How to Write a College Resume in 2025 (Free Template)
A no-fluff 2025 guide to the perfect college resume: one-page ATS format, sections to include, data-driven bullets, keyword strategy, examples by major, and a free copy-paste template.
How to Write a College Resume in 2025 (Free Template)
Want a college resume 2025 that actually lands interviews? Use this student-friendly guide to build an ATS-ready, one-page resume with quantified bullets, the right keywords, and clean formatting. Grab the free template below and follow the examples by major to tailor your 2025 college resume for internships and entry-level roles.
The 2025 College Resume Format (ATS-Friendly)
One page, clean layout
- Length: 1 page for students/early grads.
- Margins & fonts: 0.5–1" margins; readable fonts (Calibri, Arial, Garamond) at 10.5–12 pt.
- File: PDF for human readers unless the system requests DOCX.
Essential ordering (most cases)
- Header (name, phone, email, LinkedIn/portfolio)
- Education (school, degree, grad month/year, GPA if helpful)
- Experience (internships, part-time, research, leadership)
- Projects (2–4 with tangible outcomes)
- Skills (tools, languages, frameworks)
- Awards/Activities
GPA placement
- Include GPA if it strengthens your story; otherwise omit and lead with results. Need a refresher? See What Is GPA?
What to Put on a College Resume (2025)
Education section
- University • City, State • Degree • Graduation month/year
- Relevant coursework (3–6 classes that match the job’s keywords)
- Honors, scholarships, dean’s list (term-count or criteria)
Experience section
- Internships, research, paid work, campus leadership, major volunteer roles
- 3–5 bullets each using the Result-first formula (see below)
Projects section
- Title • tools • problem → action → result with 1–2 metrics
- Link to GitHub/portfolio/slide deck when relevant
Write Bullets That Win Interviews
The RATS formula (Result → Action → Tools → Scope)
- Result: lead with impact (“increased”, “reduced”, “launched”)
- Action: what you did (improved, analyzed, designed)
- Tools: SQL, Python, Excel, Canva, Figma, R, CAD, etc.
- Scope: scale, frequency, audience (10k rows, weekly, 200 students)
Weak vs strong bullets
| Weak | Strong (RATS) |
|---|---|
| Helped with social media posts | Increased Instagram reach 38% in 8 weeks by testing 3 content formats and scheduling with Buffer (Canva, Sheets A/B log) |
| Worked the front desk | Cut average wait time from 11 → 6 min by redesigning check-in flow and training 6 peers on triage script |
| Did lab work | Validated 3 assays with CV < 5% by calibrating equipment and documenting SOP updates (200+ samples) |
ATS & Keywords: How to Pass Screens in 2025
Mirror the job description (ethically)
- Pull 6–10 skills/keywords from the posting and reflect them in Skills, Projects, and bullets where true.
- Use common section headings: “Education,” “Experience,” “Projects,” “Skills.”
Formatting rules
- Avoid text boxes, tables for the main body, and fancy columns that can break parsers.
- Spell out acronyms once: Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
File hygiene
- File name: Lastname_Firstname_Resume_2025.pdf
- Keep contact info selectable (no images).
Free 2025 College Resume Template (Copy/Paste)
Use this starter and tailor for each role
FIRST LASTNAME
City, ST • (555) 555-5555 • firstname.lastname@email.com • linkedin.com/in/firstlast • portfolio/link
EDUCATION
University Name, City, ST — Bachelor of [Major], Minor in [X] Month 2025
GPA: [X.XX/4.00] (if ≥ ~3.5 or helps) • Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3]
EXPERIENCE
Organization — Role, City, ST Month 2024–Month 2025
• RESULT first: action + tools + scope (metric)
• RESULT first: action + tools + scope (metric)
• RESULT first: action + tools + scope (metric)
Organization — Role, City, ST Month 2023–Month 2024
• RESULT first bullet
• RESULT first bullet
PROJECTS
Project Name — Tools: [Python, SQL, Tableau] Month 2025
• RESULT: what improved by how much for whom; link: [URL]
SKILLS
Languages/Tools: [Python, SQL, R, Java, Excel, Tableau, Figma, SolidWorks, SPSS]
Methodologies: [A/B testing, regression, Agile, GEL electrophoresis, CAD]
Coursework: [3–6 job-matching courses]
AWARDS & ACTIVITIES
[Scholarship/Honor], [Club/Leadership role], [Volunteer hours/impact]
Example Bullets by Major (Steal These Patterns)
Business/Analytics
- Automated weekly revenue dashboard for 4 regions, cutting prep time 70% (Excel → Sheets; VLOOKUP to SQL export).
- Modeled pricing scenarios; raised conversion 2.3 pp on pilot cohort.
Computer Science
- Built Flask API for campus club app; reduced request latency 42% via caching; tests at 90% coverage.
- Deployed sentiment model (F1 0.82) on 12k reviews; flagged top 3 churn risks monthly.
Life Sciences
- Analyzed 250+ samples; improved assay reproducibility to CV < 5% by standardizing pipetting protocol.
- Co-authored poster; presented to 60 peers; secured $2,000 departmental grant.
Marketing/UX
- Ran 5-user usability tests → cut checkout errors 31%; shipped Figma redesign.
- Launched email drip; lifted CTR +24% with new subject-line tests.
Tailoring Your College Resume for Internships
Match the posting in 10 minutes
- Underline 6–10 requirements → mirror them with your Skills/Projects.
- Swap in 2–3 targeted projects and reorder bullets by relevance.
Portfolio & links
- Include 1–2 proof links (GitHub, Notion, Behance) with brief summaries.
- Hunting for roles now? Use this step-by-step search plan: How to Find a College Internship in 2025.
Awards, Scholarships & Budget Notes
Stack signals and save money
- List scholarships and grants (criteria, selectivity).
- Apply monthly to outside awards to reduce work hours and free time for projects; start with our Scholarships directory.
Common Resume Mistakes (and Fast Fixes)
Skip these in 2025
- Duties-only bullets: replace with results + metrics.
- Wall of text: 2–4 bullets per entry; white space is your friend.
- Generic skills dump: keep only tools you can discuss in depth.
- Typos & dates: proof once on screen, once aloud, once printed.
Quick fixes
- Start every bullet with a strong verb (Built, Automated, Analyzed, Led, Shipped).
- Add one number per bullet (%, time, $ saved, users served).
- Rename projects for clarity: “Inventory Forecasting Model (Python)”.
FAQ: College Resume 2025
Do I need an objective?
Skip objectives. Use a crisp one-line summary only if it adds keywords and value.
How many skills should I list?
8–14 verified tools/methods. Group by category (Languages, Analytics, Design).
PDF or DOCX?
PDF by default; DOCX only if a portal explicitly requires it.
No internships yet—what do I show?
Lead with projects, labs, clubs, part-time roles and quantify outcomes. Then apply weekly and network with alumni.
Written by TCM Staff
