Top 12 Tips to Perfect your College Application Resume - Part 1
College financial aid assistant and scholarship finder FastWeb recently posted an article outlining 10 common resume blunders [registration required] made by college students. Their post inspired me to adapt their advice for high school students seeking college admission. With most colleges now requiring a resume as part of the college application package, students will benefit greatly from learning how to craft a proper resume. And while many of the generic tips floating around the web can be useful, there are certain things a college application resume must include to be a winner.Because of the number of tips and the length of my commentary, I will be splitting these tips into two posts. Look for the continuation to come soon.
Why do colleges require a resume?
Sometimes the format of a typical college application does not allow the candidate to highlight his or her strong points. A resume is basically a brief, at-a-glance brag sheet that you can use to draw attention to all of the accomplishments you feel are important to define who you are, but that didn't quite make it into your personal statement.
How should the resume be structured?
Professional resumes will generally lead with work experience and discuss an individual's professional career. Colleges are not interested in you as a worker so much as they are interested in you as a scholar. As such, many of the typical rules for resume structure do not apply to college applicants. In general, following this format will work for you:
- Heading:Make sure to include a heading on the top that states your name and any other important identifying information. Many colleges will identify you with your social security number, so putting this information in the heading is helpful. A university may also assign you a special applicant number that can be used in lieu of your social security number.
- Overview: Take approximately 3 short sentences to write a mini biography about yourself. If you speak more than one language, mention it. If you're the science fair champion four years running, mention it. If you have the highest GPA at your school, mention it. Highlight your strongest features. Imagine yourself as a news reporter that needs to capture the readers' attention in only a few lines. Make the admissions officer want to read more about you. Naturally, anything you include in the overview should also appear in one of the later sections.
- Education: After the heading, lead with educational information. The name of your high school and its address will go here. Follow that with your GPA and, if you know it, your class rank. Class rank can either be stated by percentile (such as "top 5%") or by actual numerical rank (14 of 326). Any sort of academic distinction may be placed here as well, such as if you earned an International Baccalaureate full diploma or a special state distinction. Do not list your academic awards here, however, as those will come later.
- Activities: Any clubs, programs, community service organizations, sports, or other activities you were a part of during high school should go here. You should try to limit the list to only about 8 entries, so if you have more than that, choose only your most important 8. If you have less than 4, try to think of some organized event you participated in to include. Remember, it does not have to necessarily be a school-sponsored program; activities through your church, community center, or of your own personal drive (bands, etc.) may be included. Each activity should have a short, one sentence description using strong, active verbs. For example, rather than just saying "Band", say, "Marching Band First Trumpet 3 years, performing in 57 school games and in two regional competitions."
- Special Projects: Something that you did once or twice but that could not necessarily be considered an 'activity' may go here. Participation in a science fair, history day project, one-time volunteer effort, or other special events may be included. This category is not vital, so if you cannot think of any special project you participated in, you may omit this section. You should limit your list to 3 entries and provide a bit more detail about each than you would have in the Activities section (about 2-3 short sentences). If you have held a steady job during high school, feel free to add your position here with a few descriptive sentences. You should also change this section's title to something like "Experiences".
- Awards: Don't limit yourself here. This section can be a simple laundry list (though you should explain any awards that do not have an obvious title) or may include more detailed descriptions depending on the amount of awards you have received. Feel free to overlap in this section with other sections (for example, you may mention the science fair in Special Projects, and then also mention that you got first place here), but avoid listing too many awards for the same event. Mentioning your placement in each of the three years you went to History Day is fine, but outlining each of your 67 Speech and Debate victories is too much. Remember that many accomplishments may fit in this category even if you never received a trophy, medal, or certificate.
You don't have to limit yourself to just these sections. If you have a special, extraordinary experience that warrants its own section, feel free to include it. Look around on the Internet for other student resumes and see the kinds of things they include for some ideas for what you might want on your own resume.
How long can the resume be?
Don't listen to the old rule that a resume cannot be longer than a single page. Feel free to go up to 2 pages if you need the room. Keep in mind that a resume is more like an outline than an essay; it should not be dense with information, but rather be an easy-to-follow bulleted list. If you simply have too many activities and awards to keep yourself limited to one page, do not cut information out. Instead, expand onto a second page without worry (unless, of course, the application guidelines tell you to use only one page).
