Applications, resumes, essays – oh my! While the college application and admissions process may seem overwhelming, we’re here to help establish another tool in your college planning toolbox, breaking down why you need a great college resume.
How can creating a great college resume benefit you?
While there are tons of benefits of creating a high-quality college resume, here are some of the most important benefits to consider:
A College Resume Highlights Your Best Traits
It’s true! Just like a resume for a job or other position, this is the time for you to shine! You’ll be able to outline your experiences, background, and what makes you, uniquely you! Crafting your resume around your best traits will help to highlight what makes you special.
A College Resume Makes You Look Like a Superstar
Similar to highlighting your best traits, this is a time to outline your awards, accomplishments, and other accolades. It’s not bragging – it’s just a great college resume! Show off your hard work and the rewards that you have been blessed with because of it. While we don’t want to exaggerate experiences or oversell, it’s important to use power words to describe your background.
A College Resume Equips You
Creating a solid resume just adds another tool in your college toolbox for success. For the rest of your life, you will more than likely find yourself needing a resume, and college is no exception.
What will you use a college resume for?
There are 3 main uses for college resumes: The foundation of your college applications, applying for scholarships, and college or job interviews.
Foundation of Your College Applications
Many schools will ask for a resume to be submitted along with your application and essay. This is a great way for a school to get to know you, learn a bit about your background, and see what you’ve accomplished so far. This will help them in determining if you would be a good fit for their college or university.
Applying for Scholarships
When completing applications for scholarships you’ll more than likely be discussing topics, interests, or experiences that are contained in your resume. Many scholarship organizations will also ask for these as they determine if you should receive their award. When using your resume in the scholarship process, it’s important to organize your resume in a way that focuses on the purpose of the scholarship. For example, if it’s a leadership scholarship then you should highlight leadership experiences first. Resumes are also an effective and concise way to communicate community service and other activities.
College or Job Interviews
Your college resume will act as an invaluable prop when it comes to interviews, both for college admission and a job during college or down the road. Why? A great resume gives your interviewer all the questions to ask and gives you all the answers – you wrote it after all! The resume can act as an ice breaker as well as aiding in the discussion of why you’re worthy of the job, admission or for a unique opportunity.
There are a lot of benefits and uses to a solid college resumes, but they don’t happen by chance. There needs to be a lot of thought, consideration, intention and proper organization in order for the resume to be a tool, rather than a hindrance. Check back next week for tips on how to build a great college resume!
