How to Make a Resume for College Applications | Coach Hall Writes

Summary

This video provides high school seniors with a comprehensive guide on creating a college application resume. It explains why having a resume is essential for college applications, letters of recommendation, interviews, and job opportunities. The video covers two methods for creating a resume—brain dumping and using a template—while emphasizing the importance of clear formatting and concise content. Key sections to include are contact information, education, extracurricular activities, achievements, work experience, and volunteer work. Tips for prioritizing accomplishments, avoiding exaggeration, and seeking feedback from family or guidance counselors are also provided to help students craft a strong, professional resume.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start early: Begin working on your college resume during the summer before your senior year or early in the fall.
• 😀 Understand the importance: A resume is essential for college applications, letters of recommendation, interviews, and sometimes job applications.
• 😀 Organize your resume in reverse chronological order: List your most recent or current activities at the top and work backwards.
• 😀 Keep it concise: Your resume should typically be one page. Focus on quality over quantity and highlight your best achievements.
• 😀 Be honest but confident: Accurately present your accomplishments, but don't be too humble or downplay your achievements.
• 😀 Use a professional, readable font: Select a clear font (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman) and ensure consistent formatting throughout.
• 😀 Prioritize key categories: Include sections for contact information, education, extracurricular activities, achievements, work experience, and volunteer work.
• 😀 Trim unnecessary details: If your resume is too long, remove less significant items and focus on your strongest achievements.
• 😀 Leverage templates carefully: Use free online templates as a starting point but ensure you customize them to suit your style.
• 😀 Get feedback: Ask family members, mentors, or guidance counselors to review your resume for typos, formatting issues, and suggestions.
• 😀 Include relevant skills or languages: If you’re proficient in a second language or have technical skills, list them in a skills or languages section.

Q & A

Why is it important for high school seniors to create a resume?

Creating a resume is essential for college applications, scholarship requests, and job applications. It helps streamline the application process, provides reference material for letters of recommendation, and ensures you are prepared for interviews or job opportunities.

What are the two approaches for creating a resume discussed in the video?

The two approaches are the 'brain dump' method, where you list everything you’ve done and then organize it, and the more direct method where you start by filling out a template with your achievements and details.

Should you use a resume template for college applications?

Templates can be helpful to streamline the process, but not everyone likes using them. It's important to choose a format that works best for you while ensuring clarity, consistency, and professionalism.

What is the recommended font style for a resume?

You should choose a font that is easy to read and consistent throughout your resume. It’s important to avoid overly stylized fonts that could hinder legibility.

How should you prioritize what to include on your resume if space is limited?

You should prioritize your most impressive achievements. This includes current or ongoing activities, leadership roles, and awards. If necessary, you can combine entries or leave out less significant experiences.

What is reverse chronological order, and why is it important in resumes?

Reverse chronological order means listing your most recent activities and achievements first. This is important because it shows your most current and relevant experiences at the top of the resume, making them more prominent.

What should you do if your resume is longer than one page?

Instead of reducing font size or adjusting margins, focus on cutting less important activities or combining related entries. Ensure that only your most significant experiences and achievements are included.

Why is it helpful to ask family members for feedback on your resume?

Family members can help you remember details you might have forgotten, especially from earlier high school years. They can also assist in spotting typos or formatting issues.

What is the ideal content for the 'Education' section of your resume?

In the 'Education' section, you should list the full name of your high school, its location (city and state), and if applicable, include your grade point average (GPA) or class rank. However, this information is often found elsewhere in your application and may not need to be repeated.

How should you format the 'Activities' or 'Extracurriculars' section of your resume?

In this section, include a list of activities you’ve participated in, whether they are school-based or external. Be sure to mention any leadership roles and provide specific dates (grades or years) of participation.

Should you include a section for hobbies or personal interests on your resume?

Yes, it can be beneficial to include hobbies or interests, particularly if they demonstrate skills or qualities that might not be highlighted elsewhere on your application, such as playing an instrument or photography.