How can a high school student craft an impressive resume for college applications?

I'm in the process of preparing my college applications, and I know a good resume is key. I'm a high school junior, so I'm not sure what I should include to make my resume stand out. What kinds of things do colleges look for on a high school student's resume? Are there any templates or tips you would recommend for structuring it? Should I include everything, or is there such a thing as too much information? Any advice on how to highlight extracurriculars or leadership roles would be awesome!

In creating an impressive resume for your college applications, there are several factors to consider, and each plays a critical role in showcasing your strengths and achievements.

1. Academics: Include your GPA (if it's strong), AP classes, honors, or other challenging courses. Remember, the focus is on showing that you're a dedicated student who isn't afraid to push boundaries.

2. Extracurriculars: Break down your extracurriculars into the four tiers, which gives an idea of the activity’s prestige and how committed you are to the activity. For Tier 1 and 2 activities, go more in-depth and show your exceptional achievement and leadership. For Tier 3 and 4, show your commitment and interest. Always remember, your involvement quality is more important than the quantity.

3. Leadership Roles: Highlight any leadership roles you've held, such as being a club president or a team captain, indicating what tasks you were responsible for and how you positively impacted the team or organization.

4. Work Experience/Internships: If you've participated in internships or have work experience, list them in detail. Explain your responsibilities, what you learned, and how these experiences contributed to your development.

5. Awards & Recognition: Mention any academic awards, sports achievements, or public recognitions you've received.

6. Skills: List any unique skills that are relevant to your application — whether that’s proficiency in multiple languages, software, or something else.

7. Community Service: Reflect on your commitment towards volunteering and community service. Highlight the projects you've been involved in and your contribution.

Remember that while it's tempting to include every achievement or experience, it's crucial to keep your resume concise and focused. Typically, a high school student's resume should not exceed two pages.

As for structure, it helps to have clear chronological headings for each section: education, extracurricular activities, work experience, awards, skills, and community service. Be as specific as possible in your descriptions: the goal is to let the reader know your role and impact.

Lastly, about templates, ensure the template you use is clear, clean, and professional-looking, and emphasizes readability. The focus should be on your accomplishments, not decorative fonts or colors. You can find plenty of basic resume templates online or in word processing software.