Should I include stuff from before high school?
Generally no unless the activity continued into high school (such as playing in the middle school band and in the high school band). Colleges are generally not interested in your pre-high school experiences.This concludes part 1 of the college application resume tips list. Check back for part 2 with even more tips!
Have a question or comment? 14 people do.Why You’re Wrong about Your GPA, and what to Do about it
Many High School juniors who are trying to figure out their chances at competitive schools are confused about what their GPA actually is. Between "unweighted" and "weighted" GPAs -- and also with many high schools now calculating the grades of AP courses, honors courses, and standard courses differently -- students are often presented with two or three different numbers to represent their GPA. Even more confusing, many colleges use their own formulae to calculate GPA, meaning that the numbers your high school reports may all be different from what the university actually considers.
So what is a confused student to do? First of all, you should understand the process:
Many colleges will see and consider both your weighted and unweighted GPAs -- the former of which uses a 5.0 scale for honors and AP classes as opposed to the standard 4.0 scale. Most high schools will report both on your transcript. However, while a university may use your weighted GPA in considering your relative course rigor, they are typically more interested in your unweighted GPA when comparing you to other candidates. In other words, despite the common belief that an honors B equals a non-honors A, many colleges understand that an honors B is still a B even though it was earned in a harder class.
Complicating matters even further, many universities will recalculate your GPA using their own methods. Some will strip away all but the core classes, meaning the "easy A" you earned in art and gym no longer boost you as much as you thought. Instead, it is "Fundamental Five" which determine your GPA for many colleges: math, science, social science, English, and your foreign language.
So if you're looking at the 25th and 75th percentile numbers that many colleges publish, you will want to calculate your GPA using the most accurate metric possible. The best method is to consult the college itself and see if they'll reveal their system for calculating GPA. If not, or if you do not want to go through the hassle, the most conservative way to estimate your own GPA is to calculate your unweighted (i.e. don't differentiate between honors and non-honors courses) GPA from only the 'Fundamental Five' classes you have taken. While other methods of GPA calculation will be used to compare you against other applicants, this number will likely be the most accurate and universal one that you could use to estimate your chances of admission.
Have a question or comment? 8 people do.Carnival of College Admissions: 2nd Edition
See All Editions | Submit an Article
Welcome to the second edition of the Carnival of College Admissions. We had fifteen articles submitted this time, thirteen of which have been selected for publication. After a successful first run, I am excited to bring a second week of excellent college admissions articles from all over the Internet. I hope to continue this feature long into the future, but I need your help. Click on the links above for more information about this cooperative effort and to submit a write-up of your own for next week's edition.Read on for all of the excellent articles from the 2nd Edition of The Carnival of College Admissions: Read more
Have a question or comment? 1 person does.Campus Visits Dos and Don’ts
This article was submitted as part of the Carnival of College Admissions by Kat Cohen, Phd., Founder and CEO of ApplyWise.
Spring is a great time for high school juniors to visit college campuses. Here are some "Dos & Don'ts" that students and their parents need to know before visiting universities:
- Do visit campuses during your Junior year, but don't miss any classes. Holidays, spring break and weekends are a perfect time to plan those college road trips. Before you leave, check to see if there are tours or information sessions available on the dates you plan on visiting. Regardless, walking on campus while school is in session will give you a true sense of campus life. But don't skip school to visit a college. You need to keep up with your academic obligations. Many universities have open houses on weekends and holidays to work around your academic schedule.
- Do research the college before you visit and don't visit without knowing the school's basics. Research the school's academic programs and facilities before your campus visit. This will allow you to focus on elements of the campus that you are most interested in. You'll not only impress the admissions officer during the information session, but you'll also remember the visit. Bring a checklist of your expectations and questions you want answered. Keep in mind, though, that asking generic questions will not make a positive impression.
