Academic Resumes to Catch Admissions Officers' Eyes!

An academic resume, which you may submit for college or summer program applications, differs from a professional resume that you may use to apply to jobs or internships. An academic resume should present everything you have been working hard on throughout high school to admissions officers in an easy-to-read format! It should highlight your academic progress, extracurricular activities (especially ones relevant to your intended major), volunteering opportunities, awards, and other skills and hobbies. 

In this post, we’ll cover activities and accomplishments that should be shared through the academic resume and how to organize them.

Education

In this informational section—which should appear at the top of the first page—you want to include the name of the high school you attend and any graduation plans or endorsements you may have earned. Directly below this, share your weighted GPA and class rank if your school provides this information. 

This is also where you include any outstanding standardized test scores (determining which SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores to report can be tricky—strategize this decision with your counselor). If you have pursued any advanced coursework outside of school such as an online course or coding camp, you may include it here. Finally, list any certifications, such as CPR for pre-med students or Java for computer science students. 

Research & Internships 

In this section, you will highlight your research, internship, personal project, and/or shadowing experiences. Since these opportunities demonstrate a higher level of initiative and effort than some of your other extracurriculars, place these at the top of your academic resume to impress college admissions officers! 

Extracurriculars

When looking to join school clubs and other organizations, focus on quality over quantity—clubs that are a good fit for you will align with either your intended major/career or your passions. Colleges are looking for students who demonstrate leadership, so you should be joining clubs with growth potential opportunities and introducing or leading initiatives whenever possible. 

• For example: If you are seeking to study finance in college, you may want to consider joining a business club like Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). In 9th and 10th grade, you can focus on improving your skills and gaining accolades in your chosen event(s), while 11th-12th grade should include responsibilities associated with a leadership position like Club President, Treasurer, or Social Media Officer.  

Volunteering

More colleges are starting to seek service-oriented students. The volunteer section of your resume should demonstrate your commitment to the communities and causes you care about. If you do not have meaningful volunteer experiences, consider how you can make an impact and give back to the communities you are a part of. For example, if you attend a temple or church, you can become more involved in the children’s program or join the choir. 

You can find more volunteer opportunities in your region by researching local nonprofits and search for additional opportunities by interest area using platforms like VolunteerMatch. 

Awards & Honors 

The awards section should highlight all of your academic and extracurricular achievements throughout high school. This includes awards like AP Scholar or National Merit Semifinalist, admission to honors organizations like Mu Alpha Theta or National Science Honor Society, competition placements for robotics or clubs like HOSA or DECA, and even recognition in activities like band, sports, or volunteering. 

Skills & Talents

Can you speak French fluently? 

Do you know how to solve a Rubik’s cube underwater? 

Have you been playing the ocarina since you were five? 

Adding a skills & hobbies section to your academic resume is a great way to highlight some of the more unique parts of your profile and background. This is a great place to add information about your proficiency with foreign and coding languages, interest in sports, and even your experience with musical instruments. 

Where can I upload my academic resume?

The Common Application, a platform used by 1,000+ US colleges, allows for students to upload an academic resume with their application for certain schools. This is great news considering there is only space for 10 activities (including research, work experience, and volunteer work) and 5 academic awards in the portal! For schools that do not offer the ability to upload a resume, we suggest utilizing the Additional Information section to include context and discuss other significant activities and awards.

Need help with your academic resume? Schedule a 1:1 meeting with one of our professional college admissions counselors, who will review your resume and offer feedback. Based on your profile, they may offer suggestions on opportunities to add and ways to make you a stronger candidate for college admissions!