12 Create Your Resumé Your resumé outlines your educational background, involvement at school and in the community, work history, and achievements. It provides colleges and potential employers with important information about you in one organized document. A resumé will be helpful when completing the activities portion of your college application. Write it Down The easiest way to create your resumé is to start early, preferably in 9th grade, and update it each year. Your resumé should include the following information: •Contact information: Include your name, city, state, phone number, and professional email address. •Academic enrichment: List the names of enrichment programs (school, after-school, and summer) you have completed. Include the sponsoring organization and the dates you participated (e.g., Temple University, Dual Enrollment Summer Academy, July 2025). •Extracurricular and volunteer activities: List the clubs, sports teams, arts programs, community service experiences, etc., in which you are involved. Add leadership roles and dates of participation. Highlight special accomplishments (e.g., Assistant Coordinator, Iglesia Del Barrio Food Bank, April 2025 – December 2025). •Education: List the name and location of your high school and the date you expect to graduate (e.g., Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Class of 2027). •Honors and awards: List any honors you have received during high school. Include the sponsoring organization, award title, and date received (e.g., Honor Roll, Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, June 2025 – Present). If your school uses unique names for awards (e.g., Top Notch Award), consider renaming them to something more general that colleges or employers will understand (e.g., Student Excellence Award). •Work experience and internships: List any jobs you have held during high school. Include the company’s name, your title, dates of employment, and key responsibilities (e.g., Isla Verde Cafe, Host, September 2026 – Present). •Skills: Include additional skills or training that might be interesting to a college or a prospective employer, such as languages spoken, computer skills, or specialized training (e.g., Fluent in Spanish • drawing, painting, sculpture, 3D printing, graphic design). Resumé Writing Tips Your resumé is serious business: •Be authentic. Do not embellish the truth or include anything that is inaccurate. •Use complete names of programs, businesses, awards, and schools. •Use a professional email address. •Keep it active with strong verbs such as organized, created, led, and developed. •List your most recent experiences first and include dates. •Proofread and edit your resumé and ask others to review it. •Do not list your references. •Limit your resumé to one page. Now you are ready to create your resumé by using the format and additional tips offered on the following page. Using AI to Write Your Resumé It is best to use AI sparingly when writing your resumé. It can serve as a helpful tool when looking for strong action verbs, or when formatting your layout. However, do not rely upon AI to write your resumé from scratch. Your resumé is highly personal and therefore should be unique — and written by the subject — you! Pathways to Prosperity Your Professional Email Account Writing your resumé is the ideal time to open an email account with a professional address. Gmail accounts are easy to open and use. Avoid using your school email address for professional and college communications, since this address may expire after you graduate. Choose an address that includes your initials and/or name, such as FirstName_LastName@gmail.com or FirstInitial_LastName@gmail.com. As you move through the college application process, give this email address to colleges, and then remember to check your inbox regularly. If you don’t check your email, you could miss important opportunities and communications! Pathways to Prosperity
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