Purpose of resumes for admissions?

<p>I am just curious, my daughters counselor places a lot of emphasis on preparing a resume for college. However, I have not seen any college, at least the ones she is considering, require one. Is the resume just supplemental material to provide with the application or is there another purpose? Thanks</p>

<p>Perhaps the resume is a tool that the counselor can review for students and then the students can turn to the resume when working on their applications. If the counselor is providing feedback on essays, the resume may help the counselor understand more about the student and the applications the student will submit. If the school is providing recommendation letters, perhaps the resume helps teachers know a little bit more about the students. Perhaps it is just the first step in helping the student organize his or her thoughts and dreams for the process of considering colleges and gives the counselor an idea of what colleges might be worth recommending.</p>

<p>Having a resume is helpful in a lot of ways as Mrs. Weasley says. It also can include things that don’t seem to fit on the application anywhere. For example, my daughter is interested in languages and culture, so her resume included international travel. Some of the academic programs students do don’t really fit anywhere either. The resume was sent in every application packet the school sent out. Once you get into the process, whatever it is that doesn’t fit will become more apparent.</p>

<p>My college (a Big Ten University) didn’t require a resume for applications, but a resume WAS required for many of the competitive scholarships. So it’s probably a good idea to start working on a resume just in case an opportunity like that comes up. Otherwise, if a resume isn’t requested for an app, I wouldn’t worry about submitting one.</p>

<p>Most colleges don’t require one, but it’s just another way to make your D stand out.</p>

<p>I appreciate everyones feedback, thank you. The hard part is remembering every activity and accomplishment to list on the resume. I should have kept the promise I made to myself after we went through this with my son to keep a journal or log of activities,etc.</p>

<p>No college I am aware of requires a resume. Many colleges even put on their application info on their site that they do not want you to send things not requested including resumes. However, some will accept them and look at them. I have seen before counselors saying they were important and have seen many students who proceed as if they are critical. It all seems to be more fiction than reality.</p>

<p>Depends, really. If your daughter does send in a resume, it should be concise, succinct, kept to one page maximum, and really include only things that she can’t fit on the application and that will set her apart from the rest of the pack.</p>

<p>Regurgitating information on the application, making it longer than a page, making in in 10-pt font or cramming unnecessary information in there will just annoy them instead of impress them.</p>