomplishments that they feel best represent their personality and capabilities.

Published In: Resumes

How to Write College Admissions Resume (Free Templates)

In today’s world, resumes are no longer reserved for after graduation. Students nowadays must craft one as early as the ninth grade for everything from college applications to scholarship applications and internship applications. Knowing how to draft a great resume can be a door opener for you. This article will guide you on how you can draft a great college admissions resume that will help you stand out from thousands of applicants.

What is a College Admissions Resume?

A great college application resume is a summary of what one has been able to achieve during one time in high school. A college resume letter should not only highlight your greatest accomplishments but also show evidence of your character, such as initiative and determination.

Unlike an employment resume, a college admissions resume focuses more on academics than previous work experiences. If the applicant has held a job or jobs in the past, they should include them, but the resume’s biggest part should describe academic achievements and school-related activities.

Basic Contents of a College Admissions Resume

Typical college admissions resume should have the following elements and should follow the structure given below:

Academic grades and test scores: Your resume should include the grades that you attained and the test scores.

Academic activities: which activities did you partake in while in schools. Were you a member of any academic activities in your schools? Make sure to include such information.

Special skill sets: Do you have any special skill set? List down some of the relevant skills that you have.

Awards: Did you receive any awards while in high school? If yes, list them down in your resume

Previous jobs: Have you done any work before? How long, which position? Having some previous work experience will put you at a vantage position

Extracurricular activities: Were you on the football team? Which sports did you partake in?

Community services and volunteering: The applications review committee will be interested in seeing whether you like giving back to the community. If you have ever volunteered in any program before, make sure to include it in your resume.

Best Format of a College Admissions Resume

Your resume should have an appropriate heading. The heading should be short and straight to the point. 

Academic qualifications

The second item that should be included in your resume is your academic qualifications. Which grades did you manage to get? How did you perform in your tests and finals? Such information should be included. 

Extracurricular and school-related activities

After listing your academic qualifications, the next section of your resume should be about the extracurricular and other school-related activities you participated in. List down the activities and the position that you held

Have you worked before? If you have some work experience, create a jobs section in your resume and list down some of the places that you have worked before. If not, skip this part. 

Volunteering

Have you ever volunteered before? The next thing to add to your resume is the areas that you have volunteered in before. Have you worked for any non-profit organization? Have you helped in community-related programs before? List them down here. 

Special skill sets and abilities

Do you have any abilities and special skill sets? List down your special skill sets and any special abilities that you have. Don’t make the list too long; put more focus on the ones that can make you stand out.

Accolades and awards

Did you receive any awards while in high school? Your resume should have a section of your accolades and awards.

Resume Formatting Tips

Formatting and organization:  Organize your educational and job experiences in descending order, that is, starting with your most recent experience and work your way back in time as you move down the page.

Listing :  Use bullet points to make your resume presentable, clean, and easy to scan. Start each bullet with an action verb and avoid repeating verbs in your bullet points.

Font size and style:  Use a consistent style throughout your resume. For instance, if you use title case capitalization for section headings, commas, or abbreviations, stick with the same format for your entire college application resume. The same case applies to dates and the use of bold and italicized fonts and spacing.

How to Write Your Resume

When writing a college admissions resume, you can use the following step by step guide to assist you to write a great resume for your college admissions.

Create a template

Firstly, outline the areas in which you want to provide your information. Add vital elements like academics, skills, volunteering, previous job experiences, etc., and leave some space between each category to insert your achievements later. If you find it difficult to construct your template, we have provided an example in this article.

Research the college

Conduct thorough research of the institution at hand to know what is expected of you or be aware of the special information you need to include in your college admission resume. Although not a requirement, sometimes other colleges require you to include some special information in your resume. 

Gather information

Countercheck your template alongside the list of categories from step one and identify the relevant information that you want to write about yourself in each category. Your list information should be in descending order. For instance, in your jobs category, list your current job first, followed by any other positions that you held before that, etc.

Add titles and dates

Write necessary titles and dates to your list items from step three. If, for example, you have worked at a Marketing firm after school for several years, list your position in the job and the number of years you’ve worked in that specific firm.

Fill in action-oriented bullets

Include a list of action-oriented bullets to explain your role in your past or current jobs, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, academic activities, etc. your bullets should be brief, concise, and clear.

Revise your resume

Go through your document and check all the information you have included. Ensure your resume is no longer than a page. If it is, do away with the irrelevant details and shorten your action-oriented bullets.

Find a proofreader

Get a knowledgeable adult such as your parent or teacher and request them to review your resume for format and content. Once they have reviewed and submitted errors, fix the mistakes.

College Admissions Resume Templates

Not sure how to get started in creating your college admissions resume? Use our free and premium Templates to craft an outstanding resume for college admissions. We have also provided a sample resume section herein to serve as an example of writing and formatting your achievements and accomplishments. Download our free templates today and use them to condense your achievements into an easy-to-read format.

Tips to Follow

Sometimes, writing an effective College Admissions Resume may be quite challenging as you may not know what to include and what not to include. The following tips will help you to effectively write your college admissions resume.

• Tailor your resume : Do away with the habit of using one resume for all your college admission applications. This is simply because each college you apply for may require you to include some special information or slightly different details than your previous one. Therefore, you should customize your resume to reflect the college for which you are applying for.
• Be concise: Always remember to keep your resume to a single page length since it’s only an overview. Most likely, you will be required to provide other application documents in which you can write long-form information about yourself.
• Be honest : Make sure that the information you have provided in your resume is accurate and true. By all means necessary, avoid embellishment.
• Always proofread: Remember to reread your resume before submitting it. Proofreading allows you to correct the spelling and grammar mistakes in your resume and make sure that you have captured all the required information.
• Avoid linking your resume to your social media presence: Do not add your social media pages to your resume unless it is a job-specific social media site such as LinkedIn or a social media page specifically created for college admission purposes.
• Formatting is key: Tailor your college admission resume in a way that is both appealing to the reader and easy to scan. Separate your information into segments with clear heading and titles, bulleted lists using a constant font. Organize your work chronologically, either by the rank of the activity or by the time commitment.
• Highlight things: Your resume is your chance to show colleges something new. Highlight your devotion to certain extracurricular activities or skills that did not make it on the application but is a major part of who you are in your resume.