- Do explore the campus on your own, but don't leave a campus tour without informing the tour guide ahead of time. Tours are designed to show visitors different facets of campus life. However, if you need to leave early for any reason, know that you may miss some important details. Also, let the tour guide know before hand; leaving abruptly can be distracting to both guide and the group. When you do have time to explore on your own, make time to:
- Have lunch in campus dining center to meet current students. They are a great resource regarding life on and off campus. Imagine yourself as a student on that campus by interacting with students as much as possible.
- Check out the surrounding community. You’ll be living there for four years! Now’s the time to explore nearby restaurants, movie theatres, malls and places even for employment.
- Do introduce yourself to your admissions officer, but don't monopolize his time. When you meet your admissions officer, have a brief five-minute conversation about your interest. Ask one thoughtful, well-researched question; this will make a positive impression. Remember, this is not an interview, so don’t dominate the admissions officer’s time. Admissions officers are very busy and you don’t want to come off as a nuisance.
- Parents: Do listen to your child's opinions, but don't ask too many questions. Let your student do the talking. Overbearing parents are not only embarrassing, but they often prevent the tour guide from sharing some important information. Often, your questions will be addressed organically throughout the tour. Or course, if you still have personal questions, you can always ask your guide at the end of the tour or send an e-mail.
- Do send a thank you e-mail only if you are genuinely interested in a school and made a personal connection. Don't send thank you notes that your parents have written. A sincere e-mail leaves a positive impression. It may even turn into a great relationship as you start applying. Be mindful not to be insincere or over the top (like asking the tour guide to be your friend on FaceBook or MySpace) in your correspondence, as it may make you look desperate. Also, parents -- do not write any of these letters for your children. Remember, this is their college search process.
Thank you, Dr. Cohen, for your submission. Be sure to check out ApplyWise for more information. You may also read my article on entitled What should I do during a campus visit? for another perspective
Have a question or comment? 2 people do.7 Things Savvy Good Students Do to Avoid Being Rejected Good Students
Yesterday I spoke briefly about the various reasons why good students are not accepted. I also provided some advice for parents. Today, I'd like to discuss 7 techniques that savvy students may use to avoid the various reasons that get good students rejected:
- Submit your application early - Quotas or preferences for a specific geographical location or gender occur at many universities. Unfortunately, because it is based on simple, statistical information, there's no way to color your application if you're disfavored. Instead, get around these ceilings by submitting your application as soon as possible. If a university is committed to accepting only 100 applicants from Massachusetts, make sure you are one of the first 100 they review. Naturally, you'll never know what statistical quotas each college is using on any given year, so submit every application early just in case.
- Do your research - Colleges frequently talk about the types of students they're looking for, but many applicants are not listening. Be different by actually keeping your eyes and ears open. Note the types of recruitment presentations each college gives, and if they seem particularly dedicated to finding, for example, first-generation students and you happen to be one, play up this fact in your essay. Also, read through each university's enrolled student information (usually available on their websites) and note any underrepresented population that you may be a member of. Statistics for racial groups, genders (both males and females are sometimes underrepresented), geographical location, and other basic statistics are available here. A sharp eye for phrases like, "we're committed to expanding our gender diversity" will let you know what types of personal features you should comment on in your essays.
Explore your own personal diversity - Even if a website or college admissions officer does not explicitly mention a certain group they feel their student body is lacking, you should still discuss the types of things that make you unique. This doesn't need to be only racial diversity, but also things like special personal experiences, status as a first-generation student, birth in a foreign country, physical disability, or anything that makes you diverse. For tips on how to discuss these types of things, consult my article on expressing diversity in the personal statement.- Make yourself internally diverse - Even if you are interested in a college looking for more first-generation students and come from a lengthy Ivy League pedigree, all is not lost. There is rarely only one thing a college is looking for. So make sure to at least mention all sorts of facts about yourself that may put you into a niche the university is looking to fill. Avoid creating a laundry list of statistics, of course, but do feel free to discuss all of the unique features and experiences that have contributed to making you who you are.
- Appear interested and dedicated - If you're an otherwise qualified candidate but fall into a group the college simply feels it has too much of already, the admissions committee will be looking for reasons not to accept you. Make this job harder (and also encourage them to reject other applications in your same pile instead) by sounded interested in and dedicated to the university. Opening an essay with, "I have always wanted to attend X College" is trite, but weaving in an anecdote about how the school library reminds you of a beloved building from your youth will make you seem much more interested in the college than the average applicant. Subtlety weaving in something that would make the admissions officer think that you would be likely to contribute to the alumni fund will help as well.
