Admission counsellors are on the lookout for well-rounded candidates. Show them you’re diverse with accomplishments and extracurriculars in a jaw-dropping graduate school CV.
Career Expert
Your graduate school CV is an education-focused CV that should include your GPA,
the title of your undergrad thesis, the list of classes relevant to the program you're applying to,
and any other info required by the Grad school. Unlike standard CVs, Grad School CVs can be more than one page long.
Online application files, statements of purpose, transcripts, standardised test scores, letters of recommendation—
They’re the standard requirements for applying to any graduate program.
But—if you’re applying to a program that requires an additional CV or CV, then count yourself lucky.
Why? A well-crafted grad school CV is what can set you apart from other candidates. Your extracurriculars show an admissions counsellor you have passions and interests—more so than those who spent 4 years in the confines of the Ivory Tower and didn’t put theory into practise.
And here you’re gonna learn how to achieve this effect. Step by step.
In this guide, you’ll find:
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Kyla D. Cunningham
Personal Info
Objective
Psychology graduate with 3 years of experience as a human services professional. Seeking to build on my theoretical knowledge as an MA student in the Clinical Psychology program at Northwestern University. Bridge the gap as a student between the application of psychological profiling in the workplace to concepts and theory in the classroom.
Education
BA in Psychology
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
GPA: 3.94/4.00 cumulative, magna cum laude
Relevant Coursework: Developmental psychology, Abnormal psychology, Psychology of learning, Cognitive psychology.
Awards: Dean’s List 2014-2018.
Thesis Title: Examining the Role of Cognitive Bias on High School Student Mental Health
School Psychologist Intern
Latino Youth High School
Grants, Fellowships & Scholarships
Certifications
Honours & Awards
Research & Teaching Experience
Research Assistant
University of Chicago, Department of Psychology
Project title: The Multi-Sited Approaches to Mental Health for Senior-Citizens: From Chicago to Cleveland
Memberships
Key Skills:
References
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Chicago
5848 S. University Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Chicago
5848 S. University Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Here’s how to write a CV or CV for grad school:
Here’s the thing—requirements differ depending on the program you’re applying to.
Most graduate programs we’ve come across don’t require a CV. Some do, but the majority of time, they are optional.
Even if it’s optional, it’s best to include a CV or a CV for graduate school, regardless of whether you’re applying to an MA program or Ph.D. program.
Academic counsellors are flooded with applications. Grad school CVs are a quick and easy way for them to see your profile in one document. No need to hunt down proof of your extracurricular activities.
But—your CV format needs to look clean and clear from first glance. Here’s how:
After you’ve written your CV, save it as a PDF to keep the layout aligned and in-line with all software and devices.
Some require a CV for graduate school. Structure it in the same way as the CV format but include additional sections only if they are relevant. Think quality over quantity. Here’s a list of different sections for you to consider:
Expert Hint: Last year, humanities and social science programs acceptance rate for MA and Ph.D. programs ranged from 5–13%. With such low acceptance rates, you’ll need to make sure your application documents are formatted to perfection so counsellors focus on your merit.
Admissions counsellors know your SAT/ACT scores, GPA, and class rank.
Seems enough, right?
Here’s the thing—everyone is a number in their system. You need a way to tell your story behind the numbers.
The way to do so is with a CV profile section, and more specifically, a CV objective. If you’ve studied or worked in a field different from the one you’re applying to, a CV objective helps frame your application to the person reviewing it.
Use the following:
Take a look at what works and what doesn’t in these CV objective for graduate school examples:
Bad Example
Psych School Intern
Latino Youth High School
What a difference.
If the selection committee sees the first example, they’ll know you understand the basics of psychology because you were actively applying its fundamentals.
The second? Not so much.
Remember you have to tie in your work experience with your overall candidate profile and what makes you more of a fit for that particular academic institution.
If you don’t have much experience but do hold some essential skills to boost your profile, add a CV skills section.
Here’s a sample grad school CV with skills listed separately:
Okay, basics down, but something’s missing.
You didn’t get to show how you successfully balanced the demands of a rigorous course load with numerous extra-curricular activities.
And how you spent your time outside of the classroom is extremely important for the selections committee.
Why? As a student and hopeful graduate of their institution, you’ll be an ambassador for the rest of your career.
All eyes on you.
To show them your worth, add relevant extra sections to your grad school CV. Here are some
For candidates applying to MA programs, this section may not be as applicable. It’s mostly for those who are going into Ph.D. programs and worked part-time as a teaching assistant for one of their professors.
Also,if you took part in any research projects as a team member, include it in this section.
Look at the examples below:
University of Chicago, Department of Psychology
Project title: The Multi-Sited Approaches to Mental Health for Senior-Citizens: From Chicago to Cleveland
Department of Psychology, UC
The ability to work as a team member on such a project would be essential experience as an academic—and is bound to boost your profile.
Attending a top-level university for your Bachelor’s is already an accomplishment. Getting a full ride scholarship to cover all tuition based on merit is unheard of.
Impress the selection committee by listing your scholarships, fellowships, and study grants in a dedicated section of your graduate school CV.
List the name of the grant, the institution providing the grant, what it was for, the dates, and the amount awarded.
Are you a BA or MA student who had top-notch journal articles published?
Count your praises—you’ve done more than most Ph.D. candidates.
And you have to show it on your CV for graduate school.
List your publications in this section to show the selection committee that you’re on track to bringing more prestige to the university.
In this section of your grad school CV list additional awards or honours you received within academia or outside of it.
The academic world is built on networks and these connexions are what sustains it. Prove to the selection committee you know this by adding any affiliations or memberships you’ve been a part of in this way:
Did you spend time volunteering in your community? Did you go door-to-door canvassing voters for an election?
List those extracurricular activities in a separate grad school CV section. Think of the following:
End your CV for graduate school with some institutional weight.
Think if you want to have the same references as those who write your letters of recommendation to the university. Often, the letters of recommendation are more targeted to the program itself, like an alumnus who attended, or a leader in your community.
In this section, think of 2–3 academic references who know more about your studies. Include the following when adding references on your grad school CV:
The final step—
Think about how your grad school CV complements your letter of motivation. You don’t want to have much overlap, as your motivation letter will focus on your reasoning for choosing that particular program and institute.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
You’re now one step closer to completing your application process with a great graduate school CV. Let’s recap what you’ve learned:
Got questions on how to write a great CV for graduate school? We’re here to help and want to know how the process worked out! Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.
At ResumeLab, excellence lies at the heart of our values, underpinning our promise to provide outstanding career resources. Our team of career experts meticulously assesses each article in line with our editorial guidelines, guaranteeing our content's high quality and dependability. We consistently engage in original research, illuminating the nuances of the job market and earning acclaim from various influential news outlets. Our commitment to delivering professional career advice draws millions of readers to our blog annually.
Written by Roger MafteanRoger is a career expert at ResumeLab UK. He strives to deliver advice on the best job search strategies and help readers to maximise their chances of landing their dream jobs. His articles also concern the psychological aspects of the workplace.
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