RateMy.CV presents

National Resume Improvement Scholarship

$100

Improve your resume. Win a scholarship. No purchase required.

Entry period: May 15 – July 15, 2026

Prize
$100 USD
Deadline
July 15, 2026
Eligibility
College Students
Cost to Enter
Free

About This Scholarship

The National Resume Improvement Scholarship rewards college students who take the time to build a strong, professional resume. This is not about who has the most impressive job history — it is about who demonstrates the best resume writing skills, clearest career goals, and most measurable improvement. Whether you are a freshman writing your first resume or a senior polishing yours for graduation, this scholarship is designed for you.

How to Enter

Prepare Your Resume

Create or update your resume. You may optionally use the free RateMy.CV scanner to check your resume score, but this is not required to enter.

Write Your Career Goals Statement

Write a brief statement (200-500 words) describing your career goals, what role you are targeting after graduation, and how a strong resume supports your job search.

Submit Your Application

Email the following to [email protected] by July 15, 2026:

  • Your resume as a PDF
  • Your career goals statement
  • Your full name and .edu email address
  • Your university name and expected graduation year
  • Optional: a screenshot of your RateMy.CV scan score (if you used the tool)

Share (Optional Bonus)

Share your participation on LinkedIn or X with the hashtag #RateMyResume and tag @ratemycv. This is optional but earns bonus consideration in judging.

Eligibility

- Must be 18 years of age or older - Must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university (undergraduate or graduate) - Must have a valid .edu email address (or international equivalent) - Must be a legal resident of any country (open internationally) - Employees and family members of RateMy.CV are not eligible - One entry per person

Judging Criteria

All entries are judged by the RateMy.CV career review panel on the following criteria:
40%
Resume Quality
30%
Career Goals Statement
20%
Improvement Shown
10%
Presentation
Resume Quality (40%): Is the resume well-structured, ATS-friendly, and free of common mistakes? Does it use strong action verbs, quantified accomplishments, and clear formatting? Career Goals (30%): Is the career goals statement specific, thoughtful, and realistic? Does the applicant demonstrate self-awareness about their target career path? Improvement (20%): If the applicant used the RateMy.CV scanner, did their score improve between scans? If not, does their resume demonstrate strong resume writing fundamentals? Improvement is measured against common resume mistakes, not against other applicants. Presentation (10%): Is the overall application complete, well-organized, and professionally presented?

Timeline

May 15, 2026
Entry period opens
July 15, 2026
Entry deadline (11:59 PM EST)
July 16–31
Judging period
August 1, 2026
Winner announced via email and on this page
August 15, 2026
Prize disbursed

Prize Details

- One (1) winner receives $100 USD - Prize delivered via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or bank transfer (winner's choice) - Winner will be featured on the RateMy.CV blog (with permission) - Winner may also receive a free RateMy.CV Pro subscription ($9/month value)

Rules and Legal

This scholarship is a skill-based contest, not a sweepstakes or lottery. Winners are selected based on merit using the judging criteria above. No element of chance is involved in the selection process. Key rules: - No purchase or payment is required to enter or win - Use of the ratemy.cv website is not required to enter or win - Entries are judged solely on the criteria listed above - The contest is void where prohibited by law - By entering, you agree to the scholarship terms and conditions (coming soon) - Your resume and career goals statement may be used in anonymized, aggregated form for educational content on the RateMy.CV blog. No personally identifiable information will be shared without explicit consent. - The sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the contest if fraud or technical issues compromise its integrity Sponsor: RateMy.CV (ratemy.cv), operated by Foreverburgh, LLC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use RateMy.CV to enter?

No. Use of ratemy.cv is completely optional. You can enter by emailing your resume and career goals statement directly. Using the scanner may help you improve your resume, but it is not required and does not affect your chances of winning.

Can international students apply?

Yes. This scholarship is open to students enrolled at accredited institutions worldwide. You must be 18 or older and have a valid university email address.

What if I have no work experience?

That is perfectly fine. The judging criteria focus on resume quality and writing fundamentals, not on how much work experience you have. A well-crafted resume with academic projects, volunteer work, or campus involvement can score very well.

Can I update my resume after submitting?

Yes. You may resubmit an updated version before the July 15 deadline. Only your most recent submission will be judged. Multiple resubmissions showing improvement may earn higher scores in the Improvement category.

How is the winner notified?

The winner will be notified via the .edu email address provided in their application. The winner will also be announced on this page and on the RateMy.CV blog.

Is this a real scholarship?

Yes. This is a legitimate, funded scholarship offered by RateMy.CV. The $100 prize will be disbursed within 15 days of the winner announcement. No strings attached.

Apply Now

Fill out the form below or email your materials directly to [email protected]

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--- *This scholarship is part of RateMy.CV's mission to make career tools accessible to everyone. Questions? Email [email protected].*

Helpful Resume Resources

Preparing your application? These guides can help you build a stronger resume: - Action Verbs for Resume — 200+ strong verbs to replace "Responsible for" - How to Write a Resume Summary — the 3-part formula that works - Computer Skills for Resume — what to list and what to skip - Skills to Put on a Resume — 100+ examples by industry - Resume Keywords Guide — how to match any job description - Resume With No Experience — how to build a resume from scratch