Resume length?

<p>If you're planning to attach a resume with your application, how long do you think it can be? Is three pages too long?</p>

<p>Two is probably better; you can widen your margins. Some people will even say one, but I know my daughter’s started with three and then was shortened to two. Some things you need to explain.</p>

<p>I’m one of the naysayers MD mom would cite. I always advise one page max. Even a recent college grad would be seen as presumptious with more than one page.</p>

<p>To be frank: your minute details about your ECs aren’t needed by your file readers – who certainly won’t plow thru 3 pp. of your notes.</p>

<p>I’ll go through a stack of 20 resumes (for work) and I’ll glance them over and pre-sort them immediately. No third page ever gets seen by me.</p>

<p>I think that a job resume is different and I would agree with the one page limit.</p>

<p>However, there are some things kids do in high school that don’t fit on any application. DD was interested in studying languages, so her exchange programs and foreign travel were relevant. Likewise, she had been involved in a problem-solving program for seven years and her team had won awards at the state and national level. The program took a great deal of her spare time and was something people would not know. She also had accomplishments in music, sports, and academics, so with all the different categories, it easily filled two pages.</p>

<p>Her college counselor at her high school did tell them to limit it to two pages, but the resume didn’t hurt my daughter’s admissions. She also sent it to the alumni interviewer who had it all highlighted when she walked in to the interview.</p>

<p>I’d go for two pages.</p>

<p>I agree with T26E4 about a work resume only being one page max but a lot of what students do is unique to one school and must be explained to any outsider. Also colleges in a way are looking for a person not a worker. When HR goes through resumes, its looking to see what are their qualifications and a brief check to see whether they’re worth a job interview. </p>

<p>A person reading a college resume and the person interviewing could be two completely different people and so interviews tend not to work out so well explaining what each EC means. A college resume has to explain everything from mission trips and soup kitchens to ninja club and Food Appreciation Society.</p>

<p>In what circumstances would one attach a resume?</p>

<p>@gymnastKaori: it’s for additional information and clarification basically. Some people choose to use it to report additional subject tests and AP scores, but i personally think this is a waste of space – if you want colleges to see these, send them regularly via collegeboard, not on your resume. But the resume is great for explaining unique clubs that are not the norm (such as a club you founded or something) or outline other aspects and accomplishments of your ecs</p>

<p>I wouldn’t go more than one page for ivy leagues/ top colleges</p>

<p>My S is a rising senior and just finished his 3 page resume. He will give this version to his teachers for LORs and will bring it to interviews. The plan is to cut it to 1-2 pages for the application, because a lot of this information will be there anyway.</p>

<p>My daughter used her resume for scholarship applications and her college counselor included it in the packet she sent to colleges. Some of the most competitive schools say not to send any supplemental materials, but many don’t specify anything.</p>

<p>We also kept two versions on the computer: one long with detailed explanations and one short. The long one was useful for adding details to essays during the application process.</p>

<p>Would it be appropriate to explain your responsibilities in a club on a resume?</p>

<p>For Example . .</p>

<p>Newspaper Editor (10, 11, 12)

  • Increased circulation
  • Introduced new sections
  • Completely redid layout and introduced certain techniques</p>

<p>I just made that up. But would it be appropriate, if there was a lot to put, to write that on a resume?</p>

<p>Or even just:</p>

<p>Newspaper Editor (10, 11, 12)

  • Organizing, directing club
  • Writing and editing articles
  • Layout</p>

<p>Waitingforivy–you have the right idea.</p>

<p>A resume should NEVER exceed one page as a student, unless you’ve been working for DECADES.</p>

<p>Google “resume” and look at images/samples/guides.</p>

<p>Sorry, one page tops. You’ll actually alienate your audience if you go to three pages.</p>