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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., write a high school student resume for college applications.

Think resumes are only for job seekers? Think again. A high school student resume gives colleges a snapshot of your accomplishments, extracurriculars, hobbies, and work history. They can also be a useful tool for prepping for a college interview or to give to the teachers who are writing your letters of recommendation .

Not sure how to get started? Follow our tips for crafting a standout resume for college and scholarship applications.

What should go on a high school student resume for college admissions?

Any of the sections below could appear on your resume for college applications. Pick an assortment that works for you!

• Heading with your name, address, and e-mail
• High school information with your graduation date, GPA (weighted), class rank, and SAT/ACT scores
• Academic awards, publications, honors, and other achievements
• Coursework (summer programs, college courses, or other specialized workshops that do not appear on your high school transcript)
• Extracurricular activities
• Community service
• Work experience
• Special skills (e.g. foreign language fluency or HTML expertise)

When should you submit a resume to colleges?

Some colleges and scholarship committees request or recommend that you include a high school resume with your application materials. (But don’t submit a resume if they don’t ask for one—following instructions is a key application strategy.) Bring your resume to college interviews and give copies to your college counselor and teachers so that they can write you the strongest possible recommendation letter.

Tips for Composing Your College Admissions Resume

1. keep it concise..

Pare down the activities you showcase to the most brag-worthy and most representative of you as a candidate. Do colleges need to know that you were on the field hockey team for one semester in Grade 9? Probably not. The standard rule of thumb is to stick to one or two pages.

2. Focus on depth and length of commitment.

When deciding which activities and accomplishments make the cut, keep in mind that colleges would much rather see you excited about one or two key experiences than sporadic involvement in 20 clubs. If having an after-school job limited your ability to participate in clubs or sports, make sure your resume plays up your work responsibilities, training, and on-the-job skills.

Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Applying to College

3. Provide detail whenever possible.

The details are what set a resume apart from a list of extracurriculars on a standard college application. For example, when describing your involvement in the French Club make sure to include:

• school years/hours per week you participated
• specific contributions (e.g. "Organized a successful after-school film series to introduce our community to French cinema and culture" )
• leadership roles (e.g. "Treasurer, Grade 12" )
• unique details that will make you stand out

4. Highlight things you weren’t able to write about in your college essays or short answers.

Use your high school resume to show colleges something new. If your devotion to photography didn’t make it on the application but is a big part of who you are, then showcase your photography cred on your resume.

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5. Formatting is key.

Make your resume easy to scan. Divide information into sections with clear headings, bulleted lists, and a consistent font. Use a system of organization that works for you. (Chronological, by importance of activity, or by time commitment are a few options.) Don’t forget to proofread !

6. Be honest and accurate.

Colleges know how to spot inconsistencies in your high school student resume, and they won’t hesitate to call your counselor to verify information that doesn't seem right. So don't tell them that you have practice for the school play for 30 hours per week—unless drama club is somehow your full-time job!

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How to Write a Resume for College

High school and college students need a resume when applying for academic and career opportunities.

Getty Images

Students should include standardized test scores, Advanced Placement and honors courses, awards, activities and talents that show depth in educational endeavors.

A resume is no longer reserved for after graduation. Students may want to craft one as early as the ninth grade for everything from college admissions to scholarships and internship opportunities.

Impress College Admissions Counselors

Arlene Weintraub Sept. 13, 2017

The resume should continue to evolve over the course of one's academic career, shaped by experiences and reflecting the student's interests and activities, experts say. Both high school and college students should keep a well-polished resume up to date.

"It's a really valuable thing for a student to have," says Kelly Fraser, owner and principal consultant at Green Apple College Guidance & Education, which has offices in Boston and the Washington, D.C., area.

Some colleges require a resume with the application, while others welcome the document in the supplemental materials section. Some internship, scholarship and study-abroad applications also require resumes.

Fraser says a high school resume should be complementary to a college application but students should avoid repetition and cramming all of the same information onto the document.

"Each document that you submit to a college does not have to have everything about you in it, but all of the pieces of the puzzle should come together to make a nice picture," Fraser says.

Resumes for High School Students

While a resume in ninth grade isn't an absolute must, students should at least be thinking about it, says Nancy Polin, president and senior college counselor at Educational Excellence in Florida. "It doesn't have to be a formal resume, but I recommend that they start some sort of formal record-keeping system in the summer before ninth grade," Polin says.

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz, founder and director of adMISSION POSSIBLE in California, sees resumes as pieces of information that allow students to communicate who they are.

"More and more, college admissions officers are now looking for how and where people spend their time, including the quality, depth and length of involvement," Shaevitz says, noting that the value of a good resume is the ability to compile this information succinctly.

She recommends that students include standardized test scores, if available, Advanced Placement and honors courses, awards, activities and talents that show depth in educational endeavors. Grade point averages and other accomplishments also should be highlighted, such as leadership roles and work experience.

"Colleges want to know who you are," Shaevitz says, adding that the same is true for students who may have family responsibilities such as caring for younger siblings or working.

"There are many students who have to work, who have to go home to family responsibilities. Colleges understand that, and (students) should put those on their resume," Fraser says.

And in the time of COVID-19, when many extracurriculars melted away during the pandemic, colleges want to know how students waxed creative. What opportunities did they pursue on their own? What interests emerged during the pandemic? As one example, Shaevitz points to virtual dance classes created by two of her students with the aim of bringing the arts to underpriveleged kids.

Experts advise high school students to mine their entire academic career for experiences and accomplishments.

