Admission counselors look at more than just your grades when deciding if you’re a good fit for their program. This becomes even more important when you're applying to competitive schools where they’re not just picking good students, they’re picking the best.

And what makes someone “the best”? It’s not just about how well you perform in class. It’s about who you are outside of it, too - the kind of impact you make, the things you care about, and how you show up in the world beyond books and grades. This is reflected in the leadership roles you took on, your passion projects, your community involvement, and so on.

And your grad school resume is the perfect place to pull all of that together. 

In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say your resume can make or break your impression, because it’s often the one thing that shows them you’re more than just numbers on a transcript.

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What Is a Grad School Resume?

When you think of a resume, the first thing that probably comes to mind is a job -  something that lists where you’ve worked, what you did, and what skills you picked up along the way. But a grad school resume isn’t quite the same. You’re not trying to land a job. You’re trying to show a school that you’re ready -  academically, personally, and professionally,  to take your learning to the next level.

So while you can include work experience, especially if it ties into what you want to study, the real focus needs to be on your academic journey. That includes your coursework, GPA (if it supports your case), research experience, leadership roles, and extracurriculars that helped shape your interest in the field. 

Basically, anything that shows you’ve been making a conscious effort to land this admission, and not just passing classes, but pushing yourself beyond them.

If you’ve had part-time jobs that connect to your studies, like tutoring, mentoring, or assisting a professor,  those absolutely belong too. Because those are the kind of jobs that complement your journey as a learner and a student. 

Admissions counselors usually suggest keeping your resume to no more than two pages. And just like you’d tailor a job resume to a specific role, this one should be shaped around the program you’re applying to.

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Resume vs. CV: What’s the Difference?

We often come across this question - and it’s a good one to tackle before we dive deeper into how to build a grad school resume.

A resume is brief and focused on skills, academic highlights, and relevant experience, and it’s what most U.S. grad programs prefer. A CV (Curriculum Vitae), on the other hand, is longer and more comprehensive. It covers things like your publications, conference presentations, teaching experience, research projects - the whole academic journey, in detail.

Some programs specifically ask for a resume. Others are more flexible and will accept either. So, before you start drafting anything, always check the application requirements on the school’s admissions page. It’ll save you the stress of having to redo everything later.

P.S. This was just a quick overview. If you’re still unsure which one you need (or want a deeper dive into the differences), we’ve broken it all down in our full guide on Curriculum Vitae vs Resume.

Choosing the Right Format

Before you begin, it’s important to get your resume format right, and no, this isn’t about fancy designs or eye-catching colors. Because when it comes to grad school applications, the goal is clarity, not creativity. 

Admission committees are reading through dozens (sometimes hundreds) of resumes. The last thing you want is for your formatting choices to get in the way of what actually matters -  your accomplishments.

So, stick with a clean, professional layout. Fonts like Times New Roman or Georgia work well. They’re classic, readable, and generally considered formal enough for academic settings. 

Aim for a font size between 11 and 12 points, and make sure your margins are no smaller than 0.65 inches. These tiny details make your resume easier on the eyes and help ensure that nothing is cluttered or too hard to read.

Avoid overly designed templates with graphic-heavy elements or distracting colors. 

While these might look impressive at first glance, they often take attention away from your experiences. And since grad schools aren’t judging you on your design skills, if they aren’t able to see your qualifications and story laid out clearly, you’re killing the whole purpose of your resume.

The easiest way to get it all right is to start with a pre-built template. We have a whole library of different resