Resume
May 31, 2026
Curating Your Common App Activities and Honors List: Telling Your Story Beyond Grades and Test Scores
When students think about the college application process, they often focus on grades, test scores, and essays. However, one of the most important sections of the Common Application is frequently overlooked: the Activities and Honors sections. These sections provide colleges with a snapshot of a student's identity outside the classroom. They help admissions officers understand how students spend their time, what they value, and how they contribute to their schools and communities.
May 3, 2026
College Majors, Careers & Summer Planning: A Smart Path To College Success
When students think about college admissions, they often focus on GPA and test scores—but colleges are equally interested in something deeper. The connection between college majors, career interests, and summer experiences plays a powerful role in shaping a student’s story—and ultimately, their college applications.
May 4, 2025
Helping Your Student Build a Strong College Activities List
As your student embarks on the college application journey, one crucial component to focus on is the college activities list. This section of the application offers admissions counselors a window into your student’s interests, commitments, and character outside of academics.
Dec 6, 2022
Extracurriculars that Matter Most in College Admissions
When comparing applicants with equal academic profiles for a seat in the freshman class, it’s the extracurriculars on the resume that can give the admitted student the edge.
LEAP advises all students, particularly those going for seats in selective colleges or programs, to carefully consider what they chose to pursue outside the classroom then be diligent in crafting their formal resume. 1/3 of colleges actually require or recommend students submit a resume at the time of application.
Feb 15, 2022
5 Steps for 10th Graders to Launch the College Search
While the junior year is known as the most challenging academically and the crucial year for the college-bound journey, it is wise to jump-start the process in the spring of 10th grade. Families are often surprised to learn or be reminded, that by the completion of the first semester sophomore year the GPA for college application has reached the halfway point.
Aug 1, 2020
5 Tips to an Outstanding College Application Essay
Learn, Brainstorm, Write, Revise & Polish. These are the steps in LEAP’s 5-step process to an essay that will make you stand out from the crowd of applicants vying for a spot at your dream school. Creating an optimal essay takes focus and time.
Nov 4, 2019
5 Reasons You NEED a Student Resume
The college admission process is very selective – a significant number of students apply each year to a limited number of open slots. This means that you must find a way to stand apart from the other applicants. Having a résumé demonstrates your seriousness of purpose in the college application process and your good organizational skills.
Jul 13, 2019
3 Steps to Starting Your College Applications
There is no reason seniors can’t be a good 80% or so finished with college applications before the senior year even b...
Jan 1, 2019
White, Upper Middle Class and on a DIVERSITY Scholarship
How does a white, Catholic, upper-middle-class, Midwestern young lady achieve a full-tuition DIVERSITY scholarship at a highly selective university like Ohio State? Actually not one, but TWO, LEAP students have received this honor by following this advice!
Jan 20, 2018
4 Reasons to Write a Student Resume
A student resume is essentially the brag sheet for colleges you court. Most students keep an ongoing list in their he...
Apr 26, 2017
Getting a Great Teacher Recommendation
As a high school teacher in my earlier life, September always meant the onslaught of requests on behalf of students, ...
Mar 8, 2017
The Importance of a Solid High School Resume
Resume. That one word likely conjures up thoughts of job hunts after college. Back way up and think college hunt.
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