Yuridia Nava, who works in college and career counseling for the Riverside County Office of Education in California, wrote in an email that she asks her students to reflect all the way back to kindergarten for their experiences, urging them to consider lengthy volunteer commitments and passions they've held for years.

Advisers also insist on sincerity, cautioning students to not embellish their resumes.

"If you're applying to a college and you're submitting anything in your application that's not true, then it's a big problem," Fraser says, adding that students also should avoid listing experiences that they will have trouble talking about in a college admissions interview .

Nava also cautions students against including social media profiles "unless it's clean of any negative images or memes" and to avoid using email addresses with unprofessional language.

Resumes for College Students

Experts encourage college students to continue to build their resume and keep it current with recent and relevant experiences. As they gain skills through classes and student organizations, those should be added to their resume, as should job experiences.

Jeremy Fisher, director of the John P. Fahey Career Center at Creighton University in Nebraska, says resumes for college students may be more career-specific than in high school.

"A college-level resume will be more focused on relevant experiences, skills, leadership, service and other activities that may be more important to a potential employer," Fisher wrote in an email.

For high school and college resumes alike, students should follow many of the same rules. Experts emphasize writing clearly and concisely, personalizing the resume for applications, proofreading diligently for spelling and grammar, and soliciting feedback. Resumes should also contain clearly identifiable information so readers know who is presenting themselves and how to contact them.

Experts also encourage students to keep it simple and straightforward, avoiding flashy text or graphics. Generally, they suggest a one-page resume as the standard for college students, though a high school activities resume may have some leeway to stretch a bit longer.

"Employers scan and review resumes very quickly – typically in 15 to 30 seconds or less initially, so it is important to have a resume that looks professional (style, format, font, etc.) and is very easy to read," Fisher says. "The use of proper spacing, bullet points for descriptions, bolding, underlining, or italicizing important information such as the resume categories, school, degree, major, employer name, job titles, etc. is very helpful."

Some consultants and counselors provide model resumes for students to follow, though templates are typically discouraged at the college level, according to Fisher.

Fisher says templates can be helpful as a guide, but resumes created from templates are not unique and don't stand out.

"Why would you want your resume to look exactly like hundreds of others?" he says.

Creighton lists guidance on its website showing resume examples for those early in their academic careers as well as those in graduate and professional programs. For first- and second-year students, Creighton's career center offers a simple one-page example that focuses on education, including major and GPA, experience, and activities and service.

Whether for high school or college, experts stress the need to have a resume handy.

"The earlier a student has a professional resume developed," Fisher says, "the more ready they will be to pursue opportunities as they arise."

Steps to Building a Resume

Need to develop a resume for college admissions or other oppotunities? Use the basic details below as a starting point.

• Identify activities and accomplishments to include.
• Detail relevant academic accomplishments and work, internship or volunteer experience.
• Include high school or college information and contact details.
• Verify key dates and details for accuracy.
• Spell check and proofread.

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3 High School Student for College Resume Examples

High School Student for College Resume

Formal high school student for college resume, elegant high school student for college resume.

• High School Student for College Resume Writing 101

Life as a high school student can be exhilarating, but it can also feel like you’re juggling five million things. You’re sending out college applications, doing interviews, taking extracurricular courses, trying to have a social life, and prepare your resume for that killer job you’ve been eyeing.

If you don’t have a lot of experience, you might feel like it’s impossible to create a resume as a high school student headed to college. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be!

We’ve helped thousands of high school students craft awesome resumes and master writing a great cover letter for that college job over the years, which is why we’ve created this guide with everything you need to know–starting with 3 sample high school student for college resumes.

or download as PDF

Related resume examples

• High school teacher
• English teacher
• Middle school teacher
• Social science teacher
• High school student

The Most Important Part : Skills & Work Experience

As a high school student, you may be short on career experience, but you can use this section to focus on all the skills you’ve gained from the activities that keep you busy!

Your goal here is to show that you’re a motivated go-getter, and you can use the skills section to do just that. Start by reading the job description carefully to see what kind of skills they might want, like verbal communication, time management, or research.

Then, think about what skills you’ve picked up from school clubs, after-school activities, odd jobs, or errands, and write those down. If you’re stuck, ask a friend: sometimes the skills may seem so obvious to you that you’ll forget to include it!

9 Best High School Student for College Skills

• Customer service
• Microsoft Office
• Social media marketing
• Determination/diligence
• Research/analytics
• Bilingualism
• Time management
• Collaboration

Sample High School Student for College Work Experience Bullet Points

So you’ve gotten the skills section out of the way. Now, you want to focus on letting your previous experience shine.

Sure, you may not have worked a traditional 9-to-5 yet, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have the chops. So how can you convince the recruiter you can do what it takes as a high school student looking for a college job?

Focus on impact (using metrics) from previous roles like volunteer work, internships, regular chores, extracurricular activities, or side gigs. Showcase using numbers the impact you had. Recruiters will clearly see that you know what’s important, and more importantly know how to measure it.

