How to Write a Graduate School Resume 

Your resume is critical to your application package when applying to graduate school. It provides admissions committees with a concise overview of your education, work experience, skills, and achievements.

Make sure your resume includes comprehensive information about:

• Your undergraduate and any graduate-level education
• Relevant professional experience
• Pertinent voluntary and extracurricular activities
• Any awards, honors, publications, or other notable achievements
• Relevant skills, certifications, and memberships

Here are the steps for creating a good resume:

Step 1: Plan the structure and layout

Before you start writing your resume, planning its structure and layout is essential. A clear and organized resume makes it easier for admissions committees to quickly find the necessary information. Consider using a simple, professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman, and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points. Use consistent formatting throughout the document, such as bold or italic text for section headings and bullet points for lists.

Example of a resume outline

Check out the following graduate school resume template.

Step 2: Create a heading with your personal information

Start your resume with a heading that includes your personal information. This section should be at the top of the page and include your full name, phone number, email address, and location (city and state). If you have a professional website or LinkedIn profile, consider adding those. Ensure your email address is professional; avoid using casual or humorous email addresses.

Step 3: Detail your education

In the education section, list your academic degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current degree. Include the institution’s name, location, degree earned, major, and graduation date (or expected graduation date). If you have a strong GPA (3.5 or above), consider including it.

Example

Master of Science in Biology | Expected May 2024

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA

GPA: 3.8/4.0

Awards and honors

If you have received notable awards, scholarships, or honors during your academic career, create a subsection under the relevant degree to highlight these achievements. This can include dean’s list recognition, departmental awards, or competitive scholarships.

Example

Dean’s List, Fall 2020 – Spring 2022

UCSD Biology Department Outstanding Senior Award, 2022

National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Scholarship, Summer 2021

Step 4: Outline your work experience

In this section, list your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order. Include the company name, location, job title, and dates of employment. Use bullet points to describe your key responsibilities and accomplishments in each role, focusing on skills and experiences most relevant to your graduate school application.

Example

Research Assistant | June 2022 – Present

UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA

• Conduct independent research on the effects of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions
• Analyze data using R and Python, and present findings at weekly lab meetings
• Collaborate with a team of five graduate students and postdoctoral researchers

Step 5: Highlight other relevant skills and achievements

In the following subsections, highlight any additional skills, achievements, or experiences that demonstrate your fit for the graduate program you are applying to.

Publications and presentations

If you have any publications or conference presentations, list them in a separate subsection. Use a standard citation format appropriate for your field, such as MLA or APA.

Example

Smith, J., & Johnson, A. (2022). Effects of habitat fragmentation on bee diversity in southern California. Journal of Insect Conservation, 26(3), 451-460.

Johnson, A., & Smith, J. (2021, November). Pollinator responses to climate change: A meta-analysis. Poster presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Certifications and memberships

List any relevant certifications or professional memberships you hold. This demonstrates your commitment to your field and engagement with the broader scientific community.

Example

Certified Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society, 2022

Member, Ecological Society of America, 2020 – Present

Languages and technical skills

Highlight any language skills or technical proficiencies relevant to your graduate studies or research. This can include programming languages, statistical software, or laboratory techniques.

Example

Languages: Fluent in English and Spanish

Technical skills: R, Python, ArcGIS, PCR, gel electrophoresis, microscopy

Extracurricular activities

Include any extracurricular activities or volunteer work demonstrating your leadership skills, community engagement, or relevant interests.

Example

President, UCSD Biology Club, 2021 – 2022

Volunteer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 2020 – 2022

Step 6: Proofread and save as a PDF

Before finalizing your resume, proofread it carefully for spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to review your resume and provide feedback. Once you have made any necessary revisions, save your resume as a PDF file to ensure the formatting remains consistent across different devices and software.