Traditionally, we have all assumed that resumes are only meant for job seekers. However, times have evolved, and high school students are now required to include their resumes in college admission applications. This is actually a good idea as student resumes give colleges an overview of student accomplishments, extracurricular activities, work history if any, and student hobbies. College admission resumes also serve as an important tool for preparing for a college interview or to give to the teachers who are writing your letters of recommendation.

Related Documents

College Application Resume for 2024 [With Examples, Tips & Template]

They say college is the most exciting time in a student’s life and we couldn’t agree more! 

The only thing standing between you and your dream university, though, is a college application resume.

You open the resume document, get ready to start writing…

And nothing comes out! After all, how can you even make a resume when you haven’t worked a day in your life?

Worry not - you don’t need any work experience to write a compelling college application resume. In this article, we’re going to teach you just how you can do that!

What Should a Resume for College Application Contain?

• 5+ College Application Resume Formatting Tips
• How to Write a Resume for College Applications?
• 3+ College Application Resume Tips

College Application Resume Template

So let’s dive in! 

Before we get into the knits and grits of writing a resume for college application, let’s first do a quick review of what your resume should contain: 

• Contact information , including your full name, address, phone number, and professional email.
• A resume objective , where you state the goal of your college application resume.
• Education section , where you list the history of your grades and exam scores.
• Relevant activities , including any work experience you might have.
• Skills relevant to a resume for a college application, e.g. soft skills such as active listening, interpersonal skills, communication skills, or hard skills such as public speaking, MS Office, or computer skills.
• Additional sections , such as awards and honors.

6 College Application Resume Formatting Tips 

Before we dive into the nits and grits of CV making, let’s talk about formatting. Here are our top tips on how to format your college application resume: 

• Choose the functional/skills-based resume format. This format is perfect for those who lack work experience , as it focuses more on your skill-set. If you DO have some work experience, though, then you can opt for the chronological format.
• Keep your college application resume one page long . As a rule of thumb, this is the optimal length for a resume—professionals with 10 years worth of work experience stick to the 1-page limit, so there’s no excuse for someone with little to no work experience to go overboard.
• Add plenty of white space , especially around your resume’s margins. It will make your resume look less cluttered and more reader-friendly.
• Include clear section headings and use the same heading for each section.
• Use an easy-to-read font. Some resume fonts (such as Ubuntu or Overpass) are resume friendly—professional-looking, easy-to-read, and yet modern. Others, like Comic Sans, are just one big NO.
• Save your college resume as a PDF. You might be used to Microsoft Word, or even think it’s the safest alternative, but MS Word has a good choice of messing up your resume format if opened in different computers or operating systems. PDF files, on the other hand, remain the same no matter what computer opens them.

How to Write a Resume for College Applications? (With Examples)

Once you’ve got the formatting done right, it’s time to get to writing your college application resume.

In this section, we’ll walk you through that process, starting with:  

#1. Order Your Contact Information the Right Way 

As we already mentioned, your college application resume should start with your contact information. 

These are your contact information section must-haves :

• Full name and address
• Functional phone number where you can be reached.
• Professional email address, preferably consisting of your first and last name.

And here’s what this looks like in practice: 

Sharon White

123 Main Street

New York, NY

Phone Number: 553-123-1234

Email: [email protected]

#2. Write an Attention-Grabbing College Resume Objective

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence long paragraph that should communicate your motivation for getting into college or for studying a specific major.

As such, a well-crafted resume objective can instantly attract admission officers to read the rest of your college application resume. 

There is, however, a right and wrong way to write a resume objective.

A convincing resume objective is:

• Tailored to the university/major you’re applying to, instead of looking like a one-fits-all kind of statement that you can use to apply to several colleges.
• Highlights the achievements that give you an edge over the competition.  

The following example does that right: 

Aspiring journalist with a knack for creative writing looking to deepen their knowledge through NYU’s renowned Journalism track. Founder of my high school’s first online newspaper, the ‘Daily Prophet,’ which now has over 2,000 subscribers. Hardworking, with a grade A average in social sciences and commitment to improving. 

Now compare it to the following resume objective, which although articulated looks like a one-fits-all kind of statement that you can just insert into several college applications. 

Very committed high-schooler with a calling for social sciences. With an SAT score of 1400, a passion for psychology, and experience as a peer counselor, I am confident that my hard work and motivation will shine through as a college student. 

See, the resume objective is your chance to show exactly why you want to attend that college, right from the start. 

So, even if you don’t have many achievements to highlight, make sure to personalize your statement by expressing a genuine interest in your application.  

#3. Put Weight on Your Education

Taking into consideration that, as a student, you most likely lack significant work experience, your education is the first thing admission officers will look at. 

As such, you should give your education its due importance in your college application resume. 

For starters, make sure to include this must-have information:

• Your high school’s name and location
• The date of your graduation

In addition, though, combine that with some relevant achievements that can make your education pop out. 

Let’s take a look at two examples. The second student has simply listed out the essential education information, whereas the first has taken their education section to the next level. 

Dunnellon High School FL

2017 - 2021

• 3rd place at the International Mathematical Olympiad 
• Vice-President of the Science Club
• SAT Scores: 1350 (650 Verbal, 700 Math)
• SAT Scores: 1400

#4. Showcase Relevant Activities

Extracurricular activities have a great number of benefits when it comes to your college application resume. Most importantly, they:

• Demonstrate you who are outside of the classroom
• Provide an opportunity to showcase your skills

Any activity and/or interest related to the college you’re applying to has a place on your college application resume,  but you don’t have to necessarily stop there. 

Any kind of interest, field, or activity where you’re good at can be of benefit to your application. 

That’s because it can prove that your interests are not focused solely on your favorite subject or desired career path and that you are engaged and well-rounded . 

So, don’t just list your college resume activities dryly (e.g. “reading” or “swimming”). Instead, be specific and creative about your interests, and rest assured that you will get extra points for diversity and commitment. 