Let’s look at a few examples:

• Started an Eastern European Literature club as a freshman, recruiting 35+ members in the first semester
• Assisted in fundraising events for inner-city kids, helping raise $40,000 in 2 weeks
• Founded and ran a comedy page on Instagram and TikTok, reaching 5 million views and 23,000 followers
• Surpassed sales targets by 6-9% on a weekly basis by upselling appetizers and desserts to diners

Top 5 Tips For Your High School Student for College Resume

• A career objective can help your resume stand out when you’re a high school student, but only if it’s not impactful. Clearly demonstrate your achievements and drive, and mention where you see yourself within the company you’re applying to. If it’s just generic fluff, it’s best to skip it.
• It can be easy to minimize your talents if you’re early on in your career. That’s a mistake! Focus on what makes you unique: are you a polyglot? A math whiz? Top of the class in Computer Science? If it could help you stand out, put it down!
• Conversely, don’t wax poetic when writing your high school student for college resume. It doesn’t need to be a 2-page resume. If you’ve got the essentials, you’re good to go. Less is more, and filler will kill your chances of getting interviewed.
• Yes, we’re repeating this! Use your work experience to show what kind of positive impact you’ve had through your previous tasks and responsibilities. Whether it’s chairing class meetings, participating in community activities, or volunteering for a fundraiser, make it clear what your impact was.
• A good resume should be easy on the eyes. Have lots of white space, simple bullet points, and no fancy graphics or images that could mess up your layout. Remember, your resume as a high school student is the first impression your future employer might have of you!

Absolutely! Don’t worry if you haven’t had an internship or worked in retail yet. Focus on volunteer work, your education, extracurricular courses you’ve taken, hobbies, and any other achievements like a strong GPA. Remember, everyone needs to start somewhere.

Sure thing! In fact, it’s better to have less than too much. If you have all the essentials we talked about, then you should be good to go. And remember: recruiters aren’t expecting you to have that much experience out of high school.

All you need to do is make sure any skills the job description asks for are reflected in your resume. Plus, include relevant work experience that aligns with the mindset or profile they’re looking for. And don’t forget to customize your career objective!

How To Write A High School Resume For College + Examples

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 9/28/23

Did you know that a strong high school resume could help your chances of getting the admission offer you wanted? This article will share with you all you need to know about what to put on a high school resume before college!

Applying to college is a long journey that requires a lot of preparation and dedication. When gathering everything you need to finish an application for your education after high school, it’s common to overlook the college admission resume. 

Resumes are not just for seeking jobs or internships during the final years of college. They also have many uses for high schoolers, especially when it comes to applying for college. College application resumes are often used as supplementary material to increase your chances, but some schools require applicants to submit a high school resume . 

So, what should a high school resume look like? What should you include in your resume? How can you make sure your resume stands out? This article will guide you on how to write your resume for college applications, including examples of application resumes to help you craft your own.

What To Include on Your High School Resume

When writing a college resume, it’s always important to be mindful of what to include and highlight. A resume should be no longer than one page long , so you have limited space to work with. A poorly done resume could end up harming you, much like other components of your college application profile. 

Your high school to college CV provides a condensed overview of your academic and extracurricular experiences . Much like any other resume, it really is up to you to decide what you want to include. 

Additionally, there are plenty of high school skills you should put on your resume! However, to craft a well-written college admission resume , it is strongly suggested to at least include the following:

• Contact information (email address, phone number, and location)
• Experiences and activities
• Awards and achievements
• Hard and soft skills

At this point, you might be thinking: “Hey, these are just stuff that’s typically included in college applications!” You’d be right, but it’s one thing to have all the information and a whole other to formulate it, organize it, and present it as a well-composed document. 

Furthermore, a high school resume allows you to include more information and details about your job experiences and career aspirations, both of which college application committees deeply care about. 

How To Write a Resume for College Applications

Now that we’ve provided a list of everything you should include let’s go through each section. By understanding the details you need to include, you can better understand what to include on a resume for college applications. 

Note that your resume does not need to include all of these sections; these are just highly recommended ones. You can decide which information to put on your resume based on your experiences and accomplishments.

The objective section of your college resume is where you outline your reasons for applying to college. Making your objectives known is important even for high school students because it tells the admissions committee your plans and goals for yourself. 

Your objective should indicate your ability to self-reflect and demonstrate your responsibility and passion for what you hope to become.

As such, this is usually the most critical component of your resume. For this part, you should include your dreams for your future, why you think the school and the program you apply to will help you, and what you plan to do about your career after you graduate. Outlining these three things will help the committee understand your reasons for applying.

If you have a clear career objective and sound confident and eager, it can benefit your chances of getting admitted. 

Experience 

In this section, you should include any valuable experience you are involved in. This can include work, internships, volunteering, academic projects, extracurricular activities, or even hobbies. 

However, when it comes to experience, quality matters over quantity. Having a bunch of shallow experiences where you didn’t do anything noteworthy will only clutter your resume instead of helping you at all.

‍ When choosing which experiences to include, keep this list of criteria in mind : 

• What you’ve accomplished
• Valuable skills, knowledge, or lessons you’ve learned
• Positive impact
• Relevancy of the school/program you’re applying to
• Time (recent experiences should get higher priority)

When writing your experience and activity section, make sure you include the following:

• The location 
• The starting and end dates
• Highlights of your specific role and responsibilities and accomplishments
• Any noteworthy accomplishments

In essence, your experiences should clearly express what you’ve done and how long you’ve done it for. It’s strongly recommended to put the details in a bullet list to make the information easier to read.

Providing an overview of your education history is important when applying to college. Give the admissions committee a picture of your educational background so they have a better idea of your skills, learning experience, personal interests, and whether or not you’re a fit for them. 

You only need to include education during your high school years and onwards. For each part, put all the details in bullet list form. Educational details include your:

• Field of study
• Achievements
• Expected graduation date

However, if you’ve taken any form of education outside the regular school curriculum during your high school years, such as any classes (including AP and IB courses), lessons, certificates, or development programs, feel free to include them. 

Like with your regular school education, including important details like fields and areas of study, how well you did, achievements, and prospective graduation date. Any standardized test scores you have taken, such as the SAT or ACT , can also be included in this section. Be sure to include the test name, score, and testing date. 

