I'm entering fourth year in the fall.  I was on the Dean's List in first and second year, but not in third year.  Should I include this honour on my CV (e.g. Dean's List 2005-2007) or does the risk of looking like I'm regressing outweigh the past accomplishment?

What are the requirements for being on the Dean's List at your school?  At mine, it's a GPA in the top 10% of your faculty based on grades from September through April (winter session).  I'm not sure whether they separate students into years or treat everyone equally. 

Hi Everyone,

I hope your applications are going well! I'm making a few finishing touches on some of mine before I leave for the holidays.

After graduating from college, I have been attending classes part time at the university I work at. On my CV, I have listed this work as "post-baccalaureate" (as opposed to an official degree like Bachelor of Arts). Is that the correct term for this? I noticed online that there are official "post-baccalaureate" programs, but I'm just taking some physics and history courses to dabble into the history of science, I'm not part of a post-bac program.

Thank you!

EDIT: I asked a couple grad students and an administrator. The grad students are pretty sure that post-baccalaureate signifies an actual program and that instead, I should put "nondegree" or "continuing education class." I sent my CV to a couple programs already - hopefully it won't be a big deal.

What does everyone think about including a list of references on your CV, like one would put on a resume for a job application?  References which are in addition to your letters of recommendation?

I'm in an odd situation where my MA institution has gone through some pretty drastic faculty changes recently, and as a result some faculty members who my adcomms might think of when they think of my school are actually no longer employed there (and sometimes haven't been for quite a while).  Additionally, people who are there now are people that I may have only worked with for one semester, if that, and so they can't write me strong recommendations.  I do have three strong letters, but in the past outside professors have said, "why no letter from x, y, or z?"  The answer being that, while they would write for me, they do not know me nearly as well as those who are writing for me.  But.  If I include a list of references on the CV, to include those people's names, then it avoids any question that they might think negatively of me, hence my choice of writers.... and instead it just shows my writers for who they are, people who know me well - not the only people who like me!

What do you all think?  Is it unsolicited information, or overkill?  Or is it a helpful complement to my application?

So...what exactly is a Curriculum Vitae?  How is it different from a resume?  And what kind of scenario would a CV be preferred over a resume?

Stupid online apps.  They don't list a CV as a requirement, then request that you put one together.  Looks like I know what I get to spend next week doing.  Delightful.

Does anyone have a link to a particularly helpful "how to write a CV" page that goes beyond ehow.com?  Maybe with examples and pretty pictures and whatnot? 

Two brief questions.

1- Is it appropriate to attach a cv/resume and/or a "relevant coursework" document if a school doesn't ask for this? I ask primarily because my school's transcripts are bloody awful, barely useful, and there are things in my cv/resume and coursework, like all the Honors classes I've taken and research projects and teaching experience, that I want to highlight.
2- What I want to do at this point is obtain a Ph.D in Comparative Literature and English. That is, I want to study English Literature, but from a comparativist's point of view. Now, I assume this means apply to Comp Lit depts. and have English as my national literature, which I have seen done, but does anyone know anything about "dual doctorates"? My Renaissance Lit prof apparently got his degree in Comp Lit -and- English, and said he had a dual doctorate, and I don't know if this is like a double major or what.

Thanks in advance!

How are you submitting your writing samples, CVs, SoPs, etc., to programs that require hard copies? Are you stapling your writing sample? Or using a binder clip, since it will have to be photocopied? Putting stuff in plastic covers? Paper clips for SoPs and CVs? Two paper clips b/c you're worried about them falling apart? What works, what doesn't?

Sending in my first packs tomorrow, and I'm curious what other people did. Maybe I'll get some good advice from those rational science engineering people who already had to send everything in. The type of person who is up on the structural dynamics of a paper clip. :-) Actually, I'd really appreciate anyone's sharing their methods.

A few programs I'm applying to (PhD programs in Microbiology) ask for resumes. I'm not quite sure what to put on a resume for grad school. I've been out of school for a bit, and I do have work experience in my field, which will obviously go on there. But because this isn't a job application, I'm hesitant to put an objective statement on there. And it feels like much of what else I would put on there will be duplicated in other areas of my application (schooling, relevant coursework). I obviously don't need to put my normal "References available upon request" either. So what do I fill that space with? I don't want to list all my work experience back to freshman year of college just so I don't have an empty looking resume. I have no publications. None of my volunteer work is in my field. I have no awards (though I did have an academic scholarship in undergrad), and only one semester on the deans list. What else?