Don’t believe us? Compare for yourself how the activities sections of two different students look like: the first has put minimal effort into it, whereas the second has put his A-game into writing it.

• Passionate about science
• Co-founder of the Astrophysics Club

Activities 

• Two-times winner of my high school’s Science Fair
• Co-founder of the Astrophysics Club, finalists of the MIT-founded THINK challenge
• Swimmer from an early age and member of my high school’s swim team during junior and senior year 
• Traveling; I have so far visited 10 countries and 15 states in the USA. 
• Photography, with a focus on architectural photography. 

#5. Highlight Your Work Experience

Now, if you’ve spent your summer holidays working any type of job for teens , that means that you also have some work experience under your belt. 

Although work experience is not necessary when you’re applying for college (meaning that you won’t get left out of college if you don’t have any), it does help to include it if you have it. 

Here’s how to list work experience in your college application resume:

• Start with the company name (e.g. if you worked at Starbucks), your job title, and the period you worked there. 
• Put your job title first if you worked, say, as a high-school tutor or camp counselor. 
• Include 1-2 of your main responsibilities in bullets. If you have achievements to show for, however, make sure to put them first.  

Let’s see how that works in a practical example.

Starbucks Coffee 

• Awarded employee of the month for 3 months straight
• Fielding customer complaints and questions
• Maintaining good customer service and speedy delivery

Even if the above position isn’t related to the student’s desired field of study, the work experience still highlights some of their skills such as commitment, time management, effective communication, and motivation.  

#6. Include Your Skills 

Skills—we all got them, but not everyone knows how to demonstrate them effectively in a college application resume. 

There are two things to consider when you include skills in your college resume:

• Know the kind of skills that are relevant to your major/field.
• Prove your skills, instead of just listing them 

Let’s show you how that works through practical examples:

• Time management
• Critical thinking

Are these great skills for a college applicant? Sure! 

But anyone can claim to have those skills (and frankly, most people do).

Rather than just listing these skills, you want to also back them up with achievements and experiences like so: 

• Attention to deadline: managed to update the high school’s online newspaper daily
• Leadership: successfully led a team of 6 reporters.
• Creativity: won the 2021 Young Writers competition 
• Self-motivation: founded the high school’s first online newspaper

Now, this is a skills section on a college application resume that proves you deserve a spot in your favorite university.

College application resume skills 

Wondering which skills to include in your college application resume? Here’s a list to draw some inspiration: 

Soft Skills

• Good judgment 
• Open-mindedness
• Communication  
• Self-motivation
• Interpersonal skills
• Active listening
• Problem-solving

Hard Skills

• Computer Skills
• Programming
• Public Speaking

#7. Use These Additional Sections

If you’ve followed all our tips till now, congrats - you’re around 90% into creating a top-notch college application resume.

Now, let’s talk about how you can take that to 100%!

In addition to the conventional resume sections we’ve covered till now, you can include the following to help you stand out in a sea of other applicants:

• Awards. Here, you can list any awards won in competitions (spelling, art, storytelling, math, etc). 
• Volunteer experience . Did you clean up your town, or maybe you volunteered at an animal rescue center as a high school student? Any kind of volunteering can help your college application resume because it shows you’re a responsible community member. If it’s somehow related to your field or future major, that’s a big plus. 
• Projects. Be them individual (e.g. you built a website from scratch, or started an informational podcast), or school-related (e.g. an art portfolio for a class, or a history documentary), projects can show that you’re passionate and creative. 
• Sports. Poet Juvenal said “ a healthy mind in a healthy body. ” This means that physical exercise is an important part of mental and psychological well-being (which is why sports in a college application resume make all applicants look good). Do you excel at specific sports? Include them in your resume!. 
• Languages. Being fluent (or even just a beginner) in a foreign language is another plus for a prospective college student. Make sure to show it in your college application resume. 

5 College Application Resume Tips

Finally, here are some of our college application tips that didn’t fit anywhere else in the article:

• Be direct and to the point. Your college application resume is not the right place to show how many SAT-level words you know. Keep your language simple, direct, and to the point. Let your achievements and results speak for themselves. 
• Don't lie about your academic background or accomplishments. Lying about the awards you’ve won or your achievements won’t get you into college. More often than not, admission officers will see through your lies by asking behavioral interview questions . 
• Proofread your college application resume.   Spelling and grammar mistakes can make you appear like a less serious applicant. Imagine telling recruiters that you have great SAT scores and GPA but having spelling mistakes in your resume. Kind of contradictory, isn’t it? To avoid these kinds of mistakes, use spelling and grammar apps such as Grammarly and Heminway . 
• Have one or more people look at your resume before you send it out. There are kinds of mistakes that Grammarly or Hemingway cannot catch. To avoid such mistakes, have one or more people that know you give your college application resume a look. 
• Emphasize specific achievements over general responsibilities. As mentioned before, emphasizing your achievements over your responsibilities is the best way to set yourself apart from other candidates. The reason is that your achievements effectively show how well you handle responsibilities and they are uniquely yours.

Making a resume from scratch can take what feels like ages—especially if it’s your first time doing it.

You’ve got to tweak the formatting. 

You make a change at MS Word and the layout falls apart in front of your eyes. Or you end up using a bland and outdated template. 

Well, you don’t have to worry about any of these things with Nóvóresume’s free resume templates . 

With 8 free templates to choose from - college application resume included - you don’t have to worry about anything other than inputting your information.

Let our resume builder do the rest! 

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap on college application resumes. We hope to have made the process of writing yours easier and even more enjoyable. 

For good measure, let’s go over the main points we covered: 

• Your college application resume should contain the following sections: contact information , personal profile , education section , relevant activities , your skills , and additional sections , such as awards and honors. 
• In terms of formatting, the functional resume template fits your college application best. Additionally, make sure to keep your resume one page long and save it as a PDF. 
• Write a resume objective that doesn’t surpass 3 sentences and that clearly communicates your motivation for getting into college and your most relevant skills. 
• Make sure to give your education section its due importance by being thorough about your grades, SAT scores, and achievements. 
• Don’t forget to list all your relevant activities and passions, as well as soft and hard skills.
• Instead of writing your college application resume from scratch, use one of Nóvóresume’s ready-made templates to save yourself time and effort!  

