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Scholarship Resume Examples [+Template with Objective]

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All the hard work is finally paying off. You’ve been accepted. But there’s just one more step—applying for a scholarship. 

To get it, you have to make a stunning resume for a scholarship. Did you know that selection committees would often look at your scholarship resumebefore they start reviewing other documents? If they don’t see what’s relevant for them, they might even decide not to review the rest of your scholarship application. 

Don’t let that happen. Read on, and you’ll learn how to make the best scholarship resume in the pile.

This guide will show you:

  • A scholarship resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
  • How to write a resume for scholarships step by step.
  • A complete scholarship resume template you can use to make your resume.
  • How to describe your academic experience on a resume for college scholarships to get any scholarship you want.

Here's a free college scholarship resume sample made using our resume builder.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

If you've got a lot of academic experience, you'll probably need to write an academic CV, not just a regular scholarship resume. Learn how to do it here: Academic CV: Example, Template & Writing Guide [with 20+ Expert Tips]

You'll need a standout cover letter as well. See how to write it here: Sample Cover Letter for Scholarship Grant

To see other resume samples related to education and learning check out one of our dedicated guides:

Scholarship Resume Example

Carl Forsythe

Business Administration Major

(123) 456-7891

carlforsythe@email.com

linkedin.com/in/carl.forsythe

Objective

Talented and motivated college student majoring in Business Administration with a Minor in Accounting, seeking to leverage accounting, business analysis, financial management, and communication skills to secure a scholarship at the University of Montana. Achieved an outstanding GPA of 3.8. Completed 15 assigned projects within stipulated deadlines during an internship at Krausz Financial Services.

Experience

Accounts Internship

Krausz Financial Services, Bozeman, MT

June 2021–August 2021

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Created financial reports for the senior management team with accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Assisted in the development of budget plans and forecasts for various departments.
  • Prepared accounts receivable invoices using QuickBooks accounting software.
  • Analyzed current expenditures and formulated ideas on cost reduction strategies.
  • Developed Excel spreadsheets to track company expenses and revenues accurately.

Key Achievement:

  • Completed 15 assigned projects within stipulated deadlines, providing valuable assistance to the senior management team during the internship period.

Student Assistant at Student Help Desk

Bozeman High School, Bozeman, MT

March 2020–June 2021

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Resolved queries related to student registration procedures for new entrants efficiently.
  • Maintained accurate records of incoming calls from parents related to their children's attendance records.
  • Compiled data related to transcript requests and admission process updates.

Key Achievement:

  • Ensured smooth functioning of daily activities such as answering 20 phone calls on average from parents and students, providing information on school policies, and helping new entrants register on time by assisting them throughout the process.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, University of Montana, MT

August 2019–Present

Relevant Extracurricular Activities

  • Member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honorary Society since September 2019.
  • Volunteered for Saint Joseph's Home for Children, Bozeman, MT since 2017.

Academic Achievements:

  • Won first prize at Marketing Plan Competition held at University of Montana in October 2020 for designing and presenting an effective marketing plan to promote the University
  • Received Dean’s List Award consecutively since Fall semester 2019

Skills

  • Business Analysis
  • Financial Management
  • Accounting
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Decision Making
  • Teamwork

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), 2021

Awards

  • Academic Excellence Award, University of Montana, 2020
  • Outstanding Student Award, Bozeman High School, 2019

Memberships

Member of International Association for Scholars (IAS) since April 2020

  • Conducted monthly seminars focused on promoting research opportunities among undergraduates.
  • Represented IAS at regional conference on entrepreneurship held by University of Montana in June 2020.

Languages

  • English–Native
  • French–Intermediate
  • German–Advanced

Interests

  • Exploring different cultures by traveling around the world since June 2018.
  • Participating in annual marathons held at Bozeman since April 2019.

1

What is the Best Scholarship Resume Template

Selection committees have to review thousands of scholarship applications.

Now, guess how much time it would take to read this many personal statements, study or research objectives, transcripts of records, and scholarship resumes.

Too much time.

That’s why scholarship committee members don’t read every document they get. They skim them, searching for most relevant information.

And you know what?

For you, that’s an opportunity. Choose a right scholarship resume template, and you’ll be able to serve the committee what they’re looking for on a silver platter.

How?

Begin with dividing your scholarship resume into five sections:

Sample Academic Scholarship Resume Outline:

  1. Contact Information
  2. Resume Objective (or a Career Goal)
  3. Academic Experience
  4. Awards and Honors
  5. Work Experience

In each section, list your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent activities.

Make the section headings in bold and slightly larger than the rest of the text. Be consistent with your headings format and with the layout of each section.

Use clear, legible fonts. Make your scholarship resume look, well, scholarly. Don’t cram it with gimmicky graphics. White space is your friend - decision makers need some breathing room!

Pro Tip: Once you’ve finished writing your application resume, save it as a PDF to make sure the layout stays intact.

