How can I list high school accomplishments on a resume?

I'm trying to put together a resume for college applications and internships. What are some specific ways to list high school accomplishments? Do you guys have any tips or examples on how to showcase them effectively?

Effectively representing your accomplishments on your resume will be an essential skill throughout your life, so it's great that you're already thinking about it. Here are a few tips for listing your high school achievements and some examples to get you started:

1. Organize your resume into sections: Divide your resume into meaningful sections like Education, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership, Honors and Awards, Volunteer Work, and Work Experience. This structured approach makes it easier for readers to identify your various achievements. You may not have all of these sections, which is perfectly fine - in fact, you don't want your resume to look cluttered with a bunch of sections that only have one item under them - but hopefully they help you organize your own relevant experiences.

2. Use bullet points: When describing your accomplishments, use bullet points to make your resume concise and easier to read. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb (e.g., led, managed, organized) to clearly convey the skills and impact you demonstrated.

Example:

Extracurricular Activities:

• Founded and directed school Glee Club; coordinated practices and organized performances for over 50 students.

3. Be specific: Detail your achievements with numbers, percentages, or time frames when possible to quantify the results and make them more impressive.

Example:

Leadership:

• Served as class president for two years, which entailed representing 300 students on the student council and facilitating school-wide events

4. Highlight transferable skills: Emphasize the skills you gained in various experiences that are relevant to your future goals, such as teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and communication.

Example:

Volunteer Work:

• Collaborated with a team of 10 volunteers to organize and run a food drive that collected more than 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food for the local community

5. Showcase honors and awards: Mention any academic or extracurricular recognitions in a separate section. Include the title of the recognition, the organization that granted it, and, if relevant, the year it was received.

Example:

Honors and Awards:

• Received the XYZ Scholarship for Academic Excellence, 2022

• Named Most Valuable Player on school basketball team, 2021

6. Keep it concise: Aim for a one-page resume that includes your most significant and relevant accomplishments. Be selective and prioritize the achievements that relate to your intended major or career path. While you may feel like you have more than that to discuss, one page is standard even for professionals who are much further along in their careers, and you don't want to come across as exaggerating your own achievements.

As you create your resume, remember to tailor it to the specific requirements of each college, internship, or job you apply for. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the particular opportunity, and be prepared to adjust the emphasis as needed.

Good luck with your applications!