A resume is an excellent place to showcase your skill set. When it comes to resumes for colleges, your skills are a great addition to building your applicant portfolio. It tells schools what you’ve gained from your education and all your experiences. 

Your skills can include your capabilities, strengths, or simply anything you’re good at. This section can just be a list. Not many details are needed as long as you make your skills easy to understand. Don’t write anything too vague or confusing, but don’t be too wordy. This section is meant to be a rundown of your skill set. Some examples include:

• Punctuality
• Determination
• Team Player
• Communicative 

Another thing to think about is your hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills (as listed above) are more generic, vague, and difficult to measure and can be applied in many different scenarios. Hard skills involve specific abilities and talents, such as web design, digital animation, software creation, or scientific experiment design. 

Awards and Achievements

Participation and experiences are good in and of themselves, but you must go somewhere with them to stand out in front of the admission committee. They love individuals who can make an impact or a difference. That's why you should include your awards and achievements in your college admission resume as well.

This section can include awards, positive contributions, noteworthy advancements, and other things you've accomplished. Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be limited to academics. However, if you want to bring up anything we’ve mentioned in other sections, make sure to include more details so you're not repeating yourself. 

Make sure to list the honor and who gave it to you, and be specific. Don't just say something vague and broad, as that can make your achievement look weak. Try to include a date or a statistic.

If you don’t have any awards and achievements to include on your resume, that’s okay! You can add any passion projects and hobbies , like a blog you’ve started, a side hustle you’re focused on, or a community garden you’ve worked on. 

Learning how to write a college application resume is a valuable skill for any high school student preparing for the admissions process. So, take these tips and do your best. It may take some time to put together a great resume, but you’ll get there!

What Not To Include on Your High School Resume

Now that we’ve gone through what you should include and understand how to prepare a college admissions resume let’s go over some mistakes to avoid . 

Anything Lengthy

Like many other resumes, college resumes must be as short and concise as possible. Unnecessarily lengthy sections are devastating to a resume’s effectiveness. This mistake is especially easy to make when describing experiences or details of something. Remember: your resume is a portfolio, not a story.

So make sure you only include the needed details in a concise and easy-to-read manner. Scan your resume whenever you’re finished writing it. If something is not needed, cut it out. 

Repetitive Information

Repeating yourself unnecessarily should also be avoided in your college application resume. If you find yourself repeating something in different parts of the resume, either paraphrase or remove it entirely. 

Of course, sometimes, you may need to repeat things. In fact, repeating can reflect emphasis or importance. But make sure you add in enough variety and minimize saying the exact same things over and over again.

Insincerity

Dishonesty is one of the worst things you can do for yourself when writing a resume for college applications. It might seem tempting to blow things up a bit to impress the admission committee, but lying not only makes you look bad but could also get you in big trouble if you submit anything false in your application.

Therefore, it’s very important to be honest in your resume. Have faith in your true self and your abilities. You’ve already been through so much throughout your high school years, and that’s something you should take pride and confidence in. 

College Application Resume Template

Creating a strong college application resume can boost your chances of getting into the college of your choice. This template is a helpful starting point for organizing your academic achievements, activities, and more. It's a way to show colleges what makes you a standout candidate . You can customize it with your own information to make it uniquely yours. 

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State ZIP Code]

[Your Email Address]

[Your Phone Number]

Optional: Include a brief statement about your academic and career goals

[High School Name], [City, State]

• Expected Graduation Date: [Month, Year]
• GPA: if applicable
• Relevant Coursework: [List any honors, AP, or specialized courses

Academic Achievements

• List any academic awards, honors, or recognitions you've received

Extracurricular Activities

• List clubs, organizations, or groups you've been involved in at school
• Specify any leadership roles held in these activities

Community Service/Volunteer Work

• Describe any volunteer work or community service projects you've participated in

Work Experience

• List any part-time jobs or internships you've held, including job titles, employers, and dates

Extracurricular Interests/Hobbies

• Highlight any personal interests or hobbies that showcase your personality and character
• Include any relevant skills, such as language proficiency, computer skills, or certifications

Achievements and Awards

• List any non-academic awards or achievements, such as sports, arts, or other accomplishments
• Optional: Mention that references are available upon request

High School Resume for College Admission Examples

Here are some samples of examples you can work off of when writing your own high school resume. 

John Anderson

123 Main Street

Anytown, USA 12345

(555) 555-5555

[email protected]

Motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate seeking opportunities to leverage my analytical and communication skills in a professional environment.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Tech University, Class of 2021

Professional Experience

Software Developer Intern, XYZ Tech (Summer 2020)

• Collaborated in a team to develop a mobile app that received 50,000+ downloads.
• Conducted quality assurance testing and resolved software bugs.
• Assisted in the creation of technical documentation for internal use.

Research Assistant, Tech University (2019-Present)

• Conducted experiments in the university's lab, resulting in two published research papers.
• Assisted in data collection, analysis, and equipment maintenance.
• Collaborated with professors and fellow students on research projects.
• President, Computer Science Club (2018-Present)
• Volunteer, Local Animal Shelter (2017-2019)
• Member, Tech University Debate Team (2017-Present)
• Captain, Intramural Soccer Team (2019-2021)
• Dean's List, Multiple Semesters
• Tech University Scholarship Recipient
• Outstanding Research Assistant, 2020
• Programming Languages: Java, Python, C++
• Software Development: Agile methodologies, Git, JIRA
• Data Analysis: MATLAB, R
• Languages: Fluent in Spanish

Samantha Lee

123 Elm Street

Los Angeles, CA 90001

[email protected]

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Los Angeles University, Class of 2022

Research Assistant, Center for Behavioral Studies (2020-Present)

• Conducted surveys and interviews for research projects on human behavior.
• Analyzed and compiled research data, creating comprehensive reports.
• Assisted in the development of experimental protocols.