When I entered undergrad, I got a bunch of scholarships from various places, including funds from the city where I went to high school, my parents' church, the state I lived in, my dad's job, etc. They lasted me through most of college, and were all merit-based and so I was thinking I might be able to put at least some of them on my cv, although probably not all. Can I do this? For what it's worth, I have a MA and am applying to PhD programs.

Thanks!

I found this link online that I like for writing vitas: ( link )

As an undergrad student, a lot of those categories don't apply to me. Some only indirectly. For example, I taught at hebrew school for several years (preschool and third grade). Is that relevant teaching experience? If I was to put that down, should I list it where it doesn't indicate my religion?

What do y'all think of for the honors/awards section? I am not thinking of any, but maybe I am missing something obvious.

hey guys. question about the resume. should education go at the beginning or the end? also, my work experience doesnt really have much to do with what i was to get my master's in (i work in finance, want an MA in economics), so i'm not sure how to format the whole thing.
any suggestions would be great! thank you!

Random quickie question: can you/should you put papers in progress on your CV?

Context: I'm applying to a post-bac certificate program at a local university in the field that I currently work in (computer science) which was not the field in which I majored (neuro & cognitive science). The particular program is intended for those who weren't CS majors as undergrads, and claims to prep students for CS grad degree work, and I would like to use it as a stepping stone to a part-time master's at the same school (or another local school).

The application requires a resume. I haven't updated my resume since I graduated and started work, and what to put where has become more complicated in the meantime. I'd appreciate any advice. I apologize for the number of questions, and have put them behind individual cuts to make it easier for people to read.

( Job title issues )

( Research experience/awards outside of field in which I am applying )

( Professional society memberships in field in which I am applying )

( Short online courses )

( Course similar to a university course, but not )

Hi guys, I hope everyone's apps are going well!

I'm attending a graduate school fair tomorrow and was advised to bring a resume/CV. A friend of mine went to a similar fair and said that she combined her resume and CV into a one-page document so that it would be easier on the representative and would tell enough but not too much. Is this a good idea? I don't want to hand the reps four pages of info, but I don't want to underwhelm them either.

And if it IS a good idea.... anyone want to look over my combined resume/CV and tell me if it's good? :)

Thanks all!

1. When a graduate program's minimum requirements include "All applicants must have a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution" (this is from University of Michigan's grad school), does that REALLY mean you already need your bachelor's before you apply?

2. What is the proper format for a CV/resume? Is there one?

3. Is it unusual/rude to ask a prof to write a recommendation for each school you're applying to (say 5 or 6)? I know a lot of it's the same and I know it's not uncommon for them to write more than one for you, but I don't know what the limit is.

hey fellow applicants,

good to be here, sharing my moments of terror with--other moments of terror!

i have a question that i can't quite find an answer for in the memories. if it has been asked before, i'm very sorry: i may well have missed something, and if someone could point me in the way of the response, i'd appreciate it.

i've had a lot of job experience: i moved out and became financially independent when i was in my mid-teens, and i've been living on my own in a variety of apartments with a variety of jobs since then. of course, not all of this experience is remotely relevant to the degree i'm shooting for (english phd), but fortunately, a sizable amount is, and i definitely plan on including the jobs that i know are relevant in my resume.

at the same time, i'd hate to appear one-dimensional: i feel like one of the (few) things i have going for me is the fact that i've had a great deal of life experience even though i'm fairly young. as someone who is applying to programs directly out of undergrad, i fear that my age will make me seem less experienced and less sure of myself than i am, and revealing the fact that i've had a somewhat unusual childhood and undergraduate experience helps to decrease the possibility of that sort of misunderstanding.

so, i'm wondering if any of you have suggestions for what specific job experience(s) you would include on a resume in my situation. i definitely don't want to list every odd job, and i'm not even sure if i should list the non-academic jobs that i've held long-term commitments at. i don't know if my resume is an appropriate place for showing this kind of multidimensionality, or if i should concentrate on weaving that information into my SOP and leave my resume as a kind of greatest hits collection of academically significant jobs.

thanks a lot for your help, and good luck to all of you!

best,
s

In spring 2007, I took a course on the Holocaust in France. The students in this class had the opportunity to travel to France for a week at the conclusion of the semester to continue our studies on-site. The professor asked one of us to write for an online blog that would be posted on the website of my university. I like to write, so I volunteered to do this.

