High School Resume Template Example for College Applications

Colleges receive thousands of applications each fall, and that number has risen steadily since 2019. Admissions committees have their hands full sorting through all of the paperwork that goes along with the admission process, so make their job easier with the right template.

The best template for a college application is well-organized, simple, and easy to read. It should feature your most relevant academic accomplishments, work experience, and other extra-curricular activities clearly. Look for a template with a clean design, free of graphics and photos. These decorative accents may look nice, but they can distract the reader.

How To Write a High School Resume For College Applications

Applying for college is a big task, especially if you’re interested in more than one school. Not sure what to include in your resume? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Let’s look at everything that should be in your college application resume.

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

Contact information

Even if your resume is attached to your application, include your name and contact information at the top of the document. Phone number, email, and address should be clearly stated so readers know whose resume they’re reading.

Profile

Think of your profile like a movie trailer. It gives just enough information to pique the reader’s interest without giving everything away. In two to three sentences, list your top academic and extracurricular achievements that show why you would be an excellent addition to their school.

Key skills

Create a skills list that gives the college an idea of what you’re capable of. Include both technical and interpersonal abilities here to show what kind of learning style you have and how you collaborate with others. If you’re fluent in multiple languages, mention that here. Do you have experience leading a team? List your leadership skills.

Common hard and soft skills for college application resumes

Hard Skills Soft Skills
Laboratory techniques Empathetic communication
Language proficiency Leadership
Musical ability Public speaking
Video editing Resilience
Web development Time management

Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs

Action verbs can help you communicate clearly and concisely. Instead of writing in complete sentences, start bullet points with an action verb. This active language engages readers and allows them to better envision what you’ve accomplished. Here’s a list of action verbs you can use to liven up your college application resume:

  • Achieved
  • Collaborated
  • Contributed
  • Implemented
  • Initiated
  • Innovated
  • Led
  • Managed
  • Organized
  • Volunteered

Experience

Whether you’ve had a job or not, you have valuable experiences to call on. List a few academic, volunteer, work, athletic, internship, or study abroad experiences in this section and detail what you accomplished with each one. Describe any recognition received, skills earned, or results achieved.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

When you can, use numbers to describe your academic achievements and personal accomplishments. Instead of simply saying you were “top of the class,” give evidence of this through your test scores, GPA, or an award title. Or, if you were the captain of a sports team, mention how many people were on the team you led. Look at our example:

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Even if you plan on submitting an application to only one school, customize your college application resume accordingly. This shows your genuine interest in that specific school. Demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and made an effort to discover what’s most important to that institution.

Highlight achievements, experiences, skills, and interests that align with the school you’re applying for. Admissions officers are more likely to notice and appreciate your resume if they can see you connected with their missions, values, and specialties.

Education and certifications

You’re sending in your transcripts with your application, so the school already has access to the coursework you’ve completed. Go a step beyond with your resume by describing relevant academic achievements. List high grades and GPAs, awards, standardized test scores, leadership roles, and your expected graduation date.

Additional sections

Depending on your extracurricular activities and interests, you can add unique information that would make you stand out from other students. If you think it could be relevant to your college career, include info on things like personal projects, hobbies, passions, social media pages, contest wins, and more.

High School Resume Template for College Applications Text Example

Steven Jackson

(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation ZIP code

Profile

Dedicated high school senior with a strong academic record, a consistent 3.8 GPA, and a deep passion for environmental conservation. Leadership and teamwork experience fuel a commitment to find innovative solutions for an environmentally sustainable, collaborative future.

Key Skills

  • Communication
  • Community service
  • CPR training
  • Leadership
  • Time management

Activities

Babysitter, Springfield, OH
September 2019 – present

  • Provide exceptional childcare services for five local families
  • Supervise children ages 2 to 10, ensuring their safety and well-being
  • Organize creative and educational activities, contributing to children’s development

Volleyball Player, Cliff Park High School, Springfield, OH
July 2018 – December 2022

  • Four-year junior varsity and varsity player for the Cliff Park High School volleyball team
  • Led the team as captain during senior year, encouraging teamwork and sportsmanship
  • Achieved a personal record of 76 assists and 17 aces during the junior season
  • Received the “most valuable player” award in the district tournament in 2021

Education

High School Diploma, expected graduation date: May 2024
Cliff Park High School, Springfield, OH

  • GPA: 3.8
  • Advanced Placement (AP) math and business
Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.

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