Intern, Mental Health Clinic (Summer 2021)

• Supported clinicians in providing counseling services to clients.
• Managed appointment scheduling and maintained patient records.
• Conducted research on the latest therapeutic techniques.

President, Psychology Club (2019-Present)

• Organized guest speaker events and workshops for club members.
• Led discussions on current developments in psychology research.
• Collaborated with professors on student-led research projects.

Volunteer, Homeless Shelter (2018-2020)

• Assisted in meal preparation and distribution to homeless individuals.
• Organized clothing drives and hygiene product donations.
• Participated in outreach programs to connect homeless individuals with local resources.

Dean's List, Four Semesters

Psychology Department Scholarship Recipient

Outstanding Research Assistant, 2021

Statistical Analysis: SPSS, R

Data Collection: Surveys, Interviews

Counseling Skills: Active Listening, Empathy

Languages: Proficient in Spanish

Make sure you include everything necessary, as well as additional information to help your case, and then structure your document in a style that’s easy to read!

How Important Is a High School Resume for College?

The importance of a resume in the college admissions process can vary, but it often plays a valuable role in presenting a comprehensive picture of your qualifications and experiences. 

While grades and test scores are crucial, a resume complements these academic aspects by allowing you to highlight your achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and community service involvement.

Many colleges appreciate well-rounded students who not only excel academically but also actively contribute to their community. Your resume serves as a tool to showcase your commitment to various pursuits beyond the classroom, demonstrating your dedication and passion for different aspects of your life.

Furthermore, some college programs or scholarships may specifically request a resume as part of the application process. In such cases, a well-prepared resume becomes even more important, as it can significantly impact your chances of gaining admission or securing financial aid.

In summary, while the importance of a resume may vary from one college to another, having one on hand is generally a good idea. It allows you to present a well-rounded view of yourself as a student and individual, increasing your chances of making a positive impression on the admissions committee. 

And there you have it! We’ve gone through what to include in your high school resume, how to write it from head to toe, and what you shouldn’t include in your resume. Still, have questions unanswered? Keep reading to learn more. 

1. How Do I Make My High School Resume Stand Out?

Remember to be yourself on your college resume. Show the real you to the college admissions committee. Don't worry about fitting a mould or copying others; let your uniqueness come through in your own way.

2. What Is a Good Objective for a High School Resume?

Your career objective should match your situation and goals. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all answer, so think about why you want to apply and what you want to achieve with your university education. Your honest answers will guide you to the best objective for your resume.

3. How Long Should a High School Resume Be?

Keep your college application resume concise; it should never go beyond three pages. Aim for brevity while including crucial information. You decide what's important to showcase to college admission committees.

4. When Should I Prepare My High School Resume?

For your college application resume, start early by tracking your career-related experiences, achievements, education, and activities from your freshman year. Make a list of everything that showcases your strengths. Create your first draft before senior year, and edit it later to match your program or school requirements.

5. What If You Have No Experience?

Remember, experiences aren't limited to work. Extracurriculars, community service, personal projects, and hobbies all count! While work, internships, and volunteering are great, they're not a must. If you've had any enriching non-study activities, include them as experiences!

6. When Should I Submit My Resume to Colleges?

Typically, colleges will ask you to submit your resume with your other application materials on or before the submission deadline. We recommend submitting your application early, especially if your college has a rolling admissions cycle. 

7. What Looks Good on a Resume for College?

Colleges aren’t expecting high schoolers to have a lot of experience on their resumes. If you can have a couple of extracurriculars and/or volunteer experiences on your resume, that’s excellent. School awards and jobs also look great on a resume! Your main focus in high school should be on your grades, so make sure not to overload your schedule and let your GPA suffer. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, now you have an idea of how to write your high school resume. Your high school life is a journey, and your college admission resume is a storybook. Select all the highlights and the most impactful and influential moments, garnish your resume with writing, and present it proudly to the admission committee as your portfolio! 

When you think you can hand out your high school resume confidently and say, “This is who I am! This is what I’m made of! This is why you should admit me!” Then your resume is ready. But even if you aren’t feeling your best, have faith in yourself and always put your best foot forward! 

Also, remember to take advantage of college resources . They’ll offer more insight into what particular schools are looking for in applicants, so you can tailor your resume accordingly.

Best wishes on your college applications!

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High School Resume - How-To Guide for 2024 [11+ Samples]

Whether you’re preparing your college application, applying for an internship, or looking for a part-time job, you’ll notice that every single place is asking for your resume. 

You sit down, work on your resume for an hour, trying to come up with what you can include.

And all you end up with is the name of the high school you’re attending.

“What gives?” you wonder.

“What else can I add to my resume, when I have zero work experience?”

That’s a more than valid concern and it’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this article! 

We’re going to tell you exactly what to write so that your resume is as convincing as any other (even with zero work experience). 

• What to include in a high school resume
• 4 Free high school templates you can use
• A real-life high school resume example
• FAQ on high school resumes

Let’s start with the question you’ve been repeatedly asking yourself:

What to Include in My High School Resume?

At the end of the day, resumes are about showing an employer that you are the right person for the job. 

You want to show you’re a competent, passionate, and responsible individual, with the right skills to get the job done.

Well, work experience isn’t the only way to convince recruiters of that. 