I did not think it was that big of a deal, but over the summer, several people (including the professor of this course) have suggested that I put this on my CV. I already have a section called "publications and manuscripts" - do you think it is worth including this online blog in a list of the peer-reviewed manuscripts I have? If so, how would I list it? My other citations are in APA style, but I have no idea how to cite a blog. Would it be something like this:

Last name, First initial. (2007). Title of blog. Published by [my university] [URL]?

If any of you would like to read the actual blog (either out of curiosity, or to tell me whether the content is "good" - I am a bit hesitant to include it on my CV because my writing is informal and not my best), I would be happy to e-mail you the URL. I don't want to post it online for all to see as it reveals my name and institution, but if you e-mail me at drive_her_away(at)yahoo(dot)com I'd be happy to send it to you.

My second question is this: Apparently the associate dean of my college has referenced this blog in thank-you letters to donors and because of this wanted to give me a scholarship I didn't apply for. I was unable to accept it due to technical reasons having to do with financial aid. Should I list this on my CV under "awards"? If so, how? I already have a bunch of stuff there, so I don't want to look like I am just trying to make it longer, and I don't think I really need the additional line. But if it is important to include it, I'd like to do that. Would I just make a notation like, "unable to accept due to financial aid restrictions"? I am also unsure how to list the actual award - it came from my college, but I have already gotten other awards from them, so I can't just call it "College of the Liberal Arts Scholarship" (as that name is already taken by an award I was able to accept). Does anyone have insight on this?

I'm trying to figure out how to list my foreign language skills. I have five years of French in middle school and high school plus tutoring after college and I just took a level three class to refresh my skills this past Spring. I took a Spanish 1 class this Summer with intentions of continuing with tutoring this Fall. Should I just write I'm proficient in reading for both languages (even though I'm not but intend to be by the time apps go out) or do I list my specific level of experience with each?

thanks!

When I first created a resume many years back, I had several standard design templates to choose from in Word. As I moved up in my career I created a spiffier layout that had a little flair and a design element or two. Now that I'm creating my CV, I'm wondering if it's ok to give it a little something to make it my own (and I don't mean creating a tacky mess that looks like a cereal box) or if I should just stick to a tried and true classic format.

Thoughts?

With another faculty member at the community college I teach at, we are developing a brand new course (Feminist Philosophy). I want to include this on my CV but I am not sure where to put it. Or should I even include if the course has not yet to be approved by the college? Thanks!

Hi,

Before I begin searching tirelessly through the archives or bombarding this community with questions, I thought I would ask: is there a reputable tutorial somewhere on how to create a CV, a proper statement of purpose, organize application information, etc? It seems that with such a cumbersome process, someone out there must have created a cohesive how-to guide.

Quick question, sorry to spam 2 in 2 days:

I've done a ton of research (as an assistant on projects, I'm not talking about my own projects here) as an undergrad, and I'm unsure where to list all the details.

How would you list your undergraduate research assistant experiences?

Psychology Research Experience (what should I call it? I'll have research in psych, social psych, and soc, should I group them all together and not differentiate?
blablablabla lab, 2006-2008.
-Under direction of -_____
-Built....
-Ran mass study...
-Ran individuals...
-Coded videos...
-SPSS pwned...

(it would obviously be formatted better)

I'll have about 4 of these to list.

a) just lab name and who I worked under
b) lab name, worked under, title of studies worked for
c) lab name, worked under, duties I took care of in lab (like above example, this one is huge because I will have worked there for 2 years when graduating, so I've done just about everything).

Should all this extra info be in my SOP as a little paragraph describing my experiences?

I'd rather put it on the CV, only that [for me] it would be easier for me to read in a list rather than a whole paragraph.

Does anyone have good resources for what to include on my vitae? One grad student told me she included EVERYTHING including jobs, a few volunteer hours at her church-everything. Other people have told me to be more selective but most people say there's no standard. So I guess,what did you put on yours? If I don't have a ton of academic stuff should I add other things or will it just look dumb? I'm trying to get this done early since one of my LOR's asked to see it before writing his letter.
Thank you