High School Resume Guide 2024: Templates, Examples & Expert Tips for College Applications
HIGH SCHOOL RESUME GUIDE
Build a Resume That Opens Doors to College, Scholarships, and Your Future
Stand Out With a Professional Resume That Tells Your Story
Creating a high school resume can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step—from formatting and sections to real examples and expert tips. Whether you're applying to colleges, competing for scholarships, or seeking summer programs, you'll discover exactly what admissions officers and employers want to see.
87%
of scholarship applications request a resume or activity list
2x
more likely to receive strong recommendation letters when you provide a resume
Top 25%
of college applicants submit supplemental resumes with their applications
Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and College Board research data
Quick Overview
⏱️
Start Early
Freshman Year
📄
Ideal Length
1-2 Pages
🔄
Update Frequency
2x Per Year
🎯
Key Focus
Impact & Growth
Why Every High School Student Needs a Resume
💡Key Insight
A resume isn't just for job applications—it's your personal marketing tool that tells your story and helps you stand out in college admissions, scholarship competitions, and recommendation letters.
🎓
Track Your Growth
Document your four-year journey and ensure you don't forget important achievements when application deadlines approach.
✍️
Support Recommenders
Empower teachers and counselors to write stronger, more specific letters by providing them with your comprehensive resume.
🎯
Identify Gaps
Creating a resume early helps you recognize areas for growth and plan meaningful activities for future involvement.
💼
Multiple Applications
Use your resume for college apps, scholarships, internships, summer programs, and part-time jobs throughout high school.
💪 Power Your Resume with Strong Action Verbs
Transform weak descriptions into powerful statements by starting each bullet point with an impactful action verb. Choose words that demonstrate leadership, initiative, and results.
👥 Leadership
🏆 Achievement
💬 Communication
🎨 Creative
📊 Organization
🔬 Research
Led
Directed
Coordinated
Managed
Supervised
Mentored
Coached
Guided
Chaired
Oversaw
Achieved
Improved
Increased
Exceeded
Earned
Won
Accomplished
Attained
Surpassed
Advanced
💡 Pro Tip: Vary your action verbs throughout your resume. Don't start every bullet point with the same word. Mix leadership verbs with achievement verbs to show a well-rounded skill set.
Strong Resume Examples
Learn from real examples of effective high school resumes. Each example demonstrates different strengths and approaches—click any card to view the full annotated resume.
EXAMPLE #1
Arts-Focused Student
Strong academic foundation paired with deep commitment to performing arts. Shows sustained leadership in drama, choir, and visual arts.
LeadershipImpact MetricsClear Narrative
EXAMPLE #2
Community Service Leader
Founded own initiative and demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit. Exceptional use of quantified achievements showing measurable community impact.
InitiativeQuantified ImpactCohesive Theme
EXAMPLE #3
Well-Rounded Student
Balances academics, arts, athletics, and work experience. Demonstrates long-term commitment and progression to leadership roles.
✓ What Works: Clear STEM focus with technical skills section; shows both independent work and teamwork
Key Takeaways from This Example:
Cohesive narrative: All activities support a clear STEM interest and career path
Quantified impact: Uses specific numbers ($3,000 raised, 25% increase, 8 students helped)
Technical skills section: Relevant for STEM programs and internships
Research experience: Shows intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom
What Should You Include in Your High School Resume?
🎓
Academic Information
• High school name & graduation year
• GPA and class rank
• Test scores (SAT/ACT)
• Relevant coursework (AP, IB, dual credit)
🏆
Activities & Leadership
• Extracurricular activities
• Sports and clubs
• Leadership positions
• Awards and honors
💼
Experience & Skills
�� Work history and internships
• Community service
• Volunteer work
• Special skills or certifications
🚫 Resume "Don'ts" Gallery
Learn from these common mistakes. We've seen these errors countless times—make sure they're not on your resume!
❌DON'T: Use Unprofessional Email Addresses
JORDAN SMITH
Houston, TX | (713) 555-0142 | partygirl2024@email.com
Why this fails: Your email is often the first impression. "Partygirl2024" sends the wrong message to colleges and employers. Create a simple firstname.lastname@email.com address for all professional communication.
