What to Include in a Grad School Resume
Applying to grad school is an intensive and time-consuming process. There are schools to research, entrance exams to prepare for, and lengthy applications to fill out. But as you work through the process, don’t forget to devote attention to another critical aspect of applying to grad school: your resume.
A grad school resume follows the same basic format as a traditional resume but emphasizes different components. Read on to learn how to craft a strong grad school resume that will help you get into the ideal post-secondary education program.
What to Focus On
Educational accomplishments
This is the most prominent section grad school admissions committees will be looking at when reviewing your resume. They want to see what schools you’ve attended, the type of coursework you completed, and what kinds of recognitions or accomplishments you achieved while in school. These things help them understand what kind of student you will be and whether you’re a fit for their program.
Relevant internship and volunteer experience
In addition to having a robust academic career, you want to show the admissions committee that you’re well-rounded and have been working toward your career goals in other ways. Internships, volunteer opportunities, and other experiences outside the classroom help demonstrate your dedication.
Why Do You Need a Resume for Grad School?
Get into your program of choice
Most grad school applications require you to submit a resume. This important document supplements the information in your application and helps focus the admissions committee’s attention on the items that make you a qualified candidate.
Provide a complete picture of your academic career
Traditional resumes act as a showcase of a candidate’s professional experience. Brevity is essential to make sure hiring managers see the most important details. On the other hand, a grad school resume should be more thorough, helping the reader gain a full understanding of your academic and professional path.
When Should You Use a Resume?
Use a resume to:
- Apply for grad school
- Highlight your educational experience
- Showcase non-academic experiences that support your candidacy
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Making academic accomplishments sound exciting
With a traditional resume, it’s common to play up your accomplishments using strong language and bold design choices. With a grad school resume, however, boring can be better. Don’t try to make your resume too flashy. Admissions committees prefer to see a standard format that they’re familiar with so they can easily find the information they’re looking for.
Writing a resume with no job experience
First off, put things into perspective. You don’t have work experience because you’ve been focused on your education, which is a good thing if you’re looking to pursue a higher degree. Instead of spotlighting professional experience (which shouldn’t be the main focus on a grad school resume, anyway), place the bulk of the emphasis on your educational accomplishments and other experiences related to your field of study.
Graduate School Resume Format and Key Components
When applying to graduate school, use the CV format. CV stands for curriculum vitae. It’s a document that outlines the full scope of your academic and professional accomplishments.
Your resume should include the following sections:
- Contact information
Include your full name, along with any credentials you’ve attained, and your phone number, physical address, and email address. - Summary statement
Use the summary statement to convey whether you’re a current student, the type of program you’re seeking to attend, and relevant highlights that help you stand out as a candidate. - Education
Since this is a resume for application into an educational program, the education section should be the primary focus. You’ll want to expand it considerably from what’s on a standard professional resume. Include your:- School and location
- Degree, major, and any minors
- Graduation year
- Relevant coursework
- GPA if impressive
- Honors like cum laude, summa cum laude, or class ranking
- Relevant leadership positions
- Experience
If you have a lot of experience, break this section into subgroups, i.e. research experience, teaching experience, or work experience. Don’t overlap items you’ve already listed in the education section; include them in only one place or the other to avoid confusion.
Use your experience section to cite:- Work experience
- Research experience
- Teaching experience
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Study abroad programs
- Participation in relevant clubs and organizations
- Awards, Honors, and Accomplishments
Cite the achievements you have obtained to help you stand out. This is an area to highlight how you have gone above and beyond in your field of study. - References
A traditional resume doesn’t list references, but it’s standard to include them on a CV when applying to grad school.
Other optional sections
You may have more accomplishments that don’t fit in the above sections but that is still highly relevant to an admissions committee. Here are some other sections you can add to your grad school CV as you see fit:
- Academic publications
- Grants
- Professional affiliations
- Skills
- Languages
FAQs