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College Admissions Resume Samples

College application resume examples for high school seniors

In addition to viewing our college admissions resume samples, you can download our college resume & cover letter template today — Designed for easy customization. Use the included writing prompts from The Career Counter’s professional resume writers to shape your resume to reflect your educational credentials

College application word resume template

Check out our video below for expert tips on crafting an outstanding high school resume that will make you stand out.

High school resume sample for a college application

Sample college application resume for an ivy league college

College admission resume objective examples

Aspiring Engineering Student: “Passionate and innovative prospective Engineering student eager to contribute to cutting-edge research and collaborative projects at [College Name]. Aims to leverage proven skills in problem-solving, mathematics, and programming to advance technological solutions and pursue career in software development.”

Future Business Major: “Motivated and entrepreneurial-minded applicant with strong foundation in leadership, aiming to enhance [College Name]’s business community by bringing real-world experience from running successful online store. Dedicated to learning advanced business strategies and contributing to college’s network through active participation in clubs and organizations.”

Prospective Liberal Arts Major: “Creative and critical thinker aspiring to join [College Name] as Liberal Arts major, with interest in exploring intersections of literature, history, and philosophy. Committed to contributing to academic discussions, cultural clubs, and community service projects while aiming to foster more inclusive and diverse campus environment.”

Future Environmental Science Major: “Environmentally conscious student driven to explore solutions for sustainable living seeks to join [College Name]’s Environmental Science program. Plans to engage in research and community initiatives to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, leveraging background in volunteer work with local conservation groups.”

Aspiring Computer Science Student: “Tech-savvy and analytical thinker aiming to contribute to [College Name]’s Computer Science department with strong foundation in coding and software development. Eager to participate in hackathons, research projects, and tech clubs to enhance coding skills and prepare for future in technology innovation.”

Prospective Pre-Med Student: “Dedicated and compassionate aspiring Pre-Med student seeks admission to [College Name] with goal of contributing to health and well-being of others. With strong foundation in science and volunteer experience at local hospitals, aims to explore medical field through rigorous academics and research opportunities.”

Future Educator: “Enthusiastic and committed prospective Education major passionate about shaping future of primary education through teaching. Aims to leverage [College Name]’s renowned Education program to gain skills necessary for creating inclusive and effective learning environments, with special interest in literacy and STEM education.”

If you aren’t motivated to write your resume quite yet, I recommend at least creating a folder, either hard copy and/or online, that houses all of your awards, recognitions, and activities. That way, when you are ready to write your resume, everything is in one location. College applications are a lot of work. By collecting information early on in high school, the college application process will be easier and less time consuming!

College admissions resume samples: how to organize your information

Although there is not a hard and fast rule about how to categorize your resume, my suggestion is to include the most important information at the top. You might be wondering; how do I know which information is most important? Each and every college application will have very specific instructions about what you need to include (and not include) in your application. I cannot stress this point enough: follow the instructions!

For example, some applications might not request a resume. Some schools will ask that you include a resume, and they will list the specific items that they want you to include. Part of what the college admissions committees will be looking at when reading applications is whether or not applicants can follow instructions. If you include a resume but they did not request a resume, this can be counted against you!

That said, if a resume is required, the following are common sections to include in your college application resume:

• Objective or Summary: A brief statement that outlines your goals and specifies the role or program you are applying for as well as the name of the institution.
• Education: List your high school’s name, expected graduation date, and your GPA (if it’s 3.0 or above). You also want to include any honors or advanced placement courses.
• Extracurricular Activities: Include clubs, sports, and other non-academic pursuits. Highlight leadership roles and any significant contributions or achievements.
• Work Experience: If applicable, list any part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work, along with what you achieved and the skills you acquired.
• Awards and Honors: Detail any academic or extracurricular awards, scholarships, or recognitions you have received.
• Skills: Mention any relevant skills, such as foreign languages, computer proficiency, or artistic abilities.
• Focus on achievements . Rather than merely listing activities or memberships, emphasize what you have achieved or contributed to each role and what makes you shine. Don’t be afraid to brag a little. That’s what your resume is for! Use action verbs and quantify your accomplishments when possible. For instance, instead of saying “Member of the debate team,” specify your contribution with “Assisted debate team in winning regional competitions by researching and presenting solid arguments.”

College admissions resume samples: additional tips

Customize your resume for each college application by emphasizing the experiences and achievements that align with the specific college or program. Research the college’s values and program details to determine what to highlight. Also, read the application thoroughly to make sure you include all of the requested information. This will impress admissions committees because it demonstrates your attention to detail and knowledge of the particular school.

I recommend that you start writing your resume earlier rather than later. Starting your freshman year in high school, you can start writing your resume and add information about your classes, activities, and achievements as you go. Regularly updating your resume will help ensure that you won’t overlook any significant accomplishments when you sit down to write your college admissions resume.

Review your resume carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors. I highly recommend that you print out your resume and read it over carefully. It’s hard to catch formatting errors and typos when looking at a screen. A polished, error-free resume reflects your attention to detail and professionalism. You can also ask teachers, counselors, or mentors to provide feedback. Their insights can help you improve the content and presentation of your resume.

If you have a portfolio, a personal website, or other relevant materials that showcase your talents or projects, consider including a link in your resume. Make sure that any supplementary material is professional and directly relevant to your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are college admissions resume samples.

College admissions resume samples are examples or templates of resumes specifically tailored for students applying to colleges or universities. These samples showcase the recommended format, sections, and content to include in a resume for college admissions purposes.

How can college admissions resume samples be helpful?

College admissions resume samples can be helpful in several ways. Firstly, they provide a visual representation of how a well-structured college admissions resume should look. Secondly, they offer guidance on the type of information to include, such as academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and relevant skills. Lastly, these samples can inspire and spark ideas to present oneself effectively on a resume.

What should I consider when using college admissions resume samples?

When using college admissions resume samples, it is important to consider a few factors. Firstly, tailor the sample to your own experiences and achievements to ensure it accurately reflects your unique qualifications. Secondly, follow any specific guidelines provided by the college or university you are applying to, as each institution may have its own preferences. Lastly, while using a sample as a reference, make sure to maintain originality and authenticity in presenting your own accomplishments and aspirations.

