Writing a resume in high school can feel awkward. You might be thinking: “I’ve never had a real job—what am I supposed to put on here?”

But here’s the secret: nobody expects you to have a stacked resume at 16 or 17. What employers, colleges, and scholarship reviewers are looking for is potential. They want to see your willingness to learn, contribute, and take initiative.

Here are 9 strategies to help you make your high school resume shine, even for opportunities that might feel competitive:

1. Lead With Education and Coursework

Your education is your strongest foundation in high school, so put it front and center. List your high school, graduation year, GPA, and class rank (if available). Be sure to highlight advanced coursework such as AP, IB, Honors, or dual-enrollment classes.

If you can provide details, go for it. Here is an example: “Developed a 12-page research paper on climate change for AP Environmental Science.”

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2. Showcase Extracurricular Activities

Admissions officers want to see how you use your time outside of class. These can be things like:

• Clubs (debate, robotics, drama, Model UN)
• Sports teams (even JV or intramurals count)
• Student council or leadership roles

Instead of just listing: “Soccer team," give more description: “Varsity Soccer, 3 years—balanced 10+ hours of weekly practices and games while maintaining a 3.7 GPA.”

This shows time management and commitment, both qualities colleges value.

3. Highlight Volunteer Work and Community Service

Volunteer experience demonstrates compassion and initiative. Here are some examples you can reference for your resume:

• “Volunteered 40+ hours at the local animal shelter, assisting with care and adoption events.”
• “Tutored middle school students in math weekly, helping them improve test scores by 10%.”

4. Include Work Experience (Paid or Unpaid)

Even part-time jobs, babysitting, lawn mowing, or helping at a family business show responsibility. In fact, many colleges encourage this. Even Yale University mentioned this on their admissions officers' podcast!

Here is an example of a resume phrasing idea: “Babysat two children ages 6 and 8 after school, responsible for homework supervision and meal prep.”

5. Emphasize Leadership Roles (Big or Small)

Leadership doesn’t always mean being the president of a club. It could be:

• Starting a new club or project.
• Leading a group presentation.
• Organizing an event or fundraiser.

Here is an example: “Coordinated a charity bake sale that raised $500 for local food bank.”

Leadership roles catch the eye of admissions officers because they show initiative and impact.

6. Showcase Transferable Skills

Colleges love students who bring valuable skills. Think:

• Communication → public speaking, writing, or group projects.
• Technology → video editing, coding, social media marketing.
• Organization → managing deadlines, planning events.

Here is an example that shows that: “Created and managed a personal YouTube channel with 1,000+ subscribers, requiring video editing, social media promotion, and branding.”

7. Add Personal Projects

Independent projects show passion and creativity. By that, it can be anything you truly enjoy doing and learning about. Here are some examples:

• Built a website or coded an app.
• Wrote and self-published a short story.
• Designed digital artwork or ran an Etsy shop.
• Started a podcast or blog.

This section tells colleges that you're not just doing what’s required, but actually like going beyond.

8. Don’t Forget Awards and Achievements

Scholarships, honor roll, academic competitions, or even recognition in sports or arts can set you apart. Even small achievements show dedication and effort, so don't forget about those!

9. Format It for College Readability

Admissions officers skim dozens of resumes daily. Keep yours simple. It should always be one page max, and have clear section headings (Education, Activities, Experience, Skills, Achievements).

I know it can be fun to experiment with different fonts, but it is a good idea to go with an easy-to-read font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman are some solid choices).

A clean, professional layout communicates maturity and preparation.

Final Takeaway

Your high school resume doesn’t have to be filled with internships or fancy job titles. It just needs to highlight how you’ve spent your time, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve made an impact. Good luck!