Hey there, just a stressed junior trying to get everything in order. I'm really interested in attending a military academy post high school. Can anyone advise me on what to include in my resume to make it stand out to the admissions office at a military academy?
Building a resume tailored to a military academy requires showcasing leadership experiences, physical fitness, academic achievements, and community service. Here's how you could structure your resume:
1. Contact Information: Start with your full name, home address, phone number, and email address.
2. Objective: Write a concise statement about your goal to join a military academy and your career aspiration.
3. Academic Achievements: List your GPA, class rank, and any honors or AP courses you've completed. While AP scores aren't a big factor, taking rigorous courses demonstrates academic prowess, which military academies value.
4. Extracurricular Activities & Leadership Experience: Demonstrate your leadership abilities and teamwork skills through extracurricular activities. For example, leading a sports team or holding a prominent role in student government or club activities, as these activities are considered Tier 2 or Tier 3 extracurriculars. Mention any significant outcomes or achievements from your participation.
5. Community Service: Medical, teaching, and social service experiences prolifically highlight your contributions to society, a keen trait military academies look for. Mention leadership roles and successful initiatives within these activities if applicable.
6. Sports and Physical Activities: Emphasize your participation in sports or physical fitness activities. Military academies also value physical fitness as part of their overall evaluations.
7. Work Experience: If you have held part-time jobs or internships, be sure to include them. This displays a good work ethic and time management skills.
8. Awards and Honors: Showcase any significant awards or recognitions you've received.
Remember, accuracy and honesty are critical. Additionally, ensure your resume appears professional - avoid overly fancy fonts or graphics and ensure it is free of errors. Regularly update your resume as you gain more experiences and achievements.
Finally, as with any application process, it's crucial to understand the specific criteria that your chosen academy values. While this is a basic format, military academies may have unique characteristics they look for in applicants, so you should consider customizing your resume based on those parameters.
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