college activities resume examples

How to Write an Activities Résumé for College Applications

Reviewed and edited by Tyson Schritter : 28 March, 2024.

When you apply to colleges , it’s important to highlight whatever qualities will set you apart. Most college applications will require your transcripts, an essay, and an activities résumé , each of which are your opportunity to emphasize your accomplishments and proudly exhibit what you bring to the table.

Your activities résumé especially gives college admissions officers a quick yet comprehensive glimpse into who you are as a person, not just as a student. This is your time to shine, so be thoughtful and thorough as you compile the information you want colleges to see.

Resumes are not just for job seekers in the career world . As a student, a well-executed college résumé has the ability to set your application apart and give you a competitive edge. Colleges of Distinction has mustered up some important points for you to include as well as some extra tips to consider as you’re writing.

What to Put on a College Résumé

Aside from your contact information, which should be clearly visible at the top of the document, you will want to provide the following information on your extracurricular activities resume:

The name of your high school and anticipated graduation date
Cumulative, weighted GPA
Academic awards, publications, honors, or recognitions
Class rank (if it is available and will add value to your application)
Summer programs, internships, or college courses not otherwise listed in your transcript
Extracurricular activities – see below for examples
Community service or Volunteer activities
Job experience and Leadership positions
Special skills (proficiency in American Sign Language, Adobe Photoshop, etc.)

Extracurricular Activities for Your College Resume

Here are 7 example of extracurriculars you can add to your resume but don’t limit yourself to just these:

Academic clubs
Professional Society
Sports Team or Intramural Sports Club
Arts Organizations
Habitat for Humanity

Tips for Compiling Your Résumé

Be specific..

You do not want simply to submit a general list of activities on a resume. Colleges pay close attention to specific details, especially those that emphasize your commitment to what you’re involved in.

Explain your specific role in that which you have participated, giving details about the amount of time you committed, leadership positions you have held, and any special contributions you made during your tenure (organizing the inaugural annual fundraiser for an animal shelter, being a founding member of your high school’s improv comedy club, etc.).

Be concise.

Some colleges will provide a space on their application in which to input information regarding each of the categories listed above. In this case, you will likely be allotted set amount of characters for each answer.

No matter how short or long your descriptions on the application are, however, you nevertheless want to ensure that the points on your activities résumé are as succinct as possible. Résumés are most effective when kept short at just one page in length. Remember: admissions officers may have to read thousands of applications.

To be memorable, you need to make clear, quick points so that you don’t lose their attention. You might be tempted to think that, the more of your history they have, the better. But this is exactly where the phrase “less is more” rings true!

Some Recommendations…

Be selective about the information you include in your activities résumé. If you were only a part of the French Club for one semester as a sophomore, there is no need to mention it. Colleges only want to know about the activities to which you were committed.
If a college explicitly asks not to provide activities résumé, be respectful of the request and only submit the necessary information.
Format your résumé in a way that is clear and easy to read. There’s no need to over-stylize—use a simple font that allows you to make your name, headings, and dates pop out.
Provide a copy of your activities résumé to your teachers, coaches, school counselors , or whomever else you may ask for a letter of recommendation . This way, they can easily recall your accomplishments and reference them in their letter.

Activities Résumé Template

We’ve provided a résumé example below to help you know how to get started! Take note of how concise it is as well as how clearly the information is presented.

Yo ur resume for college application is not the place for modesty. Be proud, not shy, of your accomplishments!

Your activities résumé will provide a snapshot of who you are and all the dedication and passion your potential colleges should know about you. Looking for more? Check out our other tips for college prep on the advice section of our website. We at Colleges of Distinction are excited to see you thrive and will be here to assist you along the way!

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With an impressive fifteen-year tenure as a member of the Colleges of Distinction qualification and research team, Tyson has extensively toured campuses nationwide and conducted interviews with their staff. This wealth of experience is clearly reflected in the insightful resource articles he contributes to Colleges of Distinction. His written work has been featured on reputable platforms such as Huffington Post, Higher Ed Revolution, and Campus News. His writing has appeared on Huffington Post , Higher Ed Revolution, and ECampusNews.