Lee Cristina Beaser

Lee brings over two decades of expertise in guiding individuals towards career success. During her tenure at San Jose State University, she helped thousands of students write compelling resumes to land their first jobs and internships. More recently, Lee founded The Career Counter, a platform dedicated to providing job seekers with tools and services tailored to their unique fields and career goals.

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Free college resume example for students in Word format

Download this college resume example for free in Word format and make an excellent first impression on recruiters. This free resume for college students in Word is sure to set you off in the right direction in your job-seeking journey. You just need to download and open the file in Word to start customizing it with your personal information!

• File format:  Word (Microsoft)
• File size:  424 KB
• Ready-to-use:  fast, easy, and free

Are you gearing up to create a college resume that will open doors to your dream educational and career opportunities? You’ve come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of building an impressive college resume that showcases your qualifications effectively . Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or already have some experience under your belt, we’ve got you covered with essential tips and examples to make your college resume shine.

Tips for Making a Good College Resume

Crafting a standout college resume is not just about listing your academic achievements and experiences. It’s equally important to choose the right sections that best represent your qualifications and demonstrate your potential to college admissions committees or prospective employers. In this section, we’ll provide valuable tips on how to make informed decisions when selecting the sections to include in your college resume.

• Be Clear and Concise : Keep your resume clear, concise, and well-organized. Use bullet points and short sentences for readability.
• Tailor It : Customize your resume for each application. Highlight the skills and experiences relevant to the specific college or job.
• Use Action Verbs : Start each bullet point with action verbs (e.g., “developed,” “led,” “achieved”) to demonstrate your impact.
• Showcase Achievements : Emphasize your accomplishments and the results you achieved in your previous roles or academic projects.
• Include Relevant Sections : Choose sections that best represent your qualifications. Education, experiences, skills, and a profile summary are typically crucial.
• Proofread : Check your resume for errors, typos, and formatting issues. It should be flawless.

Required Sections

• Profile Summary

Experiences

Optional sections.

• Certifications
• Volunteer Work
• Awards and Honors

Profile Summary for a College Resume

The profile summary, often positioned at the top of your college resume, plays a pivotal role in capturing the attention of admissions officers, potential employers, or recruiters. This section serves as your first opportunity to make a compelling impression and convey a snapshot of who you are and what you bring to the table. In a concise yet impactful manner, it encapsulates your core strengths, aspirations, and the value you can bring to the college or prospective employer.

Example of entry-level summary for college resumes

As a recent graduate with a strong passion for environmental science, I’m eager to contribute my knowledge and enthusiasm to a sustainability-focused organization. My education and internship experience have equipped me with valuable research and data analysis skills, making me an ideal candidate to support your environmental initiatives.

Example of profile summary with experience for college resumes

Energetic and motivated college student with a passion for academic excellence and a strong track record of involvement in campus activities. Highly organized and detail-oriented, I possess a diverse skill set acquired through various internships and extracurricular experiences. Committed to personal growth and eager to contribute to a dynamic and collaborative college community.

Experiences in a College Resume

In a college resume, your experiences serve as a testament to your commitment, work ethic, and achievements. It’s not just about listing your past roles; it’s about highlighting your growth and the contributions you’ve made along the way. This section is a powerful tool that enables you to connect the dots between your academic pursuits and your aspirations , showing that you have the practical skills and expertise to excel in your chosen field.

Example of experience for a college student

Marketing Intern , XYZ Company, NY June 20XX – August 20XX

• Assisted the marketing team in developing and executing digital marketing campaigns, increasing online engagement by 20%.
• Collaborated on social media campaigns, increasing engagement by 20%.
• Assisted in market research, contributing to a 10% growth in market share.

Research Assistant , ABC Lab, NY September 20XX – May 20XX

• Conducted experiments and collected data, resulting in two published research papers.
• Assisted in teaching undergraduate biology classes, earning a positive feedback score of 4.8 out of 5 from students.
• Provided excellent customer service and resolved customer complaints effectively, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rate.

Sales Associate , PQR Retail, NY January 20XX – May 20XX

• Consistently met or exceeded monthly sales targets.
• Provided excellent customer service and resolved customer complaints effectively.
• Implemented visual merchandising strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in product visibility and sales.

Education for College Resume

This section is not merely a list of institutions and degrees; it’s a testament to your dedication, commitment, and your pursuit of knowledge. Furthermore, it provides a window into your academic achievements and the foundation on which you’ve built your skills, experiences, and aspirations.

Example of education on college resumes

BS in Computer Science , NYU August 20XX – May 20XX

Associate of Arts in Communication , Community College August 20XX – May 20XX

Hard Skills for the College Resume

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge sets that you’ve acquired through education or training. They are often directly related to your field of study or career path and are highly valued by recruiters. Including hard skills in your college resume not only demonstrates your competence but also shows that you possess the practical expertise required to excel in your chosen role.

College resume examples of hard skills

• Data Analysis
• Web Development
• Graphic Design
• Laboratory Techniques
• Financial Analysis
• Python Programming

Soft Skills for the College Resume

Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal attributes and qualities that contribute to your ability to work effectively and harmoniously in both academic and professional settings. These skills are often considered just as important as hard skills, as they determine your ability to collaborate, communicate, and adapt in various situations.

College resume examples of soft skills

• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Time Management

Check out Strengths to Put on a Resume for more

In today’s digital age, proficiency in various software applications is a valuable asset that can significantly enhance your qualifications, whether you’re seeking admission to a college program or pursuing a professional opportunity. The “Software” section in your college resume is where you can highlight your technical prowess and demonstrate your ability to work with tools and technologies relevant to your field of study or career path.

College resume examples of software

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Google Analytics

College Resume Sample

John Doe [email protected] (555) 555-5555 linkedin.com/johndoe

Motivated college student with a strong academic background and a proven ability to work independently and as part of a team. Seeking an entry-level position to leverage my skills and knowledge in a professional environment. Adept at communication, problem-solving, and time management.

