Where Does Your Resume Go on the Common App?

I am often asked where a student’s resume goes on the common app and the answer is simple.

No where.

That’s right, colleges do not want to see a resume in your common application. And no that doesn’t mean that you should send it by mail or email to the colleges.

Think about this like a college. Could they ask you for a resume? Of course, and there are a few colleges that do. But what does that tell you about all of the colleges that don’t ask for a resume?

More and more selective colleges are using the common application because it is an easy way for them to get the information they want in an easy to read format. The common app provides you space for 10 activities. The colleges could ask the common app to increase the number of spaces for activities. After all, the common app is run by the colleges. But colleges are not pushing for more than 10 activities. And the descriptions also have been fairly static for several years. College want to see how well you can describe what you do without being verbose.

As I discussed last time, the reason is obvious. Very few students truly have more than 10 significant activities that need to be brought to the attention of the colleges.

Having a resume is fine in case the college asks for it or to use as a reminder to you of what you have done to make sure you don’t forget something on the common app list of activities.  But don’t worry about submitting it to the colleges because most don’t want to see it.