Notably, he is also the author of “ Reaching Beyond Rankings: How to Use College Evaluation Systems to Find Your Dream School “. Tyson’s multifaceted expertise, blending hands-on campus assessment and extensive writing, underscores his commitment to helping students navigate the complexities of college selection and find their ideal educational fit.

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40 Activities To Put On Your Activities Resume For College

By: Author Kelly Clark

Posted on Last updated: September 11, 2023

Categories College

As you get ready to start thinking of college , you may be wondering what else you can put on your resume to impress the admissions offices on your college applications.

A big answer to that question would be school clubs. If you’ve never joined a school club or after school activity before, don’t worry, there is still time. This year can be the year that all changes for you.

I know it can seem daunting, especially if you go to a big school with a ton of different club options. That’s why I’ll be breaking it all down for you in this post. We’ll talk about what a college resume is and why college admissions like seeing clubs, activities, and experience on your resume.

Why Should You Have a College Resume?

Creating a college resume (also known as a curriculum vitae or CV) is a great way to showcase your achievements, skills, and experiences to potential colleges or employers.

It’s very similar to a traditional resume. It gives college admissions officers an overview of your experience and skills but also highlights your passions and interests.

As a caveat, do not feel like you have to go over the top for this! Stick to your interests, what you know, love, and are most passionate about. Use a personal story to connect with a college representative – this is typically more powerful than professional experience.

Here are some key sections and tips to consider when putting together your college resume:

Phone number (make sure it has a professional voicemail message)
Email address (use a professional one, not a nickname or informal address)
LinkedIn profile (if applicable and professional)
A brief statement about your career or educational goals.
List your high school name, location, and graduation date (or expected graduation date).
Include your GPA if it’s strong (above 3.0).
Class rank if it is high (in the top 10).
Any perfect or strong test scores.
Mention any honors, awards, or relevant coursework.
Scholarships, academic awards, honors, or any special recognition.
Clubs, sports teams, student government, volunteer work, or any other activities outside of regular coursework.
Highlight leadership roles and responsibilities.
Paid jobs, part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work.
Include the organization, your role, and dates of employment.
Highlight specific accomplishments or responsibilities.
Technical skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency).
Language proficiency.
Soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership skills and roles, teamwork).
Any significant academic or personal projects, research work, or independent studies.
Relevant certifications or courses completed (e.g., First Aid, CPR, programming courses).
Any recognition you’ve received that is relevant to your application.
If you have written articles, presented research, or participated in any public speaking events.
This can provide insight into your personality and interests outside of academics and extracurriculars.
Optionally, you can include references or mention that they are available upon request. Be sure to ask permission from your references first.

Use the bullet points above as a resume template/resume example on how to start your own resume.

If you in your freshman year, a good tip is for high school students to write down everything they participate in. Keep a journal too, as you can draw on these experiences as a rising college student to enrich your school applications and even scholarship applications.

Why Are Activities Good For Your Resume

Admission Sight discusses multiple reasons why college admissions like seeing extracurricular activities on your resume. Here are a few of those reasons.

Shows your personality: Clubs give you a chance to express yourself and colleges like to see how you are going to fit on their campus. By showing off your personality on your resume you are showing them that you’ll make the most of your college experience.
Shows initiative: Many activities and school clubs require initiative when it comes to things that you’ll do while in the club. From planning events, accepting leadership positions, or speaking up in meetings, these clubs give you those opportunities. Colleges like to hear about those.
Shows consistency: The majority of these clubs meet on certain days, or a certain amount of times, Joining these gives you practice with consistency. That is a trait that colleges look for because they want to know that you will be consistent with your classes.
Proves you know how to manage your time wisely: Juggling classes, extracurricular activities, social life, and more is what college is all about. Showing that you can do that in high school will go a long way for admissions officers.

Why does an activities resume for college strengthen your application?

