I keep hearing 2 things. Resumes should only be one page and resumes should be no more than 2 pages???
One page
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Two pages is ok, especially if it includes your HS activities and a skills section. IMO of course
Most colleges don’t want resumes from you, only send that to colleges that specifically say it’s ok to send/upload.
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Quality over quantity.
Submitting any optional resume that simply duplicates the info in the application is a bad idea. Submitting any resume to get around the word limit is a bad idea.
If there is a legitimate need to submit, it would be the very rare 17 year old that needs more than one page. And even those very rare exceptions need no more than 2. And my guess is those rare exceptions are not in CC
Other exceptions exist for required resumes, eg an athletic resume, which have their own format
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I have a two page CV, but it’s only because I list research and clinical trials. I would think it would he tough for a student to have enough resume worthy achievements to need two pages. Work on your formatting and cull soft content.
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For submitting a resume to colleges, you need to avoid duplication. You have activities sections in the common app for example. There is no point in listing the same again in a resume.
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Ditto. As a hiring manager, I can’t remember the last time I saw a 1 page resume. With requisite publications, certifications, and skills, it’s nearly impossible to stick to 1 page in the workforce, and the guidance to do so is fairly outdated. The guidance to be concise and targeted is NOT outdated, however. I would be surprised if a high school student couldn’t carefully condense their experience to one page, but I can imagine there might be outliers. I wouldn’t dismiss such outliers out of hand.
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A resume that simply duplicates activities in a list is fairly useless. There are ways to structure a more functional resume, though, to highlight specific project work and skills in a way the Common App activities list doesn’t do. The same activities would be presented in a different way. This might be analogous to a skills-based resume vs. a chronological essay in the workforce, and perhaps might be useful if a student is applying to a technical program. I’m obviously no expert, but I can see a potential rationale here.
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The OP specifically mentions submitting resumes to colleges. Anecdotes about your company’s hiring practices are not answering her question.
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I will state the obvious…AOs are extremely busy and stretched. They typically will allocate a finite amount of time to each application. If intrigued perhaps they go further.
If you provide them with redundant info you may distract them from other aspects of the application that present you in a better and broader light.
I would consider all material to be included against this balance of incremental quality vs repetitive quantity. If this means 2/1/none pages for a resume so be it.
Also thankfully the vast majority of the world is much more tolerant and flexible than often portrayed, particularly when evaluating an 18 year old. AOs recognize the diversity of support and experience and won’t “bin you” for well intended missteps. Good luck!!
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Please keep on topic of using resumes for college applications, not business.
As an 18 year old, you shouldn’t have more than a one page resume.
Think about the admissions counselor, how many apps they are reading, and how many personalities they are trying to understand.
Keep it short and sweet. They need to know what you do, quantified if possible, but they don’t need to know every aspect.
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Is this a case where the college is requesting a resume, in addition to the Common App? I would not worry about duplicating things on the application list. My view is that the resume should be comprehensive- as comprehensive as is appropriate for a teen that is. If it goes over one page, so be it. People go to all kinds of lengths to fit a resume on one page, and it doesn’t take that long to read another half page for instance.
Clearly we all have differing views on this. Do what serves you best!
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That’s a good point, which the OP did not make clear. A required resume is one thing; an optional essay is something else.
So I’ll add on to my earlier post. Don’t submit something just because you can.
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If you have been asked, by the college or the department to submit a resume, then submit the resume that focuses on that department’s requirements.
I’m assuming that some of those resumes can cover:
Art Portfolios
Architectural drawings
Performing arts requirements like Musical compositions, try-outs for band, orchestra, cheer, etc.
If the school or department is requesting it, then I would recommend that you contact the department and ask them what they want-1 to 2 pages?
In my business world, it is usually 1 page with a cover letter.
Other occupations may allow for a description of projects.
Ask the university.
My neighbor does admissions for a UC. They do not want any supplemental “resume” information, nor leather-bound vitaes because they just don’t have the room to store these items. It will detract them from their limited time reviewing 10s of thousands of applications.
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@skieurope I think “Quality” (or “Content”) is important in this case, and “Quantity” is not.
As many, including you, mentioned here - it is not clear, if OP’s resume is required to submit their application. It could be required in case of conservatory/music/art school application, or when they submit their application for an art-based merit scholarship.
Two-page resumes are very common for young accomplished musicians and composers, there are a lot of things to be listed and organized/formatted in certain way. And there is often another additional document required, like a separate repertoire list.
I wish @AnnaWentToBed would provide a bit more details in their question.
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