College Application Resume — Example & Format
Last updated: March 2026
Do You Need a Resume?
Most colleges don't require a resume — but many allow you to attach one as a supplement. A well-formatted resume gives admissions officers a clean overview of your accomplishments in one page, and can be a useful reference when writing your activities list and essays. Some scholarship applications and interview processes will ask for one directly. If this is your first time writing a resume, our guide to first job resume for teens covers every section from scratch.
Format Rules
- ›One page. No exceptions for high school students.
- ›PDF format — Word documents can reformat on different computers.
- ›11–12pt font, 0.5–1 inch margins, clean sans-serif (Calibri, Arial, Inter).
- ›No photo, no color unless used sparingly for section headers.
- ›Reverse chronological order within each section — most recent first.
- ›Bullet points for descriptions, not paragraphs.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Education
School name, GPA (if 3.5+), expected graduation, relevant coursework (AP/IB), honors.
Example
Westfield High School — GPA: 3.9/4.0 · Expected May 2026 AP Calculus BC, AP English Language, AP Biology
Activities & Leadership
List in reverse chronological order. Lead with your most significant commitment. Include role, organization, and a one-line description.
Example
Captain, Varsity Debate Team (2023–2026) Led team of 14 to state semifinals; coached 4 junior members on case construction
Work Experience
Include part-time jobs, internships, and paid freelance work. 10–20 hours/week shows time management.
Example
Barista, Blue Bottle Coffee — June 2024–Present (20 hrs/wk) Managed weekend open/close; trained 3 new hires
Volunteer & Community
Only include if you have meaningful hours or a clear impact. Avoid padding with one-time events.
Example
Volunteer Tutor, City Reads Program — Sept 2023–Present 2 hrs/week; helped 6 middle schoolers improve reading levels by one grade
Skills & Interests
Keep this section short. Only list skills that are genuinely useful or distinctive — not 'Microsoft Word'.
Example
Languages: Spanish (conversational), Mandarin (beginner) Tools: Figma, Python, Adobe Lightroom
What to Leave Off
- ›Objective statement — these are outdated and waste space
- ›References (and 'references available upon request')
- ›Unrelated hobbies with no clear relevance
- ›Activities where you attended but didn't contribute
- ›GPA below 3.5 — if it's low, leave it out and address it elsewhere if needed
Build Your Resume in ApplyWell
ApplyWell is a resume builder with no subscription designed for students applying to college. Add your experience, choose a template, and export a clean PDF — ready to attach to any application.
Start for free