A college application resume can be an important part of getting into the college of your dreams. However, you may have many questions about the process of writing a resume before you’re even fully graduated from high school. What types of work can you include? How do you ensure the focus stays on your skills rather than your lack of work experience? Here are six tips that can help you fill out a college application resume more easily.

1. When There Is a College Resume Template

Sometimes, a college will include a resume template for you to fill out and submit alongside the rest of your college application. If your college doesn’t have that, you’ll want to instead find student resume templates that you can use. By using a resume template it will be easier for you to create an effective resume.

2. Focus Heavily on Achievements and Awards You’ve Already Received

In general, you’ll want to focus on achievements and awards as much as possible. This is because they’re areas that you can focus on for a college resume. They’re the high school equivalent of receiving awards for exemplary work. Showcase the achievements that you’ve already received in high school, so you can indicate that you’ll receive similar in college.

3. Indicate an Objective You’re Planning to Accomplish With Your Degree

When you write a college application resume, you’ll also include a resume objective, which is a 2-3 sentence paragraph indicating your skills, your knowledge, and what you want to accomplish. Focus on that objective. A student who knows what they’re planning to do with their degree will be in higher demand than one who doesn’t.

4. Tailor Your Resume Toward Each College Individually

You shouldn’t write a single college resume and then submit it to multiple colleges. It’s best to tailor each resume toward each college, considering aspects like the college’s stated goals, the location where the college is, and why you want to go to that college specifically.

5. Include All Kinds of Experience

There are many different kinds of experience that you can include on a resume. Just because you might not have work experience doesn’t mean that you have absolutely no experience. If you have volunteer experience or you did some form of work for your high school education, you can include that experience on your college resume. Include all sorts of experiences for the best results.

6. Proofread Your Resume Before You Turn It In

Finally, it’s critically important that you proofread your resume before you include it alongside the rest of your college application. Even if it was just an accidental keystroke, a typo or mistype can seriously negatively impact your chances with a specific college. And for a very competitive college, it can take you out of the running entirely. If you get a chance, you may want to ask a friend to proofread the resume with a fresh pair of eyes.

Conclusion

A college application resume is something that many colleges ask for so they can understand a potential student’s qualifications and history at a single glance. However, if you’ve never written a resume before, knowing how to present your skills and experiences in a way that makes sense for your college can put you ahead of the pack. These six tips will make it much easier for you to present your high school experiences, grades, and more in a way that makes your dream college even more likely to accept you.