Instead, you can focus on the following sections:

• #1. Contact Information - This is where you write down your personal and contact information (no surprise there) like first and last name, phone number, e-mail address, or links to other profiles.
• #2. Resume Objective - In 3-4 sentences, you should be able to describe your career goals and aspirations as well as list your skills.
• #3. Education - As you probably guessed, this is where you list your education history and relevant certifications.
• #4. Extracurricular Activities - These include participation in high school clubs, competitive events, and volunteer work.
• #5. Projects & Gigs - You can mention relevant projects you have participated in, as well as any internships.
• #6. Work Experience (optional) - If you don’t have any work experience, you can mention apprenticeships or volunteer work instead.
• #7. Languages - Language skills are always a plus for your application.
• #8. Hobbies & Interests - These offer some insight into your personality and can show that you’re passionate and interested in the industry.

As you can see, there’s a lot that can go into your resume to make up for the missing work experience. 

Now, we’ll dive into each of these sections in detail and teach you how to do each of them right!

So, let’s start with:

#1. Contact Information

The contact information isn’t too hard to pull off.

Here’s what you need to include here:

• First and Last Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Make sure to use a professional email address , something like: [email protected]. Using your middle school [email protected] account will not leave the right impression. 

#2. Resume Objective

A resume objective is a 3-4 sentence statement of your skills, achievements, and career goals . 

Think of it as a short summary of why you’re applying for this specific position and why you’d be a good candidate for it.

You should try your best to link this summary to the role you are applying for. 

For example, if you’re applying for a position as a sales associate, you should make a point of your good social skills, proficiency in math, and teamwork skills.

Let’s have a look at a concrete example of a resume objective for this case:

Hard-working, responsible high school student looking to contribute a positive and collaborative attitude in the retail field. Math-oriented individual with good attention to detail.

#3. Education

In a typical resume, this comes after the work experience section. 

For a high school resume, though, you’d want to do it the other way around, since you want to put more focus on your academic achievements.

This section will most probably consist of only one entry: your high school education. 

Here’s how you can format your education section:

• Name of the Degree
• Name of the Institution
• Years Attended
• GPA (if above 3.5)
• Honors (if applicable)
• Relevant Courses

High School Diploma (Honor Roll)

AB High School

09/2015 - 06/2019

• Relevant courses: AP Calculus, Statistics, Leadership

#4. Extracurricular Activities

Now, this section could be one of your biggest selling points. 

Even if you have a not-so-special GPA, extracurriculars can turn your resume around. These activities are typically school-related, like participation in clubs or student societies. 

Involvement in such, especially in leadership positions like club president or team captain, shows you are sociable and active in your pursuits. 

When listing your extracurricular activities, you should format each entry like this:

Student Body Treasurer

Student Government, AB High School

• Managed the student council’s funds and expenses, kept financial records, and worked with the president and vice president to create budgets and allot funds for clubs and events.
• Participated in organizing student activities like dances, spirit weeks, community service, and fundraising movements and assemblies.

#5. Projects & Gigs

Here you can mention (or even link to) any independent projects you’ve worked on - something you’ve done on the side, unrelated to academics. 

This could be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Such activities add a lot of value to your resume. They show you’re a self-starter and that’s a quality that’s very much appreciated in any role and industry.

Neighborhood Book Club 

2019 - Present

• Founded a local book club, initially for my friends, and later for all the teenagers of my neighborhood.
• Prepared a monthly book calendar for the club, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
• Organized weekly meetings to discuss the progress on the books and our thoughts upon finishing them.

#6. Work Experience (Optional)

If you have some work experience, awesome! Here’s how you’d format it on your high school resume:

• Company Name
• Dates Employed
• Achievements & Responsibilities

Sandwich Artist

Joe’s Sandwich Emporium

06/2020 - 09/2020

• Prepared several types of sandwiches for customers.
• Promoted new products on the menu directly to customers.
• Worked with the cash register.
• Interacted with dozens of customers on a daily basis.

If you don’t have any work experience, though, worry not! You can always replace it with another “Other” section.

Volunteer work, for example, is another great addition to your resume. If you also have any informal work experiences like babysitting or dog walking, you should include them in the section. 

Even if you didn’t get a paycheck out of that work, such experiences show you are skilled and reliable. 

For example, an entry for volunteering experience can look like this:

Educational Team Member

Save the Children

2018 - Present

• Assisted in giving weekly art history and drawing lessons to children at the local orphanage
• Helped organize visits at local museums and art galleries

#7. Language skills

Are you bilingual or can speak another language apart from your native one?

Make sure to mention it on your high school resume!

Wherever you might be applying, you can rest assured that they’re going to appreciate your language skills.

Even if you’re applying for a job in the service or retail industry, proficiency in an extra language or two is going to give you an advantage over other applicants, especially if you write your CEFR level , and can back up the claim in conversation.

Who knows when some foreign customers will come in and your knowledge will come in handy!

With that scenario in mind:

Be mindful not to exaggerate your skills, as lying on your resume can only get you in trouble.

#8. Hobbies & Interests

It might feel like you’re just filling up some space, but actually, the hobbies and interests you list on a resume can be significant, especially if you don’t have a lot of extracurriculars or work experience.

You need something to hint as to who you are as a person and employee, and listing hobbies and interests will do that for you. 

They also show that you are an engaged individual and well-rounded applicant. 

However, you should be selective with what you mention here. 

Listing 6+ hobbies will end up having the opposite effect - it will look like you’re just throwing in some random words, hoping some of them will be impressive. 

