<p>Is there a specific manner that we should format our resume if we are to attach/upload one? Thanks in advance for the advice! :)</p>
<p>I’m curious as well.</p>
<p>There isnt a set format for an attached resume, but it would be best if you can make one which lets the reader quickly see what activities you were involved in. Remember colleges only have a few minutes to look at your entire application – let alone your resume.</p>
<p>To answer your question, the format I used was a set of tables each for a specific type of activity (ie. Sports, Awards, Volunteering) and then, each table is divided into a number of columns. The activity (obviously lol), the grades in which I was involved, any leadership positions, the hours I spent on it, and the last column – a quick 2-3 bullet description of each activity.</p>
<p>If the activity is something simple like “Car-wash” there is no need to include a description because this will only lead to confusion and wasted time. But if you said you studied abroad or something, it would be best to include a description – What you did, who’d you go with, anything you learned, etcetc.</p>
<p>Remember, I think a common misconception for a resume is not to show a boring list of what you have done, but to highlight your most important personal activities and achievements. </p>
<p>When you finish, it would be great to show it to a friend and ask them if within a short amount of time, they can see what you want the colleges to see. By taking out all the excess information and stripping it down to the most important, you give admission officers more time to spend on other aspects of your application.</p>
<p>If you really feel the need to expand on a certain activity beyond the scope of a resume, you can include it in your essays or supplements.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>ballpointpen, your comment was really useful! Plenty of good points. May I ask why you choose to use tables as opposed to something else?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend attaching a resume. It comes off a little pretentious, and college admission officers really won’t have the time to give it the attention you’d want. Besides, it’s better to have a few focused ECs, then ten random ones. Of course, do what you feel is best. :)</p>
<p>@Ignite7</p>
<p>I used a table because it easily organizes the information. Another way to organize your activities would be in bullets. However, in my opinion a well organized table is the most useful. Let me give an example:</p>
<p>If the admission officer was to glance at a list of bullets, he/she would have to go down the list, read the details, see the hours, etcetc. By the time they get to the bottom, they’ll be pretty bored lol. </p>
<p>However, with a table (for example), all they have to do is glance at the left column for the name of the activity, the center for all the hours, and the right column for the all the descriptions. Its very simple, intuitive, and extremely organized. A quick glance will inform them of all your activities.</p>
<p>Hope this helps again!</p>
<p>@999999</p>
<p>I somewhat agree. However, for my application I attached a resume because the names of my activities do not adequately explain what they are. By including more information, while it may seem “pretentious” – it does inform admission officers exactly what I was up to for the last four years. </p>
<p>Of course, if they just want an outline, then the common application will suffice. If they want a bit more detail or further explanation, the extra resume is always there to “fill the gap.”</p>
<p>Nice to hear your opinion though!</p>
<p>ballpointpen, thank you for you response! I’ve got to admit that because of you I’m going to go back and redraft my resume. If you could extend your generosity a bit more to help me better visualize what you did, would you mind sending me an example of how you did it? I’d really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Or maybe you could write about your activities in your essay? Or better yet, have one of your recommendations be from a teacher or advisor who supervised those activities. I’m definitely not trying to belittle you, I’m just saying, it carries significantly more weight if you have an adult fill in the gap, rather than just another piece of paper written by the applicant. I’m only trying to help. This is the advice I was given from an admissions officer at Princeton. Of course, my experience could be different than yours. :)</p>
<p>Either way. best of luck!</p>
<p>@Ignite7</p>
<p>Sure! I’ll be glad to send you an example of what I did. I’ll PM you sometime later today</p>
<p>@999999 </p>
<p>I agree, and I am certainly writing about one of my extracurricular activities in my essay.</p>
<p>However, in my opinion, its better to include more than less. What if the admission officer wants to know a little more about your 5th extracurricular activity? A little more detail here and there would necessitate a supplemental sheet. He/She doesnt have to look at it, its just there to clear any confusion and (maybe support the applicant’s activities). If an applicant had a recommendation for every activity, it would be too tedious to read every single one. A simple chart with some additional detail is much more effective.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I do see your point, and I will certainly keep that in mind. Thanks for your input!</p>
<p>Haha you’re definitely correct as well. I hope it works out well for you! :)</p>
<p>would you mind to PM the resume to me too ballpointpen</p>