First things first, Why Write A CV for College?
There can be many reasons for writing a CV and having it prepared before application season starts.
Firstly, some colleges require it.
Next, it’s good to have one handy just in case the teachers working on your recommendations need it for reference.
Furthermore, if you have too many activities to fit into the Common App activities section, a CV can be a nice summary of all the things you’ve accomplished within and outside of the classroom.
Firstly, some colleges require it.
Next, it’s good to have one handy just in case the teachers working on your recommendations need it for reference.
Furthermore, if you have too many activities to fit into the Common App activities section, a CV can be a nice summary of all the things you’ve accomplished within and outside of the classroom.
Fleshing out Each Section:
The Education category should be the shortest and most succinct. Start by adding the name of the highschool you went to. Then, just add your grades for 10th and 12th, and a general list of the subjects you took. Done and done.
The rest of the sections require a little bit more work. You need to list the jobs, activities, and awards in the order of their importance to you, and in the order of their impressiveness. Admissions officers don’t have much time to go through your entire resume, so you’ve got to list the stuff that is going to captivate them first.
As for the descriptions of each activity, only mention what’s most relevant to the position you’re applying for, or in this case, the hook of your application. So, for example, if your hook is research, and you’re mentioning a research internship in your CV, saying “worked efficiently and met all deadlines” in the description won’t be nearly as effective as saying “collected, observed, and analyzed first hand data from several geographical locations,” or something of the like.
The rest of the sections require a little bit more work. You need to list the jobs, activities, and awards in the order of their importance to you, and in the order of their impressiveness. Admissions officers don’t have much time to go through your entire resume, so you’ve got to list the stuff that is going to captivate them first.
As for the descriptions of each activity, only mention what’s most relevant to the position you’re applying for, or in this case, the hook of your application. So, for example, if your hook is research, and you’re mentioning a research internship in your CV, saying “worked efficiently and met all deadlines” in the description won’t be nearly as effective as saying “collected, observed, and analyzed first hand data from several geographical locations,” or something of the like.
Additional skills and hobbies:
This is really where you get to show the people reading your resume that you’re a real person, and not just a list of accomplishments. This humanizing aspect of your resume can really work in your favor: maybe the person interviewing you has the same taste in movies, or likes going fishing as much as you do. Make sure to mention hobbies that set you apart, and really add value to your character and personality. Hobbies and skills also demonstrate how good of a fit you’ll be at any organization, educational or otherwise. Make good use of this section.
