What are the best resume templates for high school to college applications?

I'm currently working on my resume for college applications and want it to look professional. What are some great templates or examples out there specifically geared towards high school students applying to college?

Creating an effective resume for college applications as a high school student is definitely a crucial task. The aim is to make sure it's easy to read, well-organized, and highlights your accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and relevant experiences.

Here are a few general structures of high school resume templates you could consider:

1. Basic chronological template: This is the most traditional and commonly used format. It starts by listing your contact information at the top, followed by an objective or summary. After that, you deal with education, listing your high school(s) and expected graduation date. Then, detail your experiences, in reverse chronological order (i.e., most recent first), divided into relevant sections like "Work Experience", "Volunteering", "Extracurricular Activities", "Awards and Honors", and "Skills".

2. Academic-focused template: If there's a heavy academic spin to your application or you're applying to highly academic programs, consider an academic-focused template. This template will place more emphasis on your curriculum rigor, GPA, class rank, relevant coursework, and academic achievements. This type of resume might also include sections for research projects, publications, or academic competitions.

3. Skills-based template: For those who have a number of varied experiences that don't easily fit into a chronological format, you might consider a skills or competency-based template, where you can group your experiences under skill headings (e.g., Leadership, Communication, Research) and then explain which experiences helped you develop each highlighted skill.

4. Extracurricular-focused template: If you're a student involved in many leadership roles and activities outside of class, this template will best display your commitment and accomplishments. After the basic contact and education information, it primarily categorizes information based on activity involvement, like athletics, clubs, or community service and emphasizes leadership positions, time committed, and skills gained through these activities.

Regardless of the template you choose, remember to keep it to one page in length, use a clean, easily readable font, and ensure your content is proofread and free of grammatical errors or typos. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for admissions officers to quickly understand your accomplishments and activities. Remember to tailor your resume to your strengths and keep the college's values in mind when deciding what information to include.