Daily Archives: June 7, 2023

The Importance of an Expanded Resume for Admission to the University of Texas at Austin

Posted on by in College Admission.

UT ADMISSIONS: THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EXPANDED RESUME

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the most esteemed universities in the world, with over 51,000 students across 18 different schools and colleges. A unique aspect of their admissions process is the request for an expanded resume. While it is not required, submitting an expanded resume is highly recommended for admission to the prestigious school and especially for gaining acceptance into your preferred major.

What is the Expanded Resume and Why You Should Submit One?

The expanded resume is not part of the ApplyTexas application system and may go unnoticed. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email to submit supplemental documents, including your expanded resume, into the MyStatus portal.

A pro-tip to increase your chances of being noticed is to attach your UT EIN at the top of your expanded resume and upload all supplementals together, as sometimes they can get misplaced.

How to Create an Expanded College Resume: Tips and Examples

So, what is an expanded resume? Contrary to its name, it is not a traditional resume, but rather a catalog of every experience you have been involved in since the summer before your freshman year. Unlike a standard resume which is usually 1-2 pages, an expanded college resume can range from 3 to 4+ pages. This provides students with an opportunity to expand on their high school experiences and highlight activities and accomplishments that are directly relevant to their chosen field of study.

When Should You Start Compiling Your Expanded College Resume?

It’s never too early to start thinking about your expanded resume! To create a comprehensive overview of your accomplishments and experiences, start by building an activity list. Be sure to include your role in every activity or event, the time spent in that role, and a brief description. Always quantify using action verbs along the way.

“The expanded resume is a catalog of everything you have been involved in since the summer before your freshman year and will allow you to add more information than will fit In the space provided on the initial college application.” — Dale Price

Access College America (ACA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students with their college application process. They provide personalized guidance, advice, and support to students and families to help them navigate the complex process of applying to college.

If you’re looking for help with your expanded resume or have any questions about the University of Texas application process, ACA can be a valuable resource. They have a team of experienced college advisors who can provide guidance on how to make your expanded resume stand out and help you present yourself in the best possible light to the UT admissions committee.

In addition, ACA offers webinars and other resources that provide a more extensive look at the expanded resume and how to create a compelling application for UT Austin. These webinars cover topics such as how to select the right activities to highlight in your expanded resume, how to quantify your accomplishments, and how to make your application stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

Attending an ACA webinar can be a great way to get more information about the expanded resume and the UT application process, as well as to ask any questions you may have. ACA’s team of experts is always available to provide support and guidance throughout the college application process, and they can help you achieve your goals of getting accepted to the University of Texas at Austin.

Download their FREE Guide here! 

Pro-Tips to Increase Your Chances of Being Noticed

Illustration 1:

Austin High School UNICEF Club

10th & 11th, 3hrs/week, 5 months

Secretary

  • Oversaw weekly meetings with planned curriculum

  • Coordinated weekly virtual meetings following the transition to online school

  • Managed communication with UNICEF and local businesses

  • Raised 700 dollars for UNICEF within first year with 20 members

The expanded resume should be organized into different categories including internships, clubs, leadership, employment.

Illustration 2:

Model United Nations

3hrs/week

Delegate (10th-12th), Under Secretary Chair of Communications (12th-elected)

  • Participated in various conferences throughout Texas

  • Communicated with administration and participating schools

  • Organized the attendance of hundreds of delegates

The expanded resume should be viewed as a catalog, not a bullet list. Viewing your expanded resume as a catalog will help when it comes to making everything quantifiable. You want to be able to expand and put numbers to everything you did in high school.

Illustration 3:

MUNSA Distinguished Delegate

  • Participated in two day Model UN Conference

  • Recognized for diplomacy and advanced communicative skills

  • Competed against 30 delegates in debating two topics

Where you selected to be in an officer position for an organization? Then tell how many people you were up against in the election. Did you compete in track? Elaborate by listing your best times. Were you on the robotics team? Expand on your experience by explaining the types of competitions and the software you used. It is not just about listing your activities but about showing what you brought to the table.

Illustration 4:

May 2020 Independent Learning Project

4hrs/week

  • Designed a simple prosthetic using three dimensional design software

  • Completed a research paper analyzing my process

Viewing your expanded resume as a catalog, rather than a bullet list, will help you make everything quantifiable. You want to be able to expand and put numbers to everything you did in high school.

For example, if you were selected to be in an officer position for an organization, tell how many people you were up against in the election. If you competed in track, elaborate by listing your best times. If you were on the robotics team, expand on your experience by explaining the types of competitions and the software you used. It’s not just about listing your activities but about showing what you brought to the table.

