Has anyone used the College Essay Guy's resume templates?

Using a resume template can be a big help when you're starting out, and College Essay Guy’s templates are generally well-designed for students applying to college. They’re set up to showcase activities, leadership, and work experience in a way that works for college admissions. Most students find these templates are easy to edit in Google Docs or Word, and they typically come with instructions and sample entries, which makes the process less intimidating if you haven’t done a resume before.

If your activity list is basic, the "Simple College Resume Template" is usually a good starting point. It arranges information clearly, uses a professional layout, and keeps things one page long, which is perfect for most college applications. The templates encourage you to use specific action verbs and brief descriptions, which admissions officers appreciate, since they read a lot of resumes very quickly.

One thing to keep in mind: colleges care less about fancy formatting and more about clarity and substance. A sleek, easy-to-read document far outweighs one that’s overly designed. For example, last year, my classmate used the straightforward template, filled it in with her roles in Key Club and summer jobs, and got positive comments from interviewers on how clear it was.

Just make sure you tailor the language for each activity to highlight impact and leadership. For example, instead of just saying "Volunteered at local shelter," try something like "Organized weekly food drives, increasing donations by 30%."

If templates feel limiting, you can always start with one and modify it to better fit your personal experiences. Check what your schools prefer, too—some colleges specifically say what format or sections they want, so always double-check application instructions. Whether you use a template or build your own, the most important thing is that your resume is easy to read, free from typos, and clearly shows what you care about and how you've made a difference.