It can be hard for students to talk about themselves. Many don’t like to write down their accomplishments for anonymous college admissions’ readers to review. Still, it’s a necessary part of the process. Colleges can use resumes—a snapshot of a student’s academic, professional, and personal achievements—to understand students’ skills and abilities to know if they will be the “right fit” for the campus environment. It can also be critical at earlier stages in the process. In this blog, we’ll explain how a good resume can help a student stand out.

Resumes Can Help with Letters of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation is a staple of most kinds of applications. It is a brief written letter in which a person describes another’s suitability for a particular role or position.

In the context of college applications, letters of recommendation are usually written by teachers and guidance counselors who have had the opportunity to see a student learn and grow and can speak about their ability to thrive at an institution of higher learning. The best letters are written by someone the student knows well who can point to specific events that capture their potential.

However, even the most supportive letter writer can use some help. Teachers, for example, regularly juggle hundreds of students, and it can be hard to remember specific details without prompting. 

By developing a resume, students provide letter writers with a quick overview of their career in a way that can jog their memory and make letters themselves more specific. Instead of talking vaguely about what a “delight” a student was in a classroom, a resume can remind a teacher of a specific project they led or challenge they faced. 

Resumes Can Help Filling Out the Common App

The Common Application, also known as Common App, is the most popular application used by colleges. Representing more than 900 schools, students can submit their transcripts, extracurricular activities, and essays and have them automatically sent around the country. All Class 101-Dayton students use their resumes to prepare thoughtful activity descriptions ahead of time to be ready to complete the Common App. When going through the Common App platform, students may also find colleges that explicitly request the student’s resume.

Resumes Can Provide a More Holistic View of an Applicant

Finally, a resume can give colleges more information on which to make a decision. By listing one’s experiences and achievements, colleges can get a comprehensive portrait of a student’s skills.

The Common App allows students to list some of their activities, but with its 150-character and 10-activity limit, that can be difficult, if not impossible. Including a resume as a supplementary document contrast can give an applicant as much or as little space as they need. It can allow a student who is highly engaged in a variety of activities the space they need to explain themselves and stand out before an admissions committee.

When used well, resumes can round out a student’s portrait and fill in gaps that might appear elsewhere. They can show the depth and lengths of commitments and demonstrate that students have more than just “one and done” volunteer experiences.

Resumes Demonstrate Maturity

Well written resumes are a preview of college applications, but they can serve teens in many other ways, including job interviews, academic and extracurricular competitions, applications for pre-college programs and camps, and much more. 

If you want guidance on ways to develop a resume, reach out to us. We are happy to answer any questions about this or other aspects of the college application process.

Most high school students do not have a resume, but Class 101 students do! A resume can be crafted at any age to provide a one-page snapshot of a person’s priorities, interests, and achievements. Employers who hire teens might prefer students who have taken the time to compose a resume. And it can also help a student set up a LinkedIn profile before heading off to college.