What should I include on the University of Washington application resume?

For the University of Washington, your application resume should add concrete detail that may not fit neatly elsewhere in the application, not just repeat your activities list. Include your main commitments, leadership, work experience, service, major projects, honors, and a few specific facts that show impact such as hours, duration, responsibilities, or outcomes. UW’s application already asks about activities and achievements, so the best resume is concise and selective rather than a long master list.

A strong format usually includes education, extracurricular activities, employment, volunteer service, awards or honors, and possibly skills or significant projects if they are genuinely relevant. For each entry, give the organization name, your role, dates or grade levels, and 1 to 3 short descriptions that explain what you actually did. Good details include things like managing a cash register at your job, organizing tutoring sessions, leading a club event.

For activities, prioritize depth over quantity. If you were in Key Club, for example, it is more useful to say you coordinated a donation drive for 120 students than to simply list membership. For work experience, definitely include your part-time job because UW values responsibility outside the classroom, especially if you balanced work with school.

You can also include family responsibilities, independent projects, research, creative work, or community involvement if they have taken real time and effort. That matters at UW because context and engagement are important, and meaningful commitments do not have to be formal school clubs.

Keep the resume easy to skim. Use clear section headings, reverse chronological order, consistent formatting, and straightforward language. Do not include a photo, objective statement, or overly polished business-resume filler. The goal is to help UW quickly understand how you spend your time and what kind of contribution you have made in the spaces you are part of.