<p>Should a resume stay under a certain length? I have read a few books on applying to college, and some say "1 page" (very hard to stay under 1 page?), some say "no more than 2 pages", and some say to elaborate on what you do in each activity (which could take 10+ pages). I see some people in CC who mention 5-7 page resumes. Is it true that the college prefers a succinct 1-2 page resume and will ignore ones that are longer? My son wrote 4 different drafts: 1 pg, 2 pgs, 3 pgs, and 4 pgs! Would love to hear what you all think. Thanks!</p>
<p>You can google some older threads on this, but the consensus has always been not to go beyond two pages. The reality is that the admission officer is only going to spend so long on an app, because that’s all the time they have and all the time they’re paid for. A resume that’s too long can easily get shoved to the side after a glance, or it can start to detract the reader from the time he spends on other, more important parts of the application, like the essay. </p>
<p>Also, it can appear obnoxious to present a four page resume when adults who have long been in the workforce can summarize their experiences in a page.</p>
<p>Edit: Check past threads for more info
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/372085-how-long-should-personal-resume.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/372085-how-long-should-personal-resume.html</a></p>
<p>Definitely try to limit the resume to one page. Three or four pages is overboard and will likely irritate admissions officers. Chances are, if you have a three or four page resume, many of the activities you are listing will be meaningless to admissions officers. </p>
<p>Many college graduates and job applicants are able to limit their resume to one page, so a high school senior should also be able to limit their resume to one page.</p>