Question about CV for PhD Application

[dreamerr33]

Hey everyone,

Applying for a PhD in Social Sciences in US Universities

I had some questions about the CV for the application, highly appreciate if someone could answer them,

1) What should be the optimal length of the CV? What font and text-size shall I use? Is there any software or template which I can find on the internet which could help me give a kickstart to my CV preparation? Is there any website where I could see sample CVs?

2) Shall I include references in the CV? Asking this because the Admissions committee will already be seeing recommendation letters from 3 of my references, so is there any point in including references in the CV?

Thank you in advance.

Edited December 17, 2017 by dreamerr33

[timetobegin]

• A CV is as long as you need it to be. I don't think there's a limit. Mine was 3 pages. You don't want to pack your CV with explanations of jobs/skills/tasks like you would a resume, but you should be explaining just enough so they understand the scope of your work. This holds especially true if you're leaving one faculty/domain and looking to enter another.
• Font size 11 or 12; I used Times New Roman for my content and a different font for my header/subheadings. As long as your font is consistent and looks clean, then any will do (Calibri, Times New, Arial, etc).
• I would find a template! Make your CV look nice, and don't just write something into a Doc, bold some words, and call it a day. You can search for templates online; just make sure you're looking for clean, traditional templates (meaning no colours, not busy, no pictures, no 'marketing' or 'media' job-seeking CVs). You're really just looking for the slightest embellishments and alignments that make your CV easy to read. If 'academic CV template' doesn't work on Google, maybe try searching for 'minimalist CV' or something to that effect. 
• I wouldn't include references; they know your references already. My CV subheadings were: Academic, Awards, Research & Presentations, Experience, Volunteer, Other (which included journal clubs, affiliations, etc).

Edited December 17, 2017 by timetobegin

[AP]

In addition to what @timetobegin has said (all very accurate):

• Your name and contact information should be clear at the top of the first page. Include your last name and contact info as header/footer in subsequent pages (if you have three or more).
• Clearly show headings
• Order you experience, etc in reverse chronological order (from the present backwards)
• Be consistent.
• Do not include unnecessary detail (I did)

[dreamerr33]

@AP@timetobegin

Thank you so much for your responses. They have been helpful for me as an International applicant.

Another question,

I have research experience in several unpaid internships.

I have paid research experience in a government project.

and the research experience during coursework in my university.

In addition to that, research experience gained while conducting my Masters thesis study.

So, how can I mention all of it in my CV. Which research experience must be included in what category?

[AP]

3 hours ago, dreamerr33 said:

@AP@timetobegin

Thank you so much for your responses. They have been helpful for me as an International applicant.

Another question,

I have research experience in several unpaid internships.

I have paid research experience in a government project.

and the research experience during coursework in my university.

In addition to that, research experience gained while conducting my Masters thesis study.

So, how can I mention all of it in my CV. Which research experience must be included in what category?

Ok, so depending on how your Master's is presented, the AdComm will assume it required some research. For example, if you wrote under "Education": MA in X (2016). Thesis: blah blah blah, then it is safe to assume you conducted research for that thesis. 

I would include the paid government job under "work experience" or "relevant work experience". How recent is this? because if it lost in annals of history, then no. 

Internships can go under the fancy label of "research experience":

2015     "blah blah project", director, institution (summer)

2014.     "bleh bleh bleh project", director, institution (summer) [if you clarify "summer" it is assumed it is an internship, but it wouldn't hurt to include that either]

Finally, what do you mean "research experience during coursework"? This doesn't sound too strange for the American context. In my (also foreign) college, research papers were rare so I also felt I needed to show that for some courses we conducted research. I think I worded in the SoP. As you make the argument that you are prepared to come to the US, you can mention that in courses X, Y, and Z, contrary to commonly prescribed in your country, you were required to undertake independent research that resulted in final papers (or something like that).