CV/Resume submissions for grad school

[grad1492]

I have 2 questions regarding CV/Resume submissions for grad school

 

1.       It’s my understanding that a CV “is a fairly detailed overview of your life’s accomplishments, especially those most relevant to the realm of academia” – I can see how someone who has a master’s could have a CV, but are undergrads expected to be able to create one also?

 

2.       If a resume would be more appropriate, then should the content of the resume I submit to grad schools be different from the one I typically submit to employers? The resume I submit to employers only lists the tasks I performed in the labs I’ve worked in but does not highlight the fact that I had independent projects..

 

 

[victorydance]

"It’s my understanding that a CV “is a fairly detailed overview of your life’s accomplishments, especially those most relevant to the realm of academia”

 

Correction: "A CV is a overview of your accomplishments that are only relevant to the realm of academia."

[username1824]

I applied last year and I can tell you what my CV consisted of. It was two pages long and had the following headlines: Research Interest, Research Skills (Straight up just a list of every technique I've done), Education (GPA, GRE test scores, Major GPA), Research Experience (My PI and what I specifically did on the project in about 2 or 3 sentences), Teaching Experience, Leadership Roles, Awards, Publications and Presentations. Hope that helps you

[Monochrome Spring]

When I applied as an undergraduate to PhD programs, I made a CV/resumé hybrid. I had headings for education, research experience, grants/scholarships/awards, presentations, manuscripts in prep., teaching experience, outreach/service, and professional societies. I didn't have many points under each heading, so I elaborated in spots like the research experience and outreach/service to flesh it out more. As a first year PhD student this year, I cut the fluff from my application version. It's rough seeing how small my CV is now, but it motivates me to work harder. 

[bsharpe269]

You should at least try to keep the format of a real CV IMO. You can add some fluff if need be and cut it off later. For example, my CV has the headings: Education (includes degrees and relevent course work), Research Experience (Includes a cupple bullet points about each position), Publications/Presenations, Taching Experience, Honors and Awards, Relevent Skills, and I am currently on the fence about whether to include a communitry involvement section. I have great stuff here like volunteering abroad, I am on the board of a nonprofit, etc. Grad schools dont care that much about this stuff I know but I I wonder if it could put someone over the edge if they are deciding between 2 similar candidates? Like I said, I am on the fence because they might just not care at all.

[Monochrome Spring]

You should at least try to keep the format of a real CV IMO. You can add some fluff if need be and cut it off later. For example, my CV has the headings: Education (includes degrees and relevent course work), Research Experience (Includes a cupple bullet points about each position), Publications/Presenations, Taching Experience, Honors and Awards, Relevent Skills, and I am currently on the fence about whether to include a communitry involvement section. I have great stuff here like volunteering abroad, I am on the board of a nonprofit, etc. Grad schools dont care that much about this stuff I know but I I wonder if it could put someone over the edge if they are deciding between 2 similar candidates? Like I said, I am on the fence because they might just not care at all.

 

Many professional CVs include outreach sections, because that is a major component of being a scientist. It is your broader impacts. Grad schools will care about this, even though it will be less than research and grades. I got comments about my different outreach experiences during interviews and discussions with POIs because they wanted to know if I was going to continue outreach as a graduate student and how I would implement outreach in my research plans. Since an important part of being funded in science is having your broader impacts section, it's important to know that a grad student is going to be able to have a strong broader impacts background and future for their proposals.

[bsharpe269]

Many professional CVs include outreach sections, because that is a major component of being a scientist. It is your broader impacts. Grad schools will care about this, even though it will be less than research and grades. I got comments about my different outreach experiences during interviews and discussions with POIs because they wanted to know if I was going to continue outreach as a graduate student and how I would implement outreach in my research plans. Since an important part of being funded in science is having your broader impacts section, it's important to know that a grad student is going to be able to have a strong broader impacts background and future for their proposals.

 

Thanks, that opinion that helps alot! I will keep that info in there.

[grad1492]

one other question... there are lab techniques I learned through laboratory classes and then there are techniques I learned through working in labs. Would it be inappropriate to list the skills I learned in laboratory courses? 

[ballwera]

one other question... there are lab techniques I learned through laboratory classes and then there are techniques I learned through working in labs. Would it be inappropriate to list the skills I learned in laboratory courses? 

Depends how it was used in your courses...If it was something you learned and used frequently throughout the lab then definitely list it. If it was a technique you were taught and only used it for 1 experiment then I wouldn't list it. 

[username1824]

one other question... there are lab techniques I learned through laboratory classes and then there are techniques I learned through working in labs. Would it be inappropriate to list the skills I learned in laboratory courses? 

I listed every technique, including techniques I did once in lab classes. I think that's fine. You're not lying. And if you did that technique again, it would be somewhat familiar to you. You wouldn't need a complete refresher.

[Bonez]

one other question... there are lab techniques I learned through laboratory classes and then there are techniques I learned through working in labs. Would it be inappropriate to list the skills I learned in laboratory courses? 

It doesn't matter where you learned the techniques, it just matter that you can do them well. I would only list techniques that you can do with a high level of competence, and from my experience, that's what your employer/advisor expects when they read your CV. If you could teach someone else the technique, then it should go on your CV. Otherwise, omit it. 

[tuckbro]

When I applied as an undergraduate to PhD programs, I made a CV/resumé hybrid. I had headings for education, research experience, grants/scholarships/awards, presentations, manuscripts in prep., teaching experience, outreach/service, and professional societies. I didn't have many points under each heading, so I elaborated in spots like the research experience and outreach/service to flesh it out more. As a first year PhD student this year, I cut the fluff from my application version. It's rough seeing how small my CV is now, but it motivates me to work harder. 

This was my apprach as well.