On any given week, a typical high school student’s schedule can look less like a calendar and more like a balancing act. The week might begin with a full day of AP classes, followed immediately by varsity practice that runs late into the evening. Somewhere between homework and studying for an upcoming test, there’s a club meeting to lead, volunteer hours to complete and SAT or ACT prep to squeeze in. By the weekend, what could be free time often becomes another opportunity to build a stronger college résumé. For many students, this constant juggling act has become the norm—a reflection of the growing culture of résumé building in high school.
“Résumé culture” refers to the societal pressure to obsess over one’s life, experiences and achievements to present a perfect, polished image for career advancement. In high school, students jam-pack their schedules like this in an effort to stand out in college admissions, which continue to become more competitive. It’s what most students feel they have to do to start the career they want and to get the educational opportunities they desire.
The pressure to fall into “résumé culture” starts early. Junior Paige Richards explained how becoming a high schooler immediately made her feel rushed to join many clubs.
“The first thing that you hear freshman year is to do well and to overcommit as much as possible. There’s a ton of pressure to do that nowadays, whether it be with clubs or AP classes,” she said.
Specifically, getting to junior year and college application season adds additional stress to building your résumé. Junior Amelia Cook highlights that it’s a challenge to balance everything on her plate.
“It is definitely a challenge to balance being part of clubs and organizations, especially as a junior, since I am also trying to balance everyday academics, studies for college admission testing, and Irish dancing,” she said. “My social time has been much more limited this year compared to my freshman and sophomore years, and always thinking about the next task I have to complete makes it hard trying to even get a mental break.”
Mount Pisgah College Counselor Andrew Morrison emphasized that college admissions heightens the pressure to be involved in a wide variety of activities. With COVID-19 forcing colleges to review applications more holistically, more emphasis is placed on the activities and clubs students are involved in.
“I think I have experienced more students who are worried they do not do enough and won’t have an impressive resume. College admissions is also definitely putting more pressure on commitment outside the classroom,” he stated. They value both quantity and depth; they want to know how much time you spend doing said activity, how varied your involvement is, if you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone, and more.”
Studies show that when students over-stress or overcommit, it can be harmful.
Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth and Punish by Rewards, says that the pressure students face to add more and more to their schedules makes them suffer intellectually and psychologically.
Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at the Stanford University School of Education, seconds this, explaining that overstressed students are not engaged, focus on regurgitating facts, and consider getting the best grades as the absolute top priority.
However, some students love this standard of being as busy as can be. Counselor Jennifer Scott explained how keeping their schedules packed and following the “résumé culture” actually helps students succeed.
“Some people thrive by staying busy from sunup to sundown because they know that if they have too much free time, they will just doom scroll, waste time and potentially feel down as well. In fact, some students know that they do their best in school when they are ‘in season’ with their sport because they MUST manage their time well,” explained Scott.
Many students also express that the skills they’ve learned from staying busy have benefited them rather than harmed them.
“The personal growth that comes from being involved in such a diverse range of clubs and organizations has created a lasting impact for me that goes beyond college admissions,” stated Cook.
Senior Sanhita Panse explained how teachers and administrators at Mount Pisgah helped her manage a busy schedule while learning time-management tactics she’ll take into college.
“One of the biggest learning curves for me in extracurriculars was learning how to set boundaries and manage my time. I’m so blessed that Coach Heotaky and Mr. Hilton have helped me do that in an encouraging way, and it’s something that I’ll always use,” she explained.
Ultimately, “résumé culture” leaves many students walking a fine line between meaningful involvement and overwhelming pressure. While staying busy can build valuable skills, the real challenge for students is learning how to pursue opportunities without losing the balance that allows them to grow, rest, and enjoy the high school experience.
