Guide · Apply better

Scholarship resume template for students

A scholarship resume is a one-page snapshot of who you are as a student, leader, and community member. It's shorter and more focused than a job resume, and it gives reviewers context they can't get from a transcript alone. This template walks through what to include, what to leave out, and how to make it easy to update as you collect new experiences.

Header: keep it boring on purpose

Full name (the one on your transcript and applications).
City and state. No street address.
Email you check regularly. Use a professional-sounding address.
Phone number, optional.
One link if it's relevant: portfolio, GitHub, LinkedIn.

Education

List schools in reverse chronological order. Include:

Current school, expected graduation date, GPA if it helps.
Major and minor if declared, plus relevant coursework if it's strong.
High school if you're a senior or first-year college student.
Standardized test scores only if they meaningfully strengthen the application.

Honors and awards

Include scholarships, academic honors, competition placements, and recognitions. For each, list the award name, the granting organization, the date, and one short detail if it adds context ("top 3% of state").

Activities and leadership

Group activities so the reader can scan quickly. For each, list the role, the organization, the dates, and one line on what you actually did. Lead with verbs: organized, led, mentored, built, coached, raised, presented. Quantify when you can:

Led 12-member robotics team to regional finals, 2024.
Organized weekly tutoring program, 30+ students served.
Captain of varsity track, two seasons.

Work experience

Include paid jobs, internships, and meaningful family responsibilities (caregiving, running a family business). Skip jobs you held for a week. Use the same verb-led, quantified bullet style as activities.

Volunteer and community service

Quality beats quantity. Five hours every week for two years tells a stronger story than one all-day event. List the organization, your role, and the approximate hours per week or total hours.

Skills

Keep it short and honest. Real skills only — software, lab techniques, languages with proficiency level, certifications. Don't list "Microsoft Word."

Optional sections

Research: projects, principal investigator, publications, posters.
Publications and media: bylines, podcasts, exhibitions.
Presentations: conferences, symposiums, student showcases.
Languages: with realistic proficiency labels.

Formatting checklist

One page if at all possible. Two only if you have research, publications, or extensive work history.
11–12 pt readable font (Calibri, Arial, Inter, Source Sans).
0.5–1 inch margins. Consistent spacing.
Save and submit as PDF unless asked otherwise.
File name: FirstnameLastname-Resume.pdf

Keep one master file

Maintain a long version of your resume with every activity, hour count, and date. When you apply for a specific scholarship, copy that file and trim it down for the prompt. Don't rebuild from scratch each time.

Use the scholarship application checklist to confirm every piece is ready before you submit, and the saved scholarships page to keep your shortlist organized.

This guide is general information. Follow each scholarship's specific resume requirements when provided.

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