Crafting a strong resume isn’t just for job seekers; it’s a strategic advantage in the college admissions process.
“Resume” is often synonymous with job applications. As such, many high school students might be surprised to learn that resumes play a significant role in the college application process.
For example, the Common App, a platform that allows high school students to apply to colleges, includes a section in its general information profile for uploading a resume. Similarly, some schools request a copy of a student’s resume in their supplemental applications for scholarships, honors programs, and more.
Ultimately, having a college‑ready resume at the start of your senior year is a crucial stepping‑stone in the college admissions process. The question then becomes: how can you prepare to make your resume stellar by that time?
Breaking a Resume Down Into Manageable Pieces
Before answering that question, it’s important to understand the components of a resume. There are many templates you can use to highlight key achievements. For high school students, some general sections that may be useful to include are:
- Academic History
- Extracurricular Activities
- Volunteer Work
- Leadership Roles
- Awards and Honors
These sections are not all required, nor is this list comprehensive, but it provides a clear overview of the types of information captured by a strong resume.
Related resource: Learn how your resume ties into activity lists on applications in “Common App vs UC Application: How to Build a Winning Activity List”.
Why Resume Building Is Not a One‑Day Commitment
Looking through the sections above, it becomes clear that there are many varied experiences to include on your resume. Identifying a diverse set of experiences requires thought and intention, it’s more of a process than a single step.
Throughout high school, seeking enriching opportunities is essential for reasons beyond college applications. Additionally, considering how these engagements might factor into your resume is important, especially when some opportunities are limited or time‑intensive. Planning ahead makes a difference.
For example:
- Interested in work experiences? Apply for jobs and internships months in advance, including competitive summer experiences or Fortune 500 internships.
- Want to join a new sport? Tryouts for school teams may only occur at the start of the year.
- Hoping to participate in a science fair? Consider prestigious programs like the Regeneron Science Talent Search; identifying a project, registering, and experimenting takes time.
Plan Ahead, Start Today
Starting to think about your resume early in high school allows you to plan for activities you’re interested in and avoid burnout by attempting everything at once.
Another benefit is that your resume can streamline the college application process. For instance, the Common App asks students to input activities, awards, and work experiences, keeping track of these early makes the translation to applications much easier.
Additionally, building your resume now allows you to leverage it for internships, job opportunities, summer programs, and more along the way.
Q: When should a high schooler start their resume?
A: Freshman year is ideal to start tracking activities, awards, and work experiences. Early planning provides flexibility and a stronger, more comprehensive resume by senior year.
Continue strengthening your overall admissions strategy with personalized support in “Dewey Smart College Counseling: Your Path to Admissions Success”.
Expand Your Strategy: Planning Your College Path
As you develop your resume, also consider how it connects with the larger framework of your college plan — including how you select your schools and measure your admissions success.
Start by building a balanced college list that reflects your reach, match, and safety options. Our guide “Creating the Perfect College List” breaks down how strategic research and fit factors can help you find institutions where you will thrive.
Celebrate Milestones and Outcomes
Seeing where students end up can be incredibly motivating. From Ivy League acceptances to top national universities, our community’s Class of 2025 results highlight how intentional planning and early resume building pay off. Check out “Celebrating 2025 College Acceptances for Our Students!” to see real outcomes from strategic college application planning.
So, don’t snooze on this opportunity to get started early. Your Dewey Smart tutor can help identify valuable experiences and craft an outstanding resume. Building your college‑ready resume starts today! Schedule a free consultation here.