Writing a college resume can sometimes be an important part of the college application process. Although not all college applications will require a resume, many request a resume so they can better understand your history and why you’re a great option for their college. However, as a high school graduate going into college for the first time, you might not have a lot of information you can put on a resume. Here are four tips that you can take with you to write a better college resume.

• Look Into Existing Resume Examples

It’s important that you look into resume examples that already exist. For many people, looking directly at college resumes that have been successful can be a great way to learn more about the process of writing a college resume. From reviewing resume examples, you can gain an understanding of the wording that people use, what type of experience you can include on a resume, and even the general structure and layout of the resume.

You can also look at resumes for general jobs. This can help you understand how to structure a resume. Although college committees are looking for specific college resumes, understanding a resume structure overall can help you understand how to make your college resume pop as well.

• Make a List of All the Information You Want To Include

Next, it’s a good idea to just make a list of the information that you want to add to your resume. What’s the most important information that you think you should put in the resume? Here are a few examples of information that you might want to put in a college resume:

• GPA and academic awards
• Volunteer work
• Extracurricular activities
• Paid work in your field
• Clubs and elected club positions

Simply getting this information down can help you organize it into a more effective resume structure. Plus, it may help you recognize that you do actually have plenty of information to put on your resume.

• Provide Professional Links and Email Addresses

If you’re planning to put social media links and your email address on your resume, which are great ways to improve a resume, you need to ensure that they look incredibly professional. It’s not a good idea to just include your personal Twitter account or your email address that you’ve had since you were 13. This can negatively impact a college’s perception of you.

Instead, if you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to create professional social media links and a professional email address. Your email address should include your name and potentially a qualifying word if you have a very common name like John Smith. You can also create professional social media accounts, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

• Stick To Strong Action Verbs

Finally, remember that the specific wording you use is important. Use as many strong action verbs as you can. This makes it easier for you to express your skills to a college committee. Here are a few examples to consider when it comes to using strong action verbs:

• Guided other students in their understanding of mathematics.
• Handled animals up for adoption and talked to potential adoptive families.
• Discussed potential issues with the current website and guided the creation of a new site.
• Managed anyone seeking new information at the front desk.

These are all great ways to showcase skills. Always start with a verb. Never start with a pronoun, such as, “I” or “We.”

Conclusion

There are many ways to write a great college resume, and these 4 tips can help you keep your eye on the prize as you’re writing your resume. Use these 4 tips to ensure that your college resume looks as great as possible when you turn it in.