Research Assistant , XYZ University, NY 20XX-20XX

• Conducted research on the impact of climate change on local ecosystems.
• Assisted in data collection, analysis, and report writing.
• Collaborated with a team of researchers to achieve project goals.

Sales Associate , ABC Retail Store, NY 20XX – 20XX

• Provided excellent customer service and product knowledge to drive sales.
• Assisted in visual merchandising and store organization to enhance the shopping experience.
• Resolved customer complaints and issues, ensuring high customer satisfaction.

Marketing Intern , XYZ Tech Company, NY 20XX – 20XX

• Developed and managed social media content to increase brand visibility.
• Assisted in creating marketing materials, including brochures and promotional videos.
• Conducted market research to identify customer trends and preferences.

BA in Communication , NYU May 20XX

• Hard Skills
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Research Methodology
• Customer Service
• Market Research
• Social Media Marketing

Personal Qualities

• Strong Work Ethic
• Excellent Communication
• Problem-Solving
• Team Collaboration
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Photoshop
• Hiking and Outdoor Activities
• Photography
• Creative Writing
• Technology Trends

What should I include in my college resume if I don’t have much experience?

If you’re just starting your journey, focus on your educational achievements, relevant coursework, skills, and any volunteer work or extracurricular activities. These elements can help fill your college resume and demonstrate your potential.

How long should my resume be?

A college resume should typically be one page, but it can extend to two pages if you have substantial experience. Remember, concise and relevant information is key.

Should I include references on my college resume?

It’s not necessary to include references on your resume. Instead, you can create a separate document with your references to provide when requested.

Resume, CV and Cover Letter Writing Expert

Updated March 13, 2024

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A student who has a purpose to transfer or apply into his or her desired university or school campus for enrollment, a good college resume will be a great and effective tool to make that happen. By searching and using a High School Resume Templates you can have the format and content you want for your own resume application that will impress the educational management for accepting you as their new enrolle you can have a great deal of samples which you can download as per preference. You may also see Resume Templates .

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20 College Student Resumes That Landed Jobs in 2024

• College Student Resumes
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Writing Your College Student Resume

Companies sometimes require that entry-level candidates have experience, but how do you get experience when even entry-level jobs make it difficult to apply?

Getting that first job or internship can be the most challenging part of your career. Fortunately, as a college student, you’re in a great position to get that first break you need. Once you get your degree, you’ll have the experience employers are seeking, but until then, how can you build an effective resume or write a cover letter as a college student?

After reviewing countless  resume samples , we’ve determined what types employers want to see from college students. Furthermore, we used that knowledge to create  20 college student resume examples to help inspire your resume in 2024 .

College Student Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• This lets employers know when you can work full-time. Whatever you do, be honest. Stretching the truth won’t get you any points with employers. It’s better to be upfront and willing to learn a skill rather than try to succeed by the skin of your teeth.
• The golden rule on your college student resume is to lead with your strengths. If you’ve got a relevant internship, add it. If you’ve done any related class projects, list them. No matter what you include, make sure to highlight transferable skills.

Undergraduate Student Resume

• To impress the recruiter, demonstrate the dedication you have had in your previous posts despite minimal experience.

University Student Resume

• In that case, your university student resume can capitalize on your analytical skills, which helped identify cost-saving opportunities and cut overall expenses by six percent.

College Student No Experience Resume

• Luckily, there are a host of  resume templates  you can use to format your experience well, so long as you adjust based on your qualifications.
• For example, you can add or remove sections based on the amount of work history you have (or don’t have).
• For example, being on the club basketball team may feel irrelevant to business analysis. But by focusing on how you’ve organized practices and led a local volunteer effort, your  college student no experience resume  can point to qualities that might appeal to a thoughtful employer.

Current College Student Resume

• A reverse-chronological format is still the most accepted, but if you want to highlight your skills, try using a functional format instead.
• Adding relevant metrics shows that you know what matters to your employer and you’ve positively impacted your previous workplace.

College Student for Internship Resume

• That’s okay—you can weave in other things, like projects and part-time jobs. Of course, if you do have internship or job experience, put that at the top.
• It’s as easy as checking the  job description . Then just list your relevant abilities according to what matches the keywords listed by the employer.

College Student Assistant Medical Laboratory Technician Resume Example

• Do you have a unique interest related to science? Are you involved in a sport? Do you volunteer? All of these hobbies are great additions to your resume.
• If you’ve just graduated, you can bulk up your education section.
• Feel free to add any college awards you won and your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5).

College Student HR Executive Assistant Resume

• As a rule of thumb, we recommend including one if you’re light on experience or are going through a substantial career change. Otherwise, leave it out in favor of work experience. 
• Good skills to include on an HR executive assistant resume are “talent acquisition,” “conflict resolution,” “legal compliance,” and “compensation/benefits.”
• An even more effective way to breathe life into your skills is to weave them into your work history or project bullet points.

College Student Case Assistant Resume

• Show off your personality using contrasting colors, classic fonts, and well-organized layouts. Our ready-to-build  resume templates  or handy  Google Docs interactive resumes  can help you keep your resume both tasteful and personable.
• If you don’t have certification, then now’s the best time to get it. Better late than never!

College Student Resident Assistant Resume

• Though an objective isn’t required, it can help employers see your skills and experience straight away.
• Just make sure to tailor it for every job you apply for by including the name of the employer, the position you’re seeking, and some matching keyword skills (that are true about you) gleaned from the  job description . 
• You also shouldn’t feel limited by your work experience. If you’ve done any relevant projects or have volunteered, include them! Employers love to see transferrable skills like collaboration, a good work ethic, and organization.

College Student Warehouse Worker Resume

• If you’re struggling to get going, consider using a  resume outline  to help you structure your experience—just don’t forget to fill out all the sections thoroughly!
• While it’s not impossible to land an excellent job without internships or experience, having some kind of work history, even in the form of projects, will allow you to be more picky and skim from the top of warehouse positions.