Creating an activities resume for college can be highly beneficial for several reasons:

Comprehensive Overview : An activities resume provides a concise and organized snapshot of your achievements, skills, and experiences outside of academics. It complements your academic transcript and gives admissions officers a more well-rounded view of who you are.
Highlighting Strengths and Accomplishments : It allows you to showcase your accomplishments, leadership roles, and involvement in extracurricular activities. This can be particularly important if you have excelled in areas beyond academics.
Demonstrating Commitment : It shows your dedication and commitment to various pursuits. Long-term involvement in clubs, organizations, or community service projects can demonstrate a strong work ethic and passion for certain interests.
Differentiation : It helps you stand out from other applicants. A well-crafted activities resume can help distinguish you in a competitive pool of applicants, especially if you have unique or notable accomplishments.
Illustrating Skills and Talents : Your activities may have helped you develop valuable skills like leadership, teamwork, time management, communication, and problem-solving. These are qualities that colleges value in their students.
Providing Context for Achievements : Sometimes, accomplishments need context to be fully appreciated. An activities resume allows you to explain the significance of certain achievements or experiences.
Showcasing Diversity : It allows you to demonstrate a diverse range of interests and talents. This can be important for colleges that value a well-rounded student body.
Helping with Scholarships and Financial Aid : Some scholarships or financial aid opportunities may require you to submit a resume along with your application. Having one ready can streamline the application process for these opportunities.
Preparing for Interviews : If you’re asked for an interview as part of the application process, your activities resume can serve as a useful reference point for discussing your accomplishments and experiences.
Setting Goals and Planning Ahead : The process of creating an activities resume encourages you to reflect on your high school experiences and think about your goals and aspirations. It can be a useful exercise for personal development and future planning.
Networking and Job Applications : Beyond college applications, having a well-organized activities resume can be useful for internships, job applications, and even scholarship applications in the future.

Overall, an activities resume is a powerful tool that helps you present a holistic picture of yourself as a candidate, showcasing your strengths, interests, and contributions beyond just academic achievements.

What Types Of Activities Are Available To You

There are a multitude of different options when it comes to clubs and activities that you can join. These are the broader categories and down below you’ll find the whole list.

If you don’t see something that you are interested in offered at your school, don’t give up. Talk to an administrator or teacher and see if there is a way to bring your idea to the school you attend.

Here are some types of activities you might list:

Sports: Different schools have different types of sport offerings. If you enjoy a certain one, see if your school offers it then check out when tryouts are.
Vocational Clubs: These clubs are focused on different types of careers. They’ll get you started in learning about that field. Then you can determine if that is a career path you want to go down.
Academic Clubs: If you enjoy a certain subject in school, there may be a club dedicated to it. Talk with your teacher to see if there is, or if it’s possible to start one.
Service Activities: These clubs are great for you if you enjoy helping others and would like to do it more often.
Hobbies: This is where clubs can really vary from school to school. Hobby clubs are fun because you know everyone there loves the same thing as you do. For these clubs you’ll definitely want to check to see what’s available, but also don’t be afraid to start your own club. Talk with a teacher or school administrator to get started.

40+ Activities To Put On Your Resume For College

We’ve arrived at the list of activities to put on your resume for college. This is by no means a complete list. However, I did try to put as much variety as I could on here.

If you have other clubs at your school feel free to comment them down below! Any extracurricular activity and relevant experience could be worth adding to your resume.

Cheerleading

Vocational Clubs

DECA (a marketing club)
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
Photography Club
Newspaper Club
Architecture Club

Academic Clubs

National Honor Society
Mathletes
Debate Club
History Club
Spelling Bee
Science Club
Foreign Language Clubs

Service Activities

Tutoring Club
Habitat for Humanity
Recycling Club
Community service
Volunteer experience
Yearbook Club
Robotics Club
Knitting Club
Fashion Club
Gaming Club
Running Club
Dancing Club
Cooking Club
American Sign Language Club
Gay-Straight Alliance Club
Model UN Club
Student Government Association (SGA)
List any special skills
Language skills

If you can tie these activities or a specific accomplishment to your field of study, it will strengthen your resume even further.

What You Can Learn From After School Activities That Will Prepare You For College

To really drive this point home, I wanted to share some of the benefits of clubs and how they will prepare you for your college experience.

What You’re Passionate About

Joining clubs in high school will help you discover what your passions are. You could find a new hobby, a cause that speaks to your soul, and maybe even what you want to major in when you go to college. That’s some big things that you can miss out on by not joining in.

The Importance Of Keeping Up Your Grades

In high school, just like college, your grades obviously come first. If you start failing classes you won’t be able to participate in after-school activities. Therefore, these clubs teach you the importance of keeping up your grades.