❌DON'T: Use Vague, Generic Descriptions
Student Council – Member (10th-12th Grade)
• Attended meetings
• Helped with events
• Was involved in school activities
Why this fails: These descriptions could apply to anyone. No numbers, no specific contributions, no measurable impact. Compare to: "Organized annual food drive raising 2,000+ pounds of donations; led committee of 8 students planning spring fundraiser that raised $3,500 for local charity."
Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing best practices. These common errors can weaken even the strongest credentials.
Mistake to Avoid
Better Approach
Using an unprofessional email address like partygirl2024@email.com
Create a simple email with your name: firstname.lastname@email.com
Listing activities without any description of your role or impact
Include 1-2 bullet points explaining your contributions and achievements
Including middle school activities or outdated achievements
Focus only on high school experiences unless middle school activities continued into 9th grade
Using tiny fonts or narrow margins to fit everything on one page
Use readable 11-12pt font and expand to two pages if needed for strong juniors/seniors
Exaggerating roles or fabricating experiences
Be honest and accurate; colleges verify information and value authenticity
Forgetting to update dates and current activities each semester
Review and update your resume at least twice per year with new accomplishments
How to Tailor Your Resume for Different Purposes
Key Principle:
Maintain a master resume with all experiences, then create tailored versions that highlight the most relevant qualifications for each opportunity.
🎓 For College Applications
▼
Emphasize academic achievements, intellectual curiosity, and activities that show depth of commitment rather than breadth. Admissions officers want to see sustained involvement and leadership over several years.
Highlight experiences that connect to your intended major or demonstrate qualities the college values. Research each college's mission and culture to understand what they're looking for in students.
💰 For Scholarship Applications
▶
Read the scholarship criteria carefully and emphasize experiences that match their priorities. A community service scholarship wants to see your volunteer work featured prominently, while a leadership scholarship should highlight your officer positions.
Include specific metrics that demonstrate impact—funds raised, hours volunteered, people served, or programs created. Scholarship committees use these concrete details to compare candidates.
🔬 For Summer Programs and Internships
▼
Highlight relevant coursework, skills, and any prior experience in the program's focus area. If you're applying to a research program, emphasize your science courses and any research or STEM activities.
Include a brief objective statement at the top of your resume explaining your interest in the specific program and what you hope to gain from the experience.
💼 For Part-Time Jobs
▶
Focus on transferable skills like responsibility, customer service, time management, and reliability. Employers want to know you'll show up on time, work well with others, and represent their business professionally.
Previous work experience, volunteer roles with responsibility, and activities showing commitment are most relevant. You can de-emphasize academic honors that don't relate to workplace skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students and families often have similar questions about creating effective high school resumes.
What should a high school freshman include on a resume?
▼
Freshmen should start with basic sections including contact information, education with current courses, any middle school activities continuing into high school, and initial volunteer experiences or part-time work. Your resume will naturally be shorter at this stage, which is completely normal and expected. Focus on getting the structure right and updating it regularly as you gain more experiences throughout high school.
How long should a high school student's resume be?
▼
Most high school resumes should be one page for freshmen and sophomores, and can extend to two pages for juniors and seniors with significant experience. Quality matters more than length—a strong one-page resume is better than a padded two-page document. Never shrink fonts below 11pt or reduce margins to squeeze everything onto one page, as readability is essential.
Should I include my GPA on my resume?
▶
Include your GPA if it strengthens your application—typically 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or above your school's average. Specify whether it's weighted or unweighted, as admissions offices need this context. If your GPA doesn't reflect your abilities due to a difficult freshman year or personal circumstances, you can omit it from your resume and address it elsewhere in your applications.
How often should I update my high school resume?
▼
Update your resume at least twice per year—at the end of each semester or during winter and summer breaks. Regular updates help you remember specific details, achievements, and dates while they're still fresh. Set a recurring reminder to review and add new activities, leadership positions, honors, or work experiences. Many students find that updating after major events like competitions, performances, or award ceremonies helps capture important accomplishments that might otherwise be forgotten.
Ready to Build Your Candidacy?
A strong resume is just one piece of building your candidacy for college and career success. Schedule a personalized planning session to create a comprehensive strategy that showcases your strengths, identifies growth opportunities, and positions you for post-secondary achievement.
