Perfecting Your Resume for College Apps
When applying to college, a well-crafted resume plays a pivotal role in setting you apart from the competition. During the Junior Year Roadmap as part of the Magnolia Method, together we focus on building a stand-out resume that’s guaranteed to make a solid connection with your prospective school.
So, what makes a stand-out resume?
My goal is for every client to have an editable, professional resume to use for their application and to update throughout their college career. Using my expertise in higher educational admissions and the assistance of professional resume writers, together we aim to create a holistic profile that distinctly showcases the client’s strengths and achievements.
From navigating the intricacies of presenting oneself professionally on paper and social media to excelling in interviews, the Magnolia Method provides comprehensive support every step of the way!
Magnolia method pro-tips:
Resume Edition
Craft a Mission Statement: Summarize your greatest accomplishments and unique qualities in 2-3 sentences. Include a personal quirk or memorable fact to make it memorable! Wrap up with, “If I am not studying or scoring goals on the soccer field, I am curled up reading my favorite dystopian novel…. or wakeboarding…or riding my horse, Archibald. Consider this space your “elevator pitch”.
Use Action Verbs: Utilize action verbs and clear language to define your achievements (the Magnolia Academic Planning Handbook has a comprehensive list of action verbs and descriptors to reference). Avoid providing too many details and avoid passive language. Using concise language that defines the work you did is key!
Exclude Middle School Activities: Focus solely on high school experiences and achievements. Middle school activities do not belong on a college resume. Period!
Categorize Your Resume: Prioritize categories based on your significant experiences. If you are a 5-sport varsity athlete, put athletics first! A long list of musical performance awards? Put that front and center! Adapt the resume to highlight who you are and in a way that illuminates your unique strengths and interests.
Academic Enrichment: Highlight foreign exchange experiences, pre-college programs (excluding research—see below!), and unique academic offerings like engineering or performing arts pathways and specialized cohorts.
Extracurricular Involvement: Showcase involvement in clubs, cultural groups, and religious organizations. What are you up to after school? In what ways do you enrich your life?
Leadership Experience: Emphasize leadership roles in clubs, sports, or community projects. Consider starting a club or community project of your own to develop this area further. Leadership is how you define your legacy!
Research: Include any independent or class research projects, especially if they demonstrate a unique interest (not just science!). Not all of my clients participate in competitive research, but I strongly encourage it for any student pursuing STEM in college.
Athletics/Special Interests: Dedicate a section to serious athletic or artistic pursuits. Don’t let it get lost and lumped together with your other clubs and activities IF it is something very impactful in your life.
Community Service: Highlight meaningful contributions to your community. Focus on causes or communities you care about and have impacted. For some, service defines their areas of impact, but for others, this can get “watered down” by hastily earning service hours doing things of little significance to you or your community. Create a plan in 9th grade and stay consistent. Be creative and be bold!
Awards & Honors: Stand out with regional or national awards and achievements. Start early to get recognized in areas that matter to you. Are you a STEM kid with a penchant for poetry? Enter a poetry contest! Social media has made this easy - a quick search on TikTok and down a rabbit hole you go!
Work Experience: Showcase consistency and commitment in summer jobs or work experiences. Don’t worry if you cannot make time for a summer job, but if you do, stay committed. Going back to a job each year is impressive! Know in advance if you can commit.
Special Skills: Highlight any unique skills or certifications you possess. Are you proficient in 2 languages? CPR certified? Juggler? Screenwriter? Stilt walker? This can be a great way to showcase a special skill!
Remember to send your resume to an admission staff member as a “demonstration of interest” (more on that next month!) and to explore opportunities for competitive summer projects, internships, and research positions.
Your resume is not only vital for college applications but also serves as a valuable asset as you explore opportunities during your college journey and beyond!
As policies around testing change, and even as AI starts to interfere with admission teams evaluating writing samples, having a polished and easy-to-read resume can make you stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
Check out this article on how Duke University is redefining its evaluation process, emphasizing the importance of extracurricular involvement. As you can see, this remains one of the most important areas top universities use to evaluate their applicants!
Across all stages of my available roadmaps, I strive to empower students to present their best selves as they navigate the admissions process. Let’s make a lasting impression on your dream college together!
Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or advisor—you recognize the tremendous benefit of higher education and its impact on shaping one’s future. And no matter your role within this incredibly defining decision-making process, it can be a stressful time for you.
I’m here to be your advisor, organizer, tutor, cheerleader, friend, and compass through this journey. I’ve helped over 2,000 students locate and gain acceptance to the college of their dreams, and I’m so excited to help you, too.
Let’s get to work!
-Allie Pierson, Founder