How to put scholarships on a resume?

Have a look at our dedicated guide and find out how to list your academic and professional achievements on your resume: Achievements to Put on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)

2

How to Write a Career Goal or an Objective for a Scholarship Resume?

First things first.

What’s a career goal or a scholarship resume objective?

A brief, concise paragraph just below your contact information in which you outline your academic plans and goals, as well as give an overview of your educational background.

True, you’ve already discussed your educational plans at length in your personal statement and your study or research objective - but you still need to reiterate them on your resume.

Why?

Because it’s the best way to immediately catch the selection committee’s attention - to make it irresistible for them to read your whole resume.

How to write a scholarship resume objective?

The three key messages you have to get across are:

  1. Your strong academic record
  2. Your relevant extracurricular activities
  3. Your sense of purpose in continuing your academic career

Let’s have a look at these examples of objectives for scholarship resumes for graduate applicants:

Sample Scholarship Resume Objectives for Graduate Student

wrong

English student with a very strong academic record, extensive international experience and 5 months of internship experience seeking funds to obtain further graduate education in American Poetry.

Why is it so bad?

Because it doesn’t include any specifics. It’s got nothing but generic information without any evidence to support it.

“Extensive international experience”?! What does it even mean? Working in an international company, taking part in study abroad programs, or just travelling?

Have a look a properly written sample scholarship resume objective:

Sample Objective for a Scholarship Resume

right

Student in English at Anytown University, awarded Dean’s List for three consecutive years [Show your strong academic record], with two study abroad experiences and a semester-long research internship [Highlight extracurricular activities] seeks funds to continue graduate education at XYZ University. Planning to continue my research in American Poetry, examining the impact of blues music on Harlem Renaissance poetry [Refer to specific future academic plans].

See the difference?

This candidate doesn’t tell the scholarship committee that she’s a great pick to receive funding. She shows it by providing examples of her verifiable achievements and clearly stating her future study and research plans.

That’s exactly the way you should do it when writing your scholarship resume objective.

Pro Tip: Research the institution from which you’re hoping to receive a scholarship to find out about their values and mission - make a list of the top qualities required, based on the mission statement, website, and accepted students. Remember to refer to those values while writing your personal statement or research objective to show how you fit the scholarship’s requirements.

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

When you’re done, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume scanner will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Want to make sure you didn't forget anything when writing your scholarship resume? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a successful resume: 46 Things You Need To Do Before You Send Your Resume

Need more ideas for your scholarship resume objective? Read our guide: +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips)

3

How to Describe Your Academic Experience?

It’s pretty obvious that your academic experience section is the most important part of your scholarship resume, right?

But does that mean that you have to list every educational institution you’ve attended alongside detailed descriptions of all courses you’ve taken?

Of course not.

So —

What do you put in a scholarship resume academic experience section?

  • Your major
  • Your minors (if applicable)
  • Your graduation date, or expected graduation if you’re still studying
  • The name of your institution
  • Your GPA

All of the above are absolute must-haves. But you should also include the following to truly make your student scholarship resume stand out:

  • Favorite fields of study
  • Key academic achievements
  • Extracurricular activities

If you’re applying for a freshman scholarship, put only your high school in your academic experience section.

If you’re writing a graduate scholarship resume, leave your high school off, unless it’s very prestigious or you’ve scored some amazing achievements there.

Writing a postgraduate or a PhD scholarship resume? List both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Don’t forget that the scholarship committee has full access to your transcript of records - that’s an ultimate data sheet comprising most of the necessary details about your past education.

But “most” doesn’t mean “all.”

In your academic experience section, include the information that your raw transcript of records cannot contain.

Show the committee that your academic performance so far has not only been about the impressive numbers, but that you’re also passionate about your field of study.

Every academic institution is eager to accept candidates who, apart from having flawless grades, display the following qualities:

  • Curiosity and self-motivation (1)
  • Leadership skills (2)
  • Enthusiasm for what they study (3)

These are solid examples of skills to put on a scholarship resume.

How to highlight these qualities?

Have a look:

Sample Resume for College Scholarship - Academic Experience Section

right

Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature

Expected to graduate in 2018
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
3.9 GPA

Favorite fields of study (3): Introduction to Literary Study: Comparison, Cosmopolitanism, and the Global Novel, Literature Gone Viral, Digital Humanities, Radical Arts

Extracurricular activities and achievements:

  • President of the undergraduate student board (2) from 2015
  • Started and ran a discussion club(1, 2, 3) on Russian Postmodernist Literature
  • Chief Editor of the University Blog(2) from 2015 to 2017

“She’s exactly the kind of student we’re looking for!”

This academic experience section is guaranteed to bring this kind of response from the selection committee.

If you’re just beginning to put together your scholarship application, remember to prepare a separate document in which you’ll record your academic references. List your references’ names, positions, relationships to you, and the number of years you’ve known each other. And don’t forget to inform your references that you’ve listed them!

