Whether you’re applying to university, an internship, a summer program, or your first part-time job, one thing is clear: you’ll need student resumes and CVs. Why are those nouns plural? Because different universities and programs request different items, so you have to prepare both. But more on that later.
If you’re still in school or just starting out, it can be tough to know what to include, what to leave out, or even what the difference is between the two. The truth is, student resumes and CVs don’t have to be long or packed with experience. They just have to be clear, honest, and tailored to your goal.
Let’s answer five of the most common questions students have about resumes and CVs to help you feel confident creating your own.
1. What’s the difference between student resumes and CVs?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and the answer depends on where you’re applying.
- A resume is typically a one-page summary of your skills, experiences, and achievements that are most relevant to the opportunity you’re applying for. It’s commonly used in the United States and Canada, especially for jobs, internships, and some university applications.
- A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is usually longer and more detailed, including your full academic history, research experience, publications (if applicable), presentations, and more. It’s often used for academic or research positions, graduate school applications, and in Europe, Asia, and other international contexts, a CV may just mean “resume.”
We always create a CV first for our students because it has EVERYTHING on it. We then change or pare it down for programs that request a resume.
2. What should I include on student resumes and CVs if I don’t have much experience?
Good news: you don’t need a long list of jobs or awards to have a strong resume. Think of your resume as all your activities, even if they weren’t paid or formal.
Here’s what to include:
- Education: Your school name, expected graduation year, and relevant coursework. If you have academic awards from school, you can add them to this section or (if more than 5) give them their own section.
- Leadership Positions: If you only have a few, include them in the Extracurriculars section. If you had leadership positions in at least 3 organizations, we recommend highlighting them in their own section.
- Extracurriculars: Clubs, sports teams, student council, music, or art—anything that shows commitment, interest, or collaboration. Be sure to add your title (even if it’s just “member”) and years so that the admission committee can see consistent involvement.
- Volunteer Work: Tutoring, community service, or helping in family businesses all count.
- Skills: Languages spoken, computer skills, coding, social media management, public speaking, or anything else relevant.
- Projects or Competitions: Science fairs, debate tournaments, online courses, personal projects, or hackathons show initiative and curiosity.
Focus on what you did, not just what the title was. Did you organize an event? Start a fundraiser? Help a classmate? These experiences are valuable and can be described to highlight responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving.
3. How should a student resume or CV be structured?
Strong student resumes and CVs are easy to read, clearly organized, and tailored to their purposes. Here’s a clean structure most students can use:
- Contact Information
Include your full name, email, phone number, city and state (no need for full address), and LinkedIn profile or personal website (if relevant). European CVs usually require a picture and date of birth, whereas American resumes don’t.
- Education
List your school, expected graduation year, GPA, and any honors or awards.
- Activities or Experience
This is the heart of your resume. Use bullet points to describe what you did and what you achieved in each role. Start each bullet with a strong action verb like “led,” “organized,” “created,” “helped,” or “designed.”
- Skills
This includes software, languages, creative tools, and technical skills.
- Optional Sections
You can include certifications, relevant coursework, or a portfolio link if you’re applying to a creative or technical program.
The key? For a resume, keep it one page, cleanly formatted, and easy to scan. Admissions officers and employers often glance at resumes in 30 seconds or less.
For a CV, make sure you use strong formatting to lead the eye where you want it to go. We typically bold titles (like Club President) to call attention to them. Don’t bold or underline any words that are not super relevant.
Whatever you do, don’t make the margins less than 0.5″ (narrow) or the font lower than 10. It’s more important to have a readable document than a laundry list of your achievements.
One of our favorite websites for Google Doc resume templates is here.
4. Should I include every activity or achievement I’ve ever done?
Not necessarily.
For a resume, less is often more. Your resume isn’t meant to be an exhaustive life history. It’s a targeted document that highlights your most relevant and recent experiences. If you’re applying to a STEM summer program, prioritize your math club involvement, science fair project, or coding bootcamp, not your eighth-grade poetry prize (as proud as you are of it!).
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
- Recent (within the last 3–4 years)? Yes.
- Relevant to your application or goal? Definitely yes.
- Significant or shows growth/leadership? Absolutely.
Old, unrelated, or overly personal? Probably not.
Also, if you’re submitting a CV for an academic program, it’s okay to be a bit more comprehensive, especially for things like research, papers, or coursework. Still, relevance matters.
5. Can I use the same resume or CV for every application?
You can, but you shouldn’t. While it’s fine to start with a general version of your CV, the most effective applications use a tailored version that highlights the experiences and skills most relevant to each opportunity.
For example, if you’re applying to a research internship, you’ll want to emphasize academic projects, lab experience, and analytical skills. But if you’re applying to a leadership camp or student ambassador program, you might focus more on teamwork, communication, and community involvement.
However, universities want to see all of that.
Tailoring your resume shows admissions officers or employers that you’ve put thought into your application. It also helps them quickly see why you are a strong fit for their program.
You don’t have to rewrite everything from scratch. Instead, think of your resume as a flexible document. Rearrange sections, adjust bullet points, and tweak your bold text to match the tone and focus of each application.
A little customization goes a long way, and can be the difference between standing out and blending in. In fact, we normally scour the internet to see if the universities our students are applying to have a standard resume format, and then use it. University of Amsterdam, in particular, has a preference.
Need help polishing your student resume or CV?
Writing your first student resume or CV might feel intimidating, but it’s actually a great opportunity to reflect on your accomplishments and prepare for the future. Whether you’re applying to college, a summer program, or a leadership role, your resume gives you a chance to show what makes you unique.
We offer professional editing and resume coaching as part of our admissions packages to help students craft standout university applications.
✅ Personalized feedback and formatting
✅ Help with wording, structure, and impact
✅ Fast turnaround for approaching deadlines
Book a FREE consultation today and take your first step toward a stronger application!