Unlike traditional resumes, the expanded resume does not have to be in chronological order and is not limited to 1-2 pages. Your expanded resume should be organized by depth and impact. It is a catalog through which you are making your pitch as to why you belong in your first choice major.

College Admissions Timeline!

Posted on by in Uncategorized.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RECOMMENDED TIMELINE

The key to not getting overwhelmed with the college admissions process is to stay organized and know what to focus on when. The focus in 9th-10th grade should be on academic success, extracurricular interests, and exploring career ideas. College visits and gaining real world experiences through volunteerism and job-shadowing can happen anytime. 11th grade can be tough because students will typically be faced with standardized testing, taking more rigorous courses, and possibly more intense extracurricular schedules. In 11th grade, students should also narrow their college research to a final college list of 7-10 schools (reach, target, and at least 1 safety choice), establish first and second choice majors, and determine eligibility for any special university programs (such as honors colleges, dual degree programs, etc.). Students should begin working on college applications and the necessary supplementary materials the summer after junior year, with application deadlines in fall of senior year. Waiting to begin the application process until the start of senior year can result in added stress, tight deadlines, and some missed opportunities.

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Students can submit the FAFSA as early as October of senior year. Even when a family isn’t likely to qualify for much if any financial aid, we still recommend completing the FAFSA in order to ensure they qualify for any and all scholarships. Financial aid awards packages are often sent out with admissions offers. Most scholarships are awarded based on academic merit using information provided on the admissions application, but colleges also offer additional scholarships that may require applications. Applying for scholarships is a year-round process as deadlines can occur anytime. Students should use scholarship searches to help match with scholarships. 

For more information please view our College Admissions Timeline presentation here: https://prezi.com/view/wjk5O10tGCfzS9Npk5M7/

COLLEGE RESEARCH

It’s important to gather data and organize your research. We recommend using a spreadsheet to keep track of college visits, information sessions, and admissions requirements with deadlines. There are many information tracking templates available online or you can easily create one yourself. Students should take advantage of opportunities to meet with college recruiters on their high school campuses as well as signing up for campus tours and preview weekends. Colleges track demonstrated interest from prospective students, so signing up for events is a great way for a student to show interest. Students should also plan to follow colleges on social media, especially if the admissions committee has a social media following. 

COLLEGE LIST

A robust college list should include 7-10 choices, including Reach schools (dream schools that might have a <30% acceptance rate), Target schools (or match schools in which a student meets the GPA and test score averages, approx 50% acceptance rate), and Safety schools (which shouldn’t be backup choices, but schools with guaranteed admissions policies). We also recommend students choose at least 1 Texas safety choice, even if they are mostly planning to apply out of state. Keep in mind that the likelihood of acceptance is based mostly on high school course choices and GPA. Standardized test scores, resume info, and college essays help round out a student application and show off strengths and passions. 

CAMPUS VISITS

Don’t put off college visits until Junior year – start early and often! Make sure to get students on campus at colleges nearby or a drive away. If a student is interested in visiting colleges that would require travel planning, start with virtual tours and virtual information sessions first to help a student narrow down their choices. If travel isn’t an option for college visits, then students should also set up alumni interviews and read student reviews online to find out more about the student experience on campus. 

APPLICATIONS – REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Most colleges accept universal applications, which means students may only have to complete one application and submit to multiple colleges. A personal statement or personal narrative essay is almost always required, but the good news is that with the universal application, students can often craft one excellent essay to submit to all schools. Students can diversify their narrative using the supplemental short answer essay that may be required for some applications. Recommended but not required materials often include resumes, letters of recommendation, and portfolios. “Recommended” should always be read as “submit if possible.” Deadlines are deadlines, but as applications are generally reviewed in order of submission, earlier can often meet more likely to be accepted as long as a student meets the GPA and test score averages of a university. Students should generally plan to apply to Safety and Target school earlier than the Early Admission deadline. For some students, an Early Decision application might be a great idea to help improve acceptance for their first choice Reach school, but other Reach schools should be submitted under Regular Decision in order to take more time to craft an excellent admissions application. 

COLLEGE ESSAYS

The college essay is a student’s opportunity to relate who they are as a person, their passions, their skills, and is the best way to help them shine and differentiate their application from the thousands of others. Students should always get help revising and editing any college application writings. High school English teachers often help prepare students for essays, but one of the best ways to prepare for writing an excellent college essay is to read multiple essays from students who were accepted to their top colleges. Students should read the prompts and sample essays and find writings that inspire them and sound like something they could write. More Than A Teacher has a College Essay Workshop to help students craft the perfect essay to submit with their applications. Learn more here.