A good strategy is to look for hints on the job ad i.e. if they are looking for a team player, mentioning a team sport as one of your hobbies is a great idea. 

Keep in mind, though, that you should also avoid hobbies that don’t add to your profile as a candidate.

E.g.: your gaming hobby doesn't make you a better candidate for the role of a sales manager.

4 Free High School Resume Templates

So we’re all done with theory at this point. 

There’s one thing left for you to do: sit down and start preparing your resume. 

To help you with that, we’ve gathered 4 free resume templates , perfect for a high school resume. 

All you have to do is pick the ones you like best & get started with your resume!

#1. Simple Resume Template

This versatile template works for all kinds of applicants - from those with plenty to those with zero work experience. 

The neutral colors emphasize information over flashiness and the structure is easy to follow.

#2. Professional Resume Template

This next template is an all-time favorite of ours. 

Unlike the first template, the Professional one is formatted into two columns. It’s simple, yet stands out with its blue accent color (which you can change into any color you like). 

#3. Modern Resume Template

The Modern template adds something more to the traditional resume look. There is a faded design in the background and some of the sections are boxed by large brackets.

It’s a template that stands out without being too loud or wild. 

#4. Creative Resume Template

If you’re applying for a position in a creative field (marketing, design, etc.), this is the template for you. 

It uses accent colors and has a bold header that makes a statement. 

High School Resume Example

As important as picking the right template is, the content of the resume is what’s going to seal the deal. 

Here’s one example of a high school student resume, so you can get a clearer idea of what it should look like!

High School Resume FAQ

If you still have some questions regarding your high school resume, check out the FAQ and our answers below:

1. How can I write a high school resume with no work experience?

As a high school student, it’s more than normal for you to have no work experience. This shouldn’t scare you. 

There’s a lot of activities you can add to your resume that can substitute work experience.

Extracurricular activities, like participation in school clubs, projects, and gigs, are a great indicator of your skills and personality. Any informal work experiences should also be mentioned.

As long as you are showing the recruiter that you are capable of doing the job, your resume will be just fine without a work experience section.

2. How long should a high school resume be?

When it comes to high school resumes, the answer is undebatable: one page. 

A 2018 eye-tracking study showed that recruiters spend about 7 seconds skimming a resume before deciding whether to discard it or not. 

A 2-page resume will be simply excessive. 

Heck, even if you’re a professional with 10 years of work experience, we’d still recommend sticking to 1 page.

For more on resume length best practices, check out our article.

3. What’s the best way to make a high school resume?

An important and time-consuming part of making a resume is getting the formatting right. 

This means meticulously editing a Word or Google doc in order to get the right typeface, font size , line spacing, margins, etc.

What we’re getting at here is, if you’re making your resume manually, it can take you hours…

And then you make a tiny change on your layout, and your resume starts spilling into the second page!

Want to save time and effort?

Just use a resume builder ! The formatting is done for you, and all YOU have to do is fill in the resume!

Key Takeaways

That pretty much covers all you need to know about writing a high school no-experience resume . 

Quite simple and doable, right?

Finally, here’s a recap of what you should keep in mind when writing your high school resume:

• Instead of work experience, talk about extracurriculars like school clubs, personal projects, or gigs.
• Use sections like education, hobbies & interests, and languages to emphasize your skills and give an idea of your personality.
• Grab the recruiter’s attention with a concise resume objective that clearly highlights your top skills and career goals.
• Keep your resume at a maximum of 1 page.

And finally, good luck with your job search!

Related Resume Examples

• No Experience Resume
• Internship Resume
• College Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• Students and Graduates Resume
• Teacher Resume

Suggested readings:

• The Complete Guide to Remote Work [W/ Tips & Tricks]
• 101+ Achievements to List On Your Resume [In 2024]
• The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunt - Land Your Next Job in 2024

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• Laurynn Scurlock

Scholarships 101: brag sheets and the high school resume

Updated: 3 days ago

In the competitive landscape of college and scholarship applications, high school students often find themselves facing the daunting task of showcasing their accomplishments, talents, and experiences in a succinct and compelling manner. The challenge lies not only in compiling a comprehensive list of achievements but also in effectively conveying their value to admissions officers and scholarship committees. In the midst of this pressure, one tool emerges as a beacon of organization and empowerment: the brag sheet.

What is a Brag Sheet?

A brag sheet, often referred to as a student resume or activity list, is a document that outlines a student's extracurricular activities, academic achievements, volunteer work, employment history, and other notable experiences. It serves as a comprehensive inventory of accomplishments and skills, providing a structured framework for students to articulate their strengths and contributions beyond academic transcripts and standardized test scores.

Why Use Brag Sheets?

1. Organization : High school students are often involved in a myriad of activities, ranging from sports and clubs to community service and part-time jobs. Keeping track of these experiences can be challenging, but a brag sheet offers a systematic approach to cataloging achievements over time.

2. Self-Reflection : Creating a brag sheet prompts students to reflect on their experiences and identify key skills, values, and interests. This process of introspection is invaluable in shaping one's personal narrative and understanding one's strengths and areas for growth.

3. Personal Branding : In today's competitive landscape, standing out is essential. A well-crafted brag sheet enables students to strategically position themselves as unique and qualified candidates, showcasing their diverse talents and contributions.

4. Streamlined Applications : When it comes time to fill out college and scholarship applications, having a brag sheet at hand streamlines the process. Students can easily reference their accomplishments and tailor their applications to align with specific requirements and preferences.