College Student Teacher Assistant Resume

• Adjusting formatting details, like the layout and header colors, can make your resume pop and reveal a bit about yourself. (Red and pink are bold, daring colors, while blue and green are calming.)
• Adding a  hobbies and interests section to your resume  can also help catch the eye of employers, provided you list hobbies that are relevant to the desired job, such as creative pursuits, volunteering, or research.
• Even if you’ve never had experience as a teacher assistant, you can instill confidence by demonstrating the impact of your communication skills. Did you effectively resolve an issue using negotiation? Write something that added helpful clarity? Show how you used communication to affect others positively!

College Student Biology Lab Technician Resume

• Don’t get too carried away here; after all, it’s still a resume and not a flier for a Wednesday Night Disco. But, one to two colors can be appropriate for all but the most conservative working environments. 
• Numbers can be frustrating to calculate and add to your resume, but trust us when we tell you that they make a world of difference. Hiring managers are consistently more willing to interview people with metrics on their resumes, as they convey job competence and confidence.

College Student English Tutor Resume

• Breaking up each work experience into bullet points can make your resume both easier to read (with fewer blocks of dense text) and easier to write.
• Instead of writing one big chunk of cohesive text, you can focus on pulling out as many highlights about your work history at each job as possible. 
• A project can be anything. Seriously, your final group project from that writing seminar counts, or you could highlight a blog you’ve been working on in your free time.
• Hint: Projects also make great stories to discuss on your college student cover letter .

College Application Resume

• Suppose you’re applying for a Bachelor of Arts in education. Express your passion for teaching and eagerness to advance your knowledge of education theories and practices. Even better, emphasize your long-term ambition to shape future generations through innovative education methods.

College Admission Resume

• Take a leaf from how Brian narrates his stints as a restaurant server, project presenter, and volunteer. Well-described, such experiences paint a picture of a well-rounded character who can take on varied challenges of an engineering program, enhancing their appeal in the eyes of the college admissions committee.

College Freshman Resume

• Use past projects to advantage here even if they’re only a year long. Clearly state how you used skills such as Canva and Microsoft Teams to make specific impacts during this time. Another great addition to your college freshman resume is any work experience under your belt.

College Student Academic Highlights Resume

• Say you have some work experience, but it’s not relevant to the job. That’s okay—instead of trying in vain to match the  job description , focus on transferable skills like customer service, organization, event planning, public speaking, and computer literacy.
• If you lack much work history, adding projects, coursework, or volunteer experience is the next best way to showcase your potential. You can also list your involvement in clubs, organizations, or peer mentorship.
• Write them like you’d write work experience by using active verbs and incorporating metrics (numbers).

First Year College Student Resume

• Your time contributing to a project is tangible evidence of your skills and experiences. Depending on what you include, it could showcase your communication and organizational skills or more technical abilities, like your proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Freshman College Student Resume

• Do you love gardening or nature photography? Awesome, it shows you’re inherently passionate about biology. Do you spend your time baking as well? It’s a sign that you know how to follow instructions and observe changes over time—skills that will come in handy as a lab assistant.

Related resume guides

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Before we dive into the difference between a  resume objective  vs. a  resume summary , let’s get some definitions out of the way:

• Resume objective : A statement of your qualifications, interests, and skills that make you a good fit for the role to which you’re applying.
• Resume summary : A summary of your past experience detailing your high-level accomplishments and projects.

When you’re applying for a job or internship as a college student, you likely won’t have extensive work experience. So, we’d recommend including a resume objective instead of a resume summary.

The goal of your resume objective is to set the stage for your resume. It should highlight your skills applicable to the job at hand, and it should be specific for each job to which you’re applying.

Most resume objectives are boring and generic. By taking the time to craft a customized and effective resume objective, you give yourself an edge over other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview.

Before we dive into the rules for creating a strong resume objective, let’s look at some examples.

Sample college student resume objectives

• “Recent college graduate with a degree in marketing looking for a full-time role where I can utilize my experience in social media and paid advertising to help an up-and-coming brand like Club Z! Inc. spread awareness and acquire more users.”
• “Diligent college student at the University of Pittsburgh who is equally committed to academic excellence (3.8 GPA) and service (student leader at the local food shelter) looking for an opportunity at Unidos as a part-time employee to utilize these talents to improve customer satisfaction.”
• “Recent graduate with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) seeking an opportunity within an established management organization to utilize my organizational and quantitative abilities. Epic seems to have a culture of empowering employees to have ownership over their problems, and that culture fits my work style perfectly.”

You can see that all of these resume objectives specifically mention the company that the student is applying to. Tailoring is the golden rule of resume objectives.

Here are some other rules to make your objective the best it can be:

• Again, take the time to  customize your resume objective for each company to which you’re applying .
• Don’t be afraid to inject your personality. Making an impression will help you stand out among the hundreds of other applicants.
• Keep it to two to three sentences.
• Mention any relevant skills or certifications you have for the role to which you’re applying.

College Student Resume Formats

One of the hardest parts of  building your resume  as a college student is the blank page. The “getting started” part is overwhelming—you’re unsure what your resume should look like, let alone what should be in it!

When it comes to formatting your resume, the best advice is to keep it  simple . You need to convincingly make the case that you deserve an interview for the role to which you’re applying.

In short, your resume should likely contain the following sections:

• Header: This is your name and job title. Have your job title match the job title to which you’re applying.
• Resume objective: We talked about this above, a quick summary of your skills and what you’re seeking.
• Education: As a college student, this should include your anticipated graduation date, the field of study, and relevant classes.
• Skills: List six to ten technical skills relevant to your career.
• Work experience: If you have any relevant internships or part-time jobs, mention them here.
• Projects: Did you do any side projects that demonstrate your competency? Include them!

Not all of these sections need to be included in your resume.  Your resume should focus on your strengths.

If you don’t have much relevant work experience, you can omit that section in favor of discussing your projects or classwork.

However, no matter what format you choose, there are a few writing guidelines you should adhere to throughout your resume.

Formatting guidelines for your resume

• Keep your resume to one page! Your resume should only extend to a second page when you have 10+ years of experience.
• Avoid any spelling or grammar errors by double-checking your text and having a friend review your resume. Don’t let typos be the reason why you don’t get an interview.
• Break up your work experience into small, consumable bullet points. Nothing is harder to read than a big wall of text.
• Use reverse-chronological order to keep your most recent experience/projects at the top.
• Don’t include fancy images or graphics. It’s highly likely a computer will read your resume before a human ever does, and images are hard for computers to scan.
• Don’t list more than ten skills on your resume. (We’ll expand on this below.)

