What do colleges look for in resumes?

Asked by: Eugene Hoppe  |  Last update: October 11, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (67 votes)

… resume, however, a college application resume focuses more on extracurricular activities, academic performance, volunteer experience, hobbies, and awards

How do you stand out on a college resume?

Resume Writing 101: How to Craft a Standout Resume as a College Student
  1. Use a clear and concise format. ...
  2. Include your contact information. ...
  3. List your education. ...
  4. Emphasize your relevant experience. ...
  5. Use action verbs. ...
  6. Use a professional design. ...
  7. Highlight your skills. ...
  8. Proofread your resume carefully.

How can I spice up my college resume?

Volunteer work, internships, and part time jobs are all great additions to your resume. If you have any hobbies or extracurricular involvement, those could also show off certain qualities.

How far back should a college resume go?

All in all, you want to only go back about 10 years on your resume. Of course, if you're still in college or a recent graduate, your timeline will likely be much shorter, around three years or so.

How long do you keep college GPA on resume?

“You do not need to include your GPA or graduation date once you've been in the workforce for over 3-5 years,” Warzel says. The other factor is how high your GPA is. Typically, it's only best to include a GPA above 3.5.

mistakes i made on my college applications // applying to college 101

20 related questions found

Can you leave jobs off your resume?

Key Takeaways. You Don't Need to Include Every Job on Your Resume: Highlight jobs that demonstrate your experience, skills, and fit for the role. Leave Off Jobs That Are Unrelated: You can also omit jobs that are more than 10 to 15 years old, to avoid age discrimination.

Do colleges read your resume?

A resume shows admissions departments evidence of your academic achievements during high school. It also demonstrates your work and volunteer experiences, and what you can bring to the community beyond the classroom.

How can a resume effect your chances of acceptance into a college?

Your high school resume serves as a snapshot of your accomplishments and potential, allowing admissions officers to gain insights into your character, skills, and readiness for college life. It's important to present a well-organized and impactful document that highlights your strengths, passions, and commitment.

What to put on resume if you went to college but didn t graduate?

In this case, you should include your degree program and school name. You should specify the expected graduation date if you're continuing your education, or simply mention that your education is still ongoing. If your grade point average is above 3.0, you might want to consider including it as well.

What's the best resume format for college students?

The most common resume format for a college student is “functional” or “skill-based”, which allows the hiring manager to immediately see the benefits in hiring you. We recommend college students starting with this format.

What do you say on a resume to make you stand out?

Here are five ways to make your resume stand out from the competition.
  1. Respond Directly to the Job Description. ...
  2. Describe Accomplishments, Not Responsibilities. ...
  3. Quantify Your Accomplishments. ...
  4. Use the Summary Section for Distinguishing Details. ...
  5. Ignore Irrelevant Information.

How do I make my resume stand out after college?

Use keywords to highlight education, certifications and skills. The valuable sections of your resume are your education, certifications and skills. Listing this information can help you highlight why you're qualified for your prospective role and showcase the college degree you earned.

Is GPA necessary on resume?

You do not need to include your GPA or graduation date once you've been in the workforce for over 3-5 years,” Warzel says. The other factor is how high your GPA is. Typically, it's only best to include a GPA above 3.5.

What do you put on a resume if you went to college but didn t graduate?

Key Takeaway. Whether your college is finished or not takes a back seat to the value that it can potentially add to your resume. When listing your unfinished college on a resume, remember: Mention your degree program, school name, and expected graduation date if you're continuing your education.

What to put for education on resume if you didn t go to college?

Focus on professional development and credentials

If you've received certificates or have had some sort of training relevant to the job you're vying for, instead of an education section, try adding a training or credential section.

What is the best resume for no education?

A reverse-chronological resume allows you to focus your work experience over everything else, which can help when you don't have much education to show. If you would like to highlight skills over experience, you can also try the combination format.

Should you put college on resume if no degree?

To list an educational experience on your resume, you do not need to have earned a degree from the institution. As long as you're honest and not misrepresenting any information, you should still include your education to help build your credibility – even if you only took a few courses.

Do some colleges not require a resume?

Not all college applications require a resume, but it's always good to submit a resume if it's an option. For example, the Common App only requires an activities list. However, you can still submit a resume, which can provide schools with a fuller picture of your academic performance, interests, and hobbies.

How do you explain not finishing college on a resume?

Not going to finish education
  1. Keep it simple. Include your school name and its location, but that is the absolute minimum of information. ...
  2. Include completed coursework. List some of your coursework, as long as it is related to the position you're applying for. ...
  3. Describe projects.

Should you put GPA on resume if you haven't graduated yet?

If you're applying for jobs during school

If you're still in high school or college or recently graduated from one of those institutions, it might be important to include a GPA on your resume.

Does graduation year matter on resume?

In fact, there's no rule that says you have to include the year you earned your degree at all, but the longest you'd want to keep that information is about 10 to 15 years, tops. Similar to your work history, anything that happened more than a decade ago probably won't be very relevant to what you're capable of today.

Should 3.2 GPA be on resume?

Most likely, you do not need to include your high school GPA, especially if you are currently attending college or have graduated from college. If you do want to include your college GPA, only add it if it is above 3.5.

What is a good college GPA?

A good college GPA on a standard 4.0 scale can fall between 3.0 and 4.0—or between a B and an A+. However, “good” often depends on context.

Is a 3.8 GPA good in high school?

A 3.8 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to a 90-92%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.8 is far above average. Because a 3.8 is already so high it can be hard to raise, but with hard work and dedication it is possible!

What are red flags on a resume?

If an applicant has listed several previous roles at other companies in just the last few months, it's a red flag. This could indicate that the applicant is a job hopper and isn't dedicated to their work. Having multiple full-time jobs in a short period of time can be a sign of instability and a lack of commitment.