School Isn’t The Whole Experience

Don’t get me wrong, school is extremely important, but the lessons you learn outside of school hold about the same weight as well. There are so many things I learned from getting involved in after-school activities that made my school experience that much better.

In my opinion, I feel like you are missing out on half of your high school experience by not joining in on clubs and activities. Which is why I’m a huge believer in joining them and putting them on your resume for college. It will make your experience more well-rounded.

Letters of Recommendation

When you participate in extra clubs that interest you, you can build relationships with other adults. These relationships can help open doors for you but they are also additional people to ask for letters of recommendation when you need them.

My Personal Experience With Clubs In High School

When I was in high school I was the girl that couldn’t get enough of the extracurricular activities. I joined academic clubs, vocational clubs, and a few in between.

A lot of the memories I have from high school are from the clubs that I joined. These organizations brought me out of my shell and got me ready for my college experience. They can do that for you too.

Final Thoughts on Creating an Activities Resume For College

Showcasing your activities and how those skills and experience translate to your professional goals and connecting to the college admissions office through personal experience will surely strengthen your college application.

Will you be joining any clubs this year? If so, which ones?

About the Author

Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.

Website: budding-joy.com

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5 Steps for Creating an Outstanding Activity Resume

Updated: Jul 10

When deciding whether to admit you, colleges consider your extracurricular activities. The best way to showcase your activities is with an activity résumé that highlights your talents and strengths. An activity résumé organizes information you will need to complete your college applications. Some colleges invite you to attach an activity résumé to your application. It can also be given to your recommenders and college interviewers. Most scholarship applications require an activity résumé. Colleges want to know how you spend your time.

Here are five steps for creating an outstanding high school activity resume.

1. List Everything

To begin, make a list of everything you have done since the summer before 9th grade. Look around your home and check your computer for records of activities, such as a brochure for a summer camp, or a schedule for virtual club meetings. List activities of all types, including independent work and work performed to help your family at home.

2. Categorize

After you have a list, group similar and related activities together. The most common categories are:

Extracurriculars, such as school clubs, performing and visual arts, writing, academic research, math and science competitions, speech and debate

Volunteer and community service

Summer experiences

Your categories will be unique to you. For example, a student who focuses on music may not have an athletics category and other students might not have a paid work category. It’s not necessary to have every possible type of activity.

3. Prioritize

Prioritize your activities by putting those most important to you highest in order on the list within each category. For example, if you are a member of your school’s robotics team, write about robotics for the school newspaper, and independently research robotics, cluster those activities together near the top of your list under “extracurriculars.” That way, the reader can easily see what is important to you.

4. Describe

Clearly and briefly describe each activity. Here is the type of information to include in your descriptions:

The year in school you participated in the activity stated in descending chronological order—example: 11, 10, 9

The hours per week and the number of weeks per year you participated—example: 6 hours per week/30 weeks per year

Organization name—example: National Honor Society or school newspaper

Your role—example: president, member, volunteer, and specifically what you do

Your role is the most important part of the description. Start with your position—captain, editor, or volunteer. Describe your growth in the activity by noting, for example, that you evolved from newspaper writer in 9, to section editor in 10, and editor in 11. If you received any recognition, such as MVP or Rising Star, add that information to your description.

5. Format and Proofread

Your activity résumé is a visual expression of who you are. It should be aesthetically pleasing and clear. Make life easy for your reader!

You can choose any format you like, either an Excel spreadsheet, a table in Word, or a classic résumé format with headings and bullet points. Whichever format you choose, be sure to use a consistent font and bold all headings. Have a header that includes your name, your school, the city and state where your school is located, and your email address.

Carefully read every line of your résumé. It is easy to make mistakes when you are compressing so much information into a single form. Neatness counts when teachers, interviewers, and colleges read your activity résumé, so proofread it. Finally, when you’re absolutely sure everything is perfect, convert your document to a PDF.

Traditionally, what you do in school, your activities, define you—a scientist, an athlete, a musician. Engagement in activities takes time and energy, but It’s worth the effort for many reasons, not the least of which is the positive impact an activity résumé can have in the college admission process.

At College Choice Counseling®, our counselors and tutors are here to help you with college counseling , college essay and application help , test prep tutoring , and academic subject tutoring .

Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you with your activity résumé!