Write an essay with universal appeal - You may be incredibly passionate about football, but a college admissions officer who hates sports will be bored by the subject matter. This does not mean that you should avoid writing about it -- all personal statements should be about topics you have a passion for -- but merely that you should try to avoid any technical jargon that a non-fan would be confused by. Also, try to connect your topic to a more universal experience. For example, use a metaphor to compare your proudest in-game football moment to falling in love. Read your essay and ask yourself if everyone would be able to relate to it. If not, try to broaden your language.- Above all, be the best you can be - You're not going to be able to anticipate every little thing the college may be looking for. So don't stress about quotas too much; instead, do the best you can to highlight yourself. If you put your strongest foot forward, the university is much more likely to be interested in you despite any quotas or preferences they might have
The process may seem unfair at times, but these techniques should help to transform you from a rejected good student, to an accepted good student.
Have a question or comment? 2 people do.When Good Students Are Rejected
Reader and parent Gary B. writes in, unsatisfied with the college admissions process and looking for suggestions:
My daughter was rejected from UCLA. That's a common phrase from parents, I'm sure, but here's what's uncommon: Her GPA was 4.1 weighted, 3.89 unweighted. She achieved 30 on the ACT, 740 on SAT II math, and 680 in chemistry. As I'm sure you know, these scores rank her in all the top percentiles. Though she didn't always take the hardest courses available to her, most were honors and AP. She was Vice-President of a club, spent three years on a sports team, two of them varsity, plays a musical instrument and did about 55 hours of community service in her junior and senior years. So I guess my question is: If she is so far above the averages, why was she still rejected? And what can I do to appeal the decision?
Thanks for writing, Gary. I wish I could give a more exact response, but I'm afraid that I just don't know enough about your daughter's unique background to know precisely why UCLA might decide not to accept her. She does seem like quite a talented young woman, though.
I would like to reframe your thinking a bit. Remember that college admissions is not just about the numbers game. An application full of high test scores and impressive GPAs complete with a resume padded with accomplishments and activities may look like a guaranteed admission, but there are other factors considered, too. Simply comparing basic statistical information between students rarely paints the entire picture. Application review is a holistic process, which evaluates the totality of a student's experiences. This explains some of the apparent inconsistencies that arise from comparing applicants.
Also remember that with the competitiveness of all students constantly increasing, there is more subjectivity than ever in the decision-making process. Two essays of equal technical merit and on comparatively deep and analytical issues may resonate differently with the same admissions officer. Sometimes getting lucky and penning a personal statement that touches upon the reader's particular emotions that day is the difference between acceptance and rejection, unfair as that may be.
Finally, remember that college do not simply admit the "best" 2000 applicants for their 2000 available seats. A university wants to build diversity into its new student body. Thus, if the "best" 2000 students all happen to play a musical instrument but have never competed in a science fair, the 2001st and 2002nd "best" applicants who did may be accepted over someone in the top 2000. In other words, similarities your daughter shared with other applicants in the same general test score and GPA bracket may have hurt her, even though these are circumstances completely beyond her control.
We can never really know for sure why admissions committees make some of the decisions they do. At best, we can plan and strategize, but ultimately luck does play a role, especially at the more elite colleges. Though I must recommend against pursuing to your final question, "what can I do to appeal the decision?" What you can do is much different than what your daughter can do. If she would like additional review, she may contact the admissions office herself and request information about the procedure. I encourage you to support her in this process if she decides to do it, but do not force her and especially do not do it yourself.
The most important thing you can do as a parent is to remain positive and supportive. Be there for your daughter and help her through the disappointment she is feeling. This time is incredibly stressful for her. I highly recommend my article on this topic, How Parents can Deal Positively with Rejection, which should provide additional guidance for you and some tips for how to support your daughter. Know that a single rejection is never the end of the world, and that if UCLA was your daughter's dream school, there are still avenues to her ultimate enrollment there. Good luck to you and your daughter, and thanks again for your question.
Have a question or comment? 2 people do.