Unsure which skills you should highlight? We assessed 11 million resumes made with our resume builder, and these are the top 10 most listed skills:

  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Problem-solving
  • Excellent Communication
  • Multitasking
  • Attention to Detail
  • MS Office
  • Analytical and Critical Thinking
  • Data Entry
  • Project Management
  • Team Management

Hungry for more information on how to list academic experience on your resume for college scholarship? Make sure to read our handy guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

4

Is Your Work Experience Section Underperforming? It Might Be

Resumes for scholarships are different from typical, professional resumes. More often than not, your education section will be much more important for the selection committee than your work experience.

Does that mean you can omit the latter?

Hell no!

Your work experience section is still crucial. It shows scholarship directors two things:

  • That you have organizational skills which helped you manage your time between academics and a job
  • That you’re persistent and productive

In this section of your scholarship resume, list your work experience in reverse chronological order. Start with your current or most recent job and follow it with all previous jobs.

Remember that you’re not expected to have done dozens of amazing internships in international corporations or to have held a senior position.

Don’t be ashamed of your work history. Mention every job you’ve done, even volunteer experience or part-time gigs.

In each entry, list the name of your position, the company, the location, and dates worked. Underneath every job, add up to four bullet points that describe your responsibilities.

Like this:

Work Experience Section on a Scholarship Resume Example

right

Summer Intern: Security Command Center
Metro-North Railroad, 06-2017 - 09-2017
North White Plains, NY

  • Assisted Security Department in security assessment and data review.
  • Developed desktop manuals: procedures, quick reference cards, reference materials.
  • Performed additional tasks both in the field and in the office.

Pro Tip: In your work experience section, use action words to talk about your responsibilities. “Assisted,” “developed,” or “performed” sound much better than “responsible for assistance, development, and performing other tasks as assigned.”

Want to learn more how to make the most of your work experience section on a scholarship application resume? Here’s a dedicated guide to walk you through listing your work experience: How to List Work Experience on Your Resume [+20 Examples]

5

How to Add Awards and Honors on an Effective Scholarship Resume

In the final section of your scholarship resume, it’s time to do some bragging. And it could well be the best selling point of your whole resume.

It’s just that, this section quite often falls flat.

Why?

Because scholarship applicants don’t know how to make their awards meaningful.

A typical entry on an “Awards” section might look something like this:

Sample Scholarship Resume Awards Section

wrong

1st Place, Innovation Award (2009)

The problem?

This award will mean nothing to the selection committee. Alright, so you won. But what was the competition? How prestigious is the award? What are the numbers behind it?

Keep in mind, that committees don’t know every single award in the country backwards. You have to give them some context.

See this:


Sample Scholarship Resume Awards Section

right

2016
1st Place, Innovation Award
Awarded $10,000 for the best senior project (out of 400+ projects) by faculty vote.


Now, that’s impressive!

And yes, listing how much you won for your award is a good idea.

$10,000? Wow. That means something. Even if I don’t know what exactly the award is, I’m aware that they don’t just throw ten thousand bucks at anyone.

Struggling for ideas on what’s worth putting on a scholarship resume?

Have a look at some suggestions. All of these will make great entries on your scholarship resume:

What To List in a Scholarship Resume Awards Section

  • Scholarships (yes, list previous scholarships on a resume)
  • Honor Rolls inclusions
  • Dean’s Lists
  • Subject-related awards
  • Science fair awards
  • Publications in student journals
  • Perfect attendance awards
  • Non-academic professional awards
  • Volunteer-related awards

If you’ve graduated with honors, resume awards section is a perfect place to list it.

Writing an athletic scholarship resume?

List all the individual or team trophies you’ve won. If it’s a team award, write down the name of your team, the division in which you played and your position.

Done with writing a resume, but still haven’t written your scholarship resume cover letter or a letter of motivation? Learn how to do it in our comprehensive guide: How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

It’s a make-or-break moment of your scholarship application, when the scholarship selection committee starts reviewing your resume.

If you want to make sure your scholarship resume impresses the committee members, keep in mind the key strategies we covered:

  • Choose a legible, clear format for a scholarship resume.
  • Below your contact information, give a summary of your academic goals and motivation in a scholarship resume objective.
  • Don’t ignore your work experience section. List all your past jobs in reverse chronological order.
  • Quantify whenever possible - make your achievements and awards measurable and meaningful.

All check? Then I’m sure you’re going to make your resume work for you!

What are your experiences with writing a scholarship resume? Do you have any questions on how to make the most of your resume for a college scholarship? Give us a shout in the comments and we’ll get back to you!

See more scholarship-related articles:

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Michael Tomaszewski, CPRW
Michael is a career expert and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. With his extensive knowledge of the job market, he provides practical advice and strategies for navigating the recruitment process and advancing your career.
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