Highly recommended Expanded Resumes

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when creating your expanded resume:

• The content of your resume, not its appearance, is what matters. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned about things such as spelling and grammar, but submitting a resume that’s been formatted to look like something you’d submit with a job application isn’t necessary.
• Following the organization of our sample resume (PDF, 24K) will help you to include the details we need, such as the hours per week and weeks per year you committed to each activity.
• Don’t try to fit everything on one page (no matter who might try to tell you otherwise). Our sample is only a page long because we’re simply trying to show you what details we need for each item you include and a couple of examples of the kinds of things you might want to include. Many students submit multiple pages of information about their activities, achievements, and responsibilities; you should do the same if you have that much to tell us about.
• Be thorough. Include details about each activity rather than listing something general like “community service” without any details about what that service involves.
• Don’t repeat information or use large font, however, to try to make it seem as though you have more to tell us than you do. We read the information submitted to us carefully enough to look beyond any attempt to exaggerate accomplishments.
• Include details about all your personal achievements in your expanded resume (not just those that you can’t fit on your ApplyTexas application). Having everything in one place makes it easier for the reviewer to get a clear picture of your accomplishments. If you’re able to list everything you need to tell us about your activities and responsibilities on your ApplyTexas application, there’s no need to submit a separate resume. Submitting the same information twice will not make your personal achievements seem any more noteworthy.

Submit your expanded resume well in advance of the admissions deadline:

• Use the university’s Resume Submission System to submit it electronically if you applied for admission online.
• If you submit your resume online, it can be no longer than 120 lines of text.
• The online resume submission system transmits information in plain text format. Column formatting, spacing, and font treatments are not maintained.

You may also mail or fax your expanded resume to the Office of Admissions.

Don’t be shy. Take time to remember and list everything that you’ve done during high school that may help us to see how you’ve excelled. Ask your friends and family to review your information before submitting it to make sure you haven’t left anything out.