Skills to pay the bills

When building your skills section, it can be tempting to list any and every skill you know. You’ll have to resist this temptation.

Before a human reviews your resume, an automated system called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will score your resume based on whether or not it includes the “right” keywords. These filters are largely screening for specific skills.

Doesn’t this mean that you should include as many skills as possible to beat the ATS? Unfortunately, you need to make your resume appealing to both the ATS and a human, and nothing is a bigger red flag to a hiring manager than a candidate with a laundry list of skills!

You’re much better off focusing on  six to ten skills you’re an expert in  than including more that you kind of know. Generally, if you wouldn’t be comfortable being interviewed on a given skill, don’t include it on your resume. 

Work Experience and Projects

In any resume, no matter the career stage, your work experience and projects should take up at least 70 percent of the overall space. These will decide whether you get an interview or not.

Once you have a few years of experience, then the size of your projects section will decrease as the size of your work experience section expands.

If you have an internship relevant to the job you’re applying for, this should be listed in your “work experience” section. As a college student, your work experience can also contain any part-time jobs you had while in school, even if they don’t seem relevant to the position to which you’re applying.

It’s not easy to balance work and school, so having a part-time job demonstrates responsibility and drive.

When talking about your work experience, there are a few key tips you should follow:

• Mention the skills you demonstrated on the job.
• Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible.
• Talk specifically about your role; avoid being too general.
• Use action verbs like “owned” or “led” to highlight your leadership abilities.

Numbers truly speak louder than words, especially on your resume. By providing numerical context around your work, you show your ability to contribute meaningfully to your workplace.

Compare these two descriptions of an internship. Which do you think would be more compelling to a hiring manager?

WRONG – general work experience descriptions

Marketing Science Associates April 2020 – Current, New York NY Digital Marketing Intern

• Created testing plan for Facebook ad copy
• Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs
• Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes
• Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy

RIGHT – specific, quantified descriptions

• Created A/B testing plan for Facebook ad copy, improving ROI by 15%
• Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs such as marketing spend, new leads, revenue generated, and ROI
• Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes which grew from 1,000 to 5,000 monthly organic visitors
• Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy, leading to client satisfaction of 99%

Projects can be anything

If you don’t have much (or any) relevant work experience for your resume, don’t fret. You can still  create a highly effective resume  by showcasing your projects.

As a college student, you’ve likely done a lot of class projects that are relevant to the job or internship you’re looking to get. This is the perfect place to talk about those projects. You can even mention projects you completed outside of class. Talk about your goals, the methods/skills you used, and the project’s outcome.

The key is to include anything that will convince the hiring manager you have the drive, skills, and ability to translate your academic knowledge to the real world and contribute to the roles for which you’re applying.

Here are some potential projects you can work on for different majors:

Project ideas for college students

• Are you a business student? Detail a case study that you analyzed and presented in a class.
• If you’re a marketing student, you can write a short blog post about how you’d improve the paid marketing strategy for a company you admire.
• As a graphic designer, this is a great opportunity to talk about some of the projects in your portfolio.
• If you’re looking for a data analyst role, talk about how you analyzed stock data to determine areas of opportunity.
• As a human resources major, you’ve likely created processes for companies as part of a class, so talk about that.
• Software engineering students complete meaningful coding assignments all the time. Discuss one of those or talk about your side project.
• If you’re looking to break into product management, discuss a hackathon you were part of or create a case study for a feature your favorite product is missing.

Basically, the projects you include on your resume can be just about anything. They simply have to demonstrate you know what is required of the kind of role you’re applying to, and that you can meet those requirements.

Your Education Section

As a college student, it should go without saying that you need to include an education section on your resume.

Here’s what you need to include in your education section no matter what:

• The school you’re currently attending (or recently graduated from). You do not need to include your high school.
• Your graduation date (or expected graduation date). You can give just the month and year.
• The kind of degree you’re working toward (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master’s, etc.).
• Your field of study.

Once you include all that, there’s more flexibility. If you have a strong GPA (greater than 3.5), you should include it, too.

If you don’t have much experience yet, then you can add relevant courses or awards to your education section, provided they’re relevant to the job for which you’re applying.

For example, if you’re applying for a role as a data scientist, then it makes sense to include any math, economics, or programming classes you completed.

Here’s an example of an effective education section for a college student looking for a marketing role:

If you received any awards or honors during your time in college, list them here. These can include getting on the Dean’s List, any department-specific awards relevant to your major, or formal recognition for your work or volunteer efforts.

Resume Builder for College Students

There you have it—we’ve discussed the building blocks to help you land a job or internship as a college student!

In summary, here are the keys to making an effective resume as a college student:

• Inject your personality into your resume objective and customize it for each company to which you apply.
• Your resume format should include a header, resume objective, skills section, education, and work/ project experience.
• Include any relevant internships or part-time jobs you’ve had during college and quantify the impact of your work.
• If you don’t have much working experience, include relevant projects you’ve completed either in the classroom or on your own time.
• Your education section is your chance to highlight classes you’ve completed that will convince the hiring manager you have the right tools for the job.

Finding a job or internship as a college student can be incredibly stressful.  Building your resume  is a huge first step, so pat yourself on the back. After you’re done with the writing, you can  check your resume  against our AI-powered tips to see how your resume matches up.

Just remember, it does get easier after you get some experience first. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go!

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free

At home, abroad, working, interning?  Wherever you are this summer, contact OCS or make an appointment for a virtual advising session. We are available all summer! 

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Yale College: Resume Templates

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Utilize these OCS Resume Templates to create your draft resume. To help you fill in your template, utilize OCS’s resume formatting and common errors resource .

• Yale College (YC):  Resume 1
• YC:  Resume 2   (with Summary section)
• YC:  Technical Resume   
• YC:  Common Good Career   Resume 
• YC:  Creative Career   Resume 
• YC Recent Alum:  General Resume 
• YC Experienced Alum:  General Resume  

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