College Student Resume Examples (Text Format)
Years of Experience
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Joseph Corbin
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345
Profile
Motivated student with strong academic performance in high school, including an A average for Mathematics. Demonstrated success in a leadership role through multiple school athletics and work activities. Naturally curious and eager to explore and understand new topics.
Education
Graduate, Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia, PA | August 2018 to June 2022
- A average in all Mathematics classes, including AP Calculus
High School Athletics
Spring Track Team
Co-Captain (Senior year)
- Voted into team leadership role; coordinated with the head coach to help organize meets and answer various questions from team members
- Served as a valued mentor and resource to underclassmen
Member (all four years)
- Gained and demonstrated a strong sense of dedication and teamwork
- Contributed to team’s placing in the top 4 out of 18 high schools in the region for 3 consecutive years
Work Experience
Host / Server / Team Lead, Domino’s Pizza, Philadelphia, PA | Summer 2018 and 2019
- Greeted visitors and took and served food orders in a fast-paced environment
- Proposed several changes to the order entry process for servers and delivery drivers, improving efficiency and collaboration among the 2 groups
- Helped restaurant place #3 in the region for customer satisfaction in July and August 2019
Hobbies & Interests
Avid reader (6+ books per month) | Painting | Running
Language
Advanced proficiency in Spanish (A- average for classes taken in all 4 years of high school)
Technical Skills
HTML | Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel)
Rob Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Your Street, Columbus, OH 12345
Profile
Efficient and hardworking student with a strong interest in computer science. Draw on technical knowledge base covering UX design, JAVA, MySQL, and HTML. Demonstrated success objectively measuring software performance while participating in a rapid development cycle.
Education
Graduate, AAE High School, Columbus, OH | August 2018 to June 2022
3.7 GPA | Top 10% of graduating class
Work Experience
Tech Support, XYZ Company, Columbus, OH | June 2020 to Present
- Quickly and professionally respond to various tech support tickets
- Maintain detailed records of each support ticket interaction and outcome
- Install hardware and software as needed to maintain systems
- Work with managers to develop rapid response systems to major tech threats
- Co-design and deliver educational materials to staff on proper tech use
Retail Sales Associate, Smith Clothing Company, Columbus, OH | August 2019 to May 2020
- Gained strong foundation in positive customer relations
- Operated cash register and balanced the till at EOD
Certifications
CompTIA A+
Network+
Nielsen Norman Group UX and UX Master
Security+
John Miller
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Your Street, Columbus, OH 12345 | Portfolio
Profile
High school student with a strong interest in marketing and advertising. Freelance graphic design professional with a growing portfolio and client relationships with major local nonprofits. Enjoy collaborating on a team to explore topics and solve complex challenges.
Education
Douglass High School, Columbus, OH | August 2019 to Present
3.8 GPA | SAT scores: 760 math, 680 verbal (1440 combined)
High School Athletics & Activities
Member, Debate Team | August 2020 to Present
- Collaborate closely on a 10-person team to form and organize compelling debate arguments
Member, Cross-Country Running Team | Fall 2021 and 2022
Work Experience
Freelance Graphic Designer, XYZ Company, Columbus, OH | April 2018 to Present
- Create diverse marketing materials to spec
- Engage and partner with marketing teams to design campaigns and track ROI
- Design logos and event graphics for client nonprofits
- Make infographics using data provided by sales teams
- Developed an award-winning print ad for a local coffee shop
Library Materials Associate, Community Library, Columbus, OH | June 2014 to April 2016
- Greeted students and verified account status for check-out
- Helped students find and incorporate various research sources
- Set up display technology for individual and group use
- Managed schedules for meeting and study rooms
- Reshelved materials at EOD
Technical Skills
Adobe InDesign, Photoshop
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Tips for Writing a Better College Student Resume
Brainstorm things you’re proud of
When writing your resume for a college application, keep in mind you aren’t limited to details about your high school education. You can also include details about your extracurriculars, work activities, and personal achievements. For example, maybe you’re proud of having been on the debate team or teaching yourself HTML outside school. Below is a list of possible life areas to help you brainstorm:
- Academics and education (high school GPA, class rank, honors or awards)
- Athletics
- Community service
- Foreign language proficiency
- Hobbies and interests
- Internships
- Personal accomplishments (as one example, Florida State University invites applicants to give information on their resume about “family contributions such as caring for siblings or sick relatives”)
- SAT/ACT scores
- School clubs and societies
- Summer coursework
- Technical or computer skills
- Travel or study abroad experience
- Work experience
Focus on your college-relevant experiences
Once you’re done brainstorming, you should have compiled a list of (unorganized) details about yourself that you feel good about. This isn’t a resume, of course. But it is the best possible foundation for one. Your next step is to go through and delete any details that don’t relate to your college application.
This may seem a little daunting at first. But you can make it simple by reviewing just one item at a time. With each item, ask yourself the same yes-or-no question: “Does this overlap with the types of things I’d be doing as a student at this particular college?” If your answer is No or Probably Not, delete that detail (or at least move it to a different document for the time being — perhaps it’ll make the cut on your application for another college later on).
To help find the right answer for each item you review, take cues from what you know about the school. Refer to their website, brochures, notes from the campus tour, or any other information you’ve gathered on what the school is known for and what you’re most drawn to about it.
Show you can thrive in a school setting
Colleges and universities generally want students who are engaged, diligent, and curious about the world. They also like to see a student can effectively balance schoolwork with their extracurriculars and other commitments. So try to view your experience through this lens and write down anything that reflects your gaining or showing these qualities.
Example
Motivated student with strong academic performance in high school, including an A average for Mathematics. Demonstrated success in a leadership role through multiple school athletics and work activities. Naturally curious and eager to explore and understand new topics.
Common Key Skills for College Student Resumes
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem-Solving | Data Gathering & Analysis |
| Efficiency Improvement | Group Collaboration |
| Independent Research | Microsoft Office Suite |
| Process Improvement | Reading, Writing & Editing |
| Task Prioritization | Time Management |
Common Action Verbs for College Student Resumes
One of the most frequent resume mistakes is using too few verbs. You may repeat the same generic verb (say, “Manage”) many times or rely on passive phrases like “Responsible for” or “Accountable for.” These tendencies can distract the admissions officer and fail to show the varied nature of your past schoolwork. The following list will help you mix up the verbs on your college application resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Analyze |
| Collaborate | Conduct |
| Coordinate | Design |
| Develop | Enhance |
| Examine | Explore |
| Increase | Maintain |
| Plan | Prioritize |
| Research | Resolve |
| Study | Synthesize |
| Test | Work through |
Additional Reading and Resources
Your college application resume is only the first of many writing tasks and formal communications you’ll contend with in your school and work career. Check out the following books and resources for a wealth of insight on finding your voice and honing your communication style, both in school and beyond.
- Job Search Resource Center – ResumeBuilder.com
- “Modernize Your Resume: Get Noticed… Get Hired” by Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark
- “Resume & LinkedIn Strategies for New College Graduates” by Louise Kursmark and Jan Melnik
- “Writing with Power” and “Writing Without Teachers” by Peter Elbow
- “Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace” by Joseph M. Williams and Joseph Bizup
- “Conversationally Speaking” by Alan Garner