How to Incorporate Classes Into a College Resume

Your classes can be a powerful asset on a college resume

Creating a college resume gives you experience in writing a resume, and it can help you gain admission into college or land your first few jobs or internships as a college student. College resumes differ from standard resumes in a number of respects, but one of the most obvious is that in a college resume your education is usually highlighted above every other category, and is therefore placed at or near the top of the page, unless you have already acquired extensive career-related work experience.

Instructions

1. List classes by school beginning with the one that you are currently attending. If you are in high school, do not list classes that you took in middle school. If you are a freshman or sophomore in college you may list classes you took in high school although employers tend to be more interested what you have accomplished in college.

2. Lead with your most impressive accomplishment. For some people, that will be their GPA or standardized test scores while for others it will be their participation in honors programs.

3. Split coursework into categories. Under the relevant school, you may list any honors program or Advanced Placement courses that you are taking or have completed. You may also develop a category called ''related coursework'' where you list courses you have taken that are relevant to future coursework if you are applying to college or that are related to a specific job. When listing coursework, use the class titles.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a major GPA above 3.0 you may choose to include it even if your overall GPA is lower. You may also include a customized GPA that reflects your abilities in certain areas relevant to the purpose of your resume.

• Generally, if your GPA is below 3.0 you should not include it on your resume.

References

• Getmetocollege.org; Communicating Your Experiences: Ten Tips for Creating a Powerful College Application Resume; Rebecca Joseph, Ph.D.; 2010
• University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown: How to Write a Resume for Internships, Co-op Positions, Summer, or Part-time Jobs
• Career Services at Princeton University; Resume FAQ; 2010