Brainstorming with Brag Sheets

Beyond serving as a mere compilation of achievements, brag sheets can be leveraged as a brainstorming tool—a platform for students to develop and articulate their personal brand. Here's how:

1. Identify Core Themes : Encourage students to identify recurring themes or passions evident in their experiences. Whether it's a commitment to community service, a love for STEM subjects, or a talent for leadership, these core themes form the foundation of their personal brand.

2. Craft a Narrative : Help students weave their diverse experiences into a cohesive narrative that highlights their journey, aspirations, and values. By crafting a compelling story, students can engage admissions officers and scholarship committees on a deeper level, leaving a lasting impression.

3. Highlight Impact and Growth : Emphasize the impact of each experience and the lessons learned along the way. Whether it's overcoming challenges, fostering teamwork, or making a tangible difference in their community, showcasing growth and resilience adds depth to their personal brand.

4. Tailor to Audience : Encourage students to tailor their brag sheets and application materials to resonate with their target audience. Researching the values and priorities of specific colleges or scholarship providers allows students to customize their messaging for maximum impact.

In the journey towards higher education and scholarship opportunities, brag sheets emerge as a powerful tool for high school students to showcase their achievements, skills, and personal brand. By leveraging brag sheets as a brainstorming method, students can gain clarity, confidence, and a competitive edge in the application process. As students embark on this transformative journey, may they harness the full potential of their experiences to illuminate the path towards their dreams and aspirations.

To access our free brag sheet template, click the link below.

• College Pathway
• Prepare for the Journey
• Career Pathway

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Pros, Cons of High School Jobs for College Applicants

M any students and their families wonder about the potential benefits of working a job while in high school, particularly its impact on college applications and whether it can make a difference in the competitive world of college admissions.

Some experts say the pros of high school jobs outweigh the cons. That's partly because connecting a college application to a specific passion or theme is critical — and a job is one of the many ways a student can do that.

If you’re a high school student contemplating a job alongside academics, here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros of Working While in High School

Makes free time purposeful.

Lee Norwood, owner of Annapolis College Consulting in Maryland, says colleges worry less about a job and more about how a student uses free time. Students should weave a common theme throughout their application to show genuine interest in a particular endeavor.

Norwood cited the example of one of her clients who worked at a local donut shop. The high school student worked with the shop to craft a unique donut with proceeds dedicated to a specific charity. That became a theme for the student's college application.

Using a specific job as a platform to stand out in the college application process is one of many effective strategies, Norwood says.

Can Lead to Career Inspiration and Enhance College Learning

Jobs often give students a better idea of what to study in college.

Developing a career interest in high school can also lead to an impressive college application, says Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

The “critical component” of a college application “is being able to create a narrative around how that work experience will inform your college career," she says. Many applicants fail to tell the story of how their experiences will translate to college.

Students who have a relevant job in high school or participate in a high school career pathway program usually establish a better idea of what they hope to study in college, says Pat Greco, senior director of thought leadership at Studer Education, an organization that works with education systems to improve student outcomes.

Students “typically pick a career that is known” to them, says Greco, a former schools superintendent in Wisconsin.

For example, students who want to work in the medical field usually think of doctors , nurses and physician assistants, Greco says. But until those students job shadow, intern or work in the environment, they often don’t understand how large and intricate industries are, with many different job options across numerous subfields, she says.

There are other jobs in the medical field that students forget about, including health care attorneys and medical consultants, Greco adds. Learning in college “is never a waste,” she says, “but that investment can be made so much more powerfully if, on the back end to that, you have a variety of different experiences” from high school that can develop your confidence in what you choose to study.

Demonstrates Valuable Life Skills

Whether a job is the focal point of a college application or briefly mentioned, experts say working teaches valuable life skills that should be highlighted.

Working with adults as opposed to solely peers as a high school student is a formative experience, Greco says.

“Not everybody has the privilege of being able to start their own nonprofits or volunteer in organizations that look good on a resume ,” Pasquerella says. Colleges should always look at the economic and social constraints on students, she says, and the ways students are contributing to their families and communities through work available to them.

Regardless of the nature of a job, or even other significant responsibilities, high school students can demonstrate attributes such as critical thinking, effective oral communication, collaboration, ethical decision-making and adaptability in the face of change, Pasquerella says.

Holding a job also hones skills such as focus, time management and money management, says Norwood, and provides hands-on experience.

Helps Earn Money to Pay for College

While some students may need to work and others may choose to do so, students with jobs can help pay for some of their own expenses or save for college.

“I totally understand why you would work as a waitress at the beach ... . You are bringing in hundreds of dollars a night,” Norwood says. “You can talk about that all throughout the college application because you’re still learning certain skills, certain maturity, and the story is that you were trying to earn the most money that you could at that time.”

Cons of Working in High School

Time-consuming and can hurt academic performance.

With a busy schedule, it can be challenging for high school students to dedicate time and energy to a job.

Medihin Daniel, a student at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, says a summer job worked best for him, noting that high school students have a lot more responsibilities during the school year.

May Not Be Relevant to Academics     

The most accessible or highest-paying jobs for high school students tend to be in the retail or service industries. That's not necessarily what students may want to center their college application around or where they may hope to have a career.

In such cases, students may choose to emphasize other aspects of their life when completing college application materials.

Daniel says the job he held in high school, which paid minimum wage, was not what differentiated him during the college admissions process.

While he mentioned his job in his applications, he instead focused on his passion for robotics , his experience building a personal computer and his interest in computer science . While he noted his summer work, it was the consistent thread of dedication to robotics that enhanced his application, he says.

While working a high school job may not always help a high school student's college application, it generally can't hurt, some experts agree.

“I think busy people are more productive,” Norwood says.

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