How to Write a College Student Resume

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It is possible for a college student to write a resume that positions them as an ideal candidate for entry-level work in their desired field. Writing a resume doesn’t have to be overwhelming and stressful for college students and recent graduates. In this article, you can learn what to include on college student resumes and how to write a resume by following some helpful steps plus a template and example for college students.

What to include on resumes for college students

A college student resume should include the following sections:

Professional summary

The summary on a resume is essentially a highlight reel of your life up to this point. It should be a short paragraph that demonstrates why you are a good fit for the position. Focus on the aspects of your education and experience that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Education

This section should list your academic credentials in descending order. For instance, if you are currently pursuing a master’s degree, you would list your graduate program first, followed by your undergraduate degree. In this section, be sure to include your current cumulative GPA if it is above 3.0 or if it is specifically requested by an employer. You can also list any minors you are working toward.

Experience

Use this section to highlight your professional experience, including any internships and volunteer positions you have held. If you have no professional experience, you can use this section to describe major projects you completed as part of your coursework in college. One example might be if you designed an advertising campaign or a website as part of a marketing class.

Skills

This section should list the skills, abilities and certifications you have acquired. Make sure the skills you list are relevant to the position you’re applying for. For instance, CPR and first aid training would be relevant if you’re applying to work at a daycare but would not be as important for working in a call center. If you are bilingual, note which languages you speak and your level of proficiency in each. You may also want to mention other technical skills, such as specific programs you are familiar with.

Honors

Use this section to draw attention to any awards and honors you have received. This could include competitive or merit-based scholarships, honor society memberships, academic honors and other recognitions. The items in this section do not need to relate directly to your chosen field, but they should help demonstrate your hard work, passion and integrity.

Activities

If relevant, you can use this section to list activities and projects that didn’t fit under any of the other headings. This might be a good opportunity to mention competitive activities where you performed well or social activities where you played an active role or held a leadership position. Examples include debate, sports, clubs and community service projects.

How to write resumes for college students

Follow these steps when writing your college student resume:

1. Firstly, provide your name and contact information

Start your resume by listing your name and contact information at the top of the page. Often, this information is centered on the page and separate from the rest of the content by a blank space or a line.

2. Secondly, decide what to include on your resume

Make a list of what you want to highlight on your resume. If you already have a specific position in mind, review the job description to get a sense of what the employer is looking for. Then consider how you can demonstrate that you meet those requirements. 

Examples of questions to ask yourself when deciding what to include on your resume:

  • How has my coursework prepared me for this job?
  • Are there any specific courses or projects that I should mention?
  • What skills do I possess that would be useful in this job?
  • Have I received any awards or participated in any activities that speak to my character or abilities?
  • How have my experiences and past employment prepared me for this job?

3. Next, use a resume template and resume example as a guide

Once you know what you want to include, you can use a template and example to create your resume. Fill out each section of the template with your relevant information, using the example as a guide. Start with the resume summary, as this is often the most important section for a college student resume.

4. Finally, add other sections as needed

If you lack professional experience, you may need to be a little more creative in what you include. However, a lack of experience won’t disqualify you from most entry-level positions. You can use extracurricular activities, academic projects, community service and other life experiences to demonstrate that you’re a good fit, so add other sections to your resume as needed to highlight your best attributes and most relevant experiences.

College student resume template

Here is a template you can use as a guide when writing your resume:

[Your Name]
[Street Address, City, State Zip Code]
[email@domain.com]
[Phone Number]

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

[Use this section to summarize your skills, education and experience in paragraph form. Aim for three sentences or 30-40 words. You do not have to use complete sentences, but this is a good opportunity to showcase your communication skills.]

EDUCATION

[Name of University], [City, State] | [Degree or Program Name] | [Dates attended]

  • [GPA] cumulative GPA
  • Minors in [list minors]
  • Expected graduation, if applicable [Month and Year]

EXPERIENCE

[Organization], [City, State] | [Job title or role] | [Dates of employment]

  • [Description of responsibilities and accomplishments]
  • [Description of responsibilities and accomplishments]

SKILLS

  • [Brief description of applicable skill]
  • [Brief description of relevant certification]

HONORS

  • [Title of Award] | [Awarding Institution] | [Date]
  • [Title of Honor] | [Awarding Institution] | [Date]

ACTIVITIES

[Name of Activity] | [Name of School or Organization] | [Dates]

  • [Brief description of responsibilities or experience]
  • [Brief description of accomplishments]

College student resume example

Here is an example of a resume for a college student:

Lauren Cho
322 Maple Avenue
Forest, VA 24551
lauren.cho@email.com | 555-555-5555

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Highly motivated graduate-level marketing student at West Virginia University with experience as a marketing intern. Strong communication skills, software literacy and business knowledge. Passionate about helping quality brands reach a younger audience through social media.

EDUCATION

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV | Master of Science in integrated marketing communications | 2019 – Present

  • 3.8 cumulative GPA
  • Specialization in digital and social media marketing
  • Expected graduation August 2021

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV | Bachelor of Arts in multidisciplinary studies | 2015 – 2019

  • 4.0 cumulative GPA
  • Minors in professional writing and editing, business administration and marketing

EXPERIENCE

Agency 86, Charleston, WV | Marketing Intern | Summer 2019

  • Assisted in the development of local and national marketing campaigns for clients
  • Managed the Instagram profile for Agency 86, growing our audience from 500 to 5,000 followers
  • Developed marketing materials for clients in the retail, hospitality and healthcare industries

Brookfield Animal Shelter, Brookfield, WV | Volunteer Coordinator | Fall 2018 – Summer 2019

  • Coordinated volunteer schedules
  • Planned three fundraising events that raised a combined total of $5,000
  • Designed, printed and distributed promotional materials to encourage donations and pet adoptions

SKILLS

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud applications
  • Fluent in Spanish
  • Strong time management and organization skills

HONORS

  • Dean’s List | West Virginia University | Fall 2015 – Spring 2019
  • Peter S. Borsay Memorial Scholarship | West Virginia University | Spring 2016 – Fall 2018
  • President’s Volunteer Service Award | WVU Center for Service and Learning | Spring 2018
  • Atlantic Media Fellowship | Atlantic Media | Spring – Fall 2020

ACTIVITIES

Policy Debate Team | West Virginia University | Spring 2016 – Fall 2018

  • Team captain during senior year
  • Placed second at regional championships in 2017