What should transfer students include on their college admissions resume?

I'm preparing my resume for a transfer application. How should it differ from what I submitted as a freshman application? Any tips on making it stand out?

As a transfer student, your college admissions resume can benefit from a few key changes to reflect your progress since high school. Keep in mind that admission officers will be particularly interested in what you've accomplished during your time in college. They will want to see how you have utilized and contributed to your current college community, as well as how you may continue to do so at their institution.

1. Prioritize Higher Education Information: Focus more on your college experiences than high school experiences. Include the name of your current institution, your major, your GPA (if it's strong), and relevant coursework. If you're part of any college clubs, organizations, or teams, make sure to mention your role and any notable achievements. This doesn't mean you should completely eliminate your high school information, but it should take a backseat to your college information.

2. Update Your Work Experience: If you've had internships or part-time jobs since starting college, these should be included. Detail your job title, the company or organization name, your duration there, and what your responsibilities were. Be sure to highlight any significant projects, accomplishments, or skills acquired.

3. Highlight Your Community Involvement: This can include volunteering, service trips, leadership roles, initiatives you've spearheaded, or community-based work-study programs that you've been a part of. Community involvement demonstrates your engagement and shows that you take initiative.

4. Emphasize Any Academic Progress: If you've made significant strides in your academics while at your current institution, make note of this. This could be boosting your GPA, earning a spot on the Dean's List, completing challenging coursework, or even simply declaring a major or focus of study.

5. Showcase Any Research or Independent Projects: If you've been a part of any college-level research projects, include these, with brief descriptions of your role and the project's objectives. Likewise, if you've pursued any independent studies or major class projects that showcase your skills and interests, those can also be included.

6. Include Certifications or Additional Training: If you've obtained any certifications or undergone additional training relevant to your academic focus, these can be advantageous to point out.

7. Refine Your Format: Keep your resume concise (ideally one page), prioritize the most relevant information, and use bullet points to keep your content easily readable. A professional, neat format with plenty of white space will be more appealing to admission officers.

Remember, a resume is a living document that should grow and change as you do. Every so often you should review and revise it, keeping the content fresh and relevant to where you are in your academic journey.