An expanded, detailed student resume is strongly recommended for student applying to the University of Texas. It is also required for application to the UT Honors Program.
College student résumés are not professional one- or two-page résumés that applicants typically submit for jobs. College résumés are different. For UT, and for most universities that allow for a paper résumé, the résumé can be as long as the applicant chooses. The formatting and page length also doesn’t matter as long as it is organized and free of errors. Here, the content is what counts.
You should still thoroughly complete the extracurricular activities and résumé sections (page 7) on the Apply Texas application. UT recommends that students also submit the “expanded résumé” through their Document Upload System online after they submit Apply Texas application to UT.
How long should my resume be?
Your resume should be as long as it takes to clearly describe your activities outside of the high school classroom. A two or three-page resume is fine if that’s what’s necessary to clearly describe your activities. This is NOT a place to be overly concise.
It’s very important to emphasize here that your expanded resume should be VERY thorough and detailed, making the activity, your duties, responsibilities, and the time you spent at the activity crystal clear. The expanded resume absolutely need NOT be limited to one page.
What should my resume include?
The actvities on your resume include school activities such as orchestra, band, student government, student newspaper, year book, debate and school clubs (from robotics to French).
In addition, you should include any hobbies that claim your time, from cycling to photography, and from piano to clogging. Include your activity in private, community or civic clubs, religious organizations, volunteer and charity groups, Scouting, internships, political action groups and any other activities in which you’re engaged.
What level of detail is appropriate?
- Your resume should describe the activity if it isn’t crystal clear from the name alone. Example: Everyone knows the Girl Scouts, but the purpose of a group called the “Young Enthusiasts’ Organization” isn’t self-evident. Include a brief description of a club’s or an activity’s purpose and goals if it’s not well known.
- Your resume should clearly define your role in the activity or organization AND the number of hours you dedicated to the activity (by the week and also total by semester or year). If you held a leadership role, you should specify whether or not it was an elected position and your duties. Don’t assume that noting “president” or even “treasurer” completely clarfies the expecations of the group or what you actually did in the role.
What’s the difference between a record of activities and an expanded resume?
An activity note:
XYZ soccer team 5hrs/wk for grades 11, 12
An EXPANDED statement:
Captain of the XYZ soccer team 5 hrs/wk for grade 11, 12
-Elected (or Assigned) position
-Arrive early and work with the coach to get practices started
-Mentor new team members
-Assist with equipment
-Lead warm-up drills
More information about the submission of the expanded student resume on the UT website:
