More CV questions

[Emelye]

Hi everyone,

I have some CV questions, complicated by the fact that I have a very unique situation. The main issue I have is that I’m applying to graduate programs that require a background in 1-3 second languages. The problem: I have never taken a language course, and now it’s kind of too late to do so. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a strong language background! I grew up bilingual (Spanish) and have studied Latin independently since 3^rd grade (I was homeschooled). However, that’s not “proven” anywhere on my college record. I DID take four National Latin Exams and was recognized for achievement on all of them, but those are (obviously) from high school. Can I include them on my CV under awards? The unique situation is that I overlapped high school and college so much that it’s hard to distinguish between the two. And now I’m just confusing myself all over again.

Also, I’ve seen people list scholarships they were offered but declined on their CV, and I was wondering if this is legitimate or just weird. I could list a full-tuition scholarship I declined (because I didn’t want to go to the school), but part of me wonders if that just looks like padding.

Oh, and one more thing. In one CV example I read, the person listed each time they were on the Dean’s List individually. So next to each entry they put something like Fall 2009. I was thinking of just clumping them all together and putting this: Dean’s List, year-year (x semesters). Which way is better?

As you can see, I’m kind of freaking out about this. Thanks!

Em

EDIT: Ok, I guess I have one more question. Is it weird to list the professor's names next to the courses in the relevant courses section. (They are writing my recs, so I wanted to reinforce the connection).

Edited September 10, 2011 by Emelye

[harpyemma]

It's totally unnecessary to list professors' names next to their courses. If they're writing your recommendation letters, they will surely mention how many times they've taught you. Listing their names may make it appear that you're trying to ride their coattails somewhat rather than riding your own achievement. Your CV is about you--your academic record--not about the names of those you studied with.

On a similar note, listing each semester or year you were on the Dean's List individually would look odd (to me, at least) when it can be done so much more succinctly. If you pad it out... it's going to look like padding.

Don't list awards you didn't accept.

Yes, include your Latin qualifications if you want. However, what might be a better strategy is to have a section on your CV--this is not unusual--called something like "languages" or "language experience" under which you elaborate on your language skills.

[runonsentence]

I wouldn't suggest listing coursework at all unless there's a specific reason. For example, simply listing every English course you took if you were an English major ends up looking like padding.

But it WOULD be helpful to list your language experiences in a section like harpyemma suggested; and when I was applying, I listed all my rhetoric/composition coursework, since I was finishing an MA in English and wanted to show committees that I had still built a background in my new subfield.

Edited September 10, 2011 by runonsentence

[Origin=Goal]

It sounds to me like you're doing Comp Lit programs. If this is the case many of the "Language History" sections or on supplemental forms have space for "other" comments where you could mention your private Latin Study and Spanish fluency; others will have space to list two native languages (though some don't). Each varies app to app, but I feel like most will have a space where you could note both extenuating circumstances without having to bury this important information in your CV (from the ones I've seen so far, Berkeley for instance has an area where you could include both). The most important thing really is your reading and writing ability in the second language, so if fluency in this manner is not an issue you should make sure they know about it (esp. if it accords with your research interests).

Worst comes to worst, shoot a concise email to the DGS or a POI, its not against the rules

Edited September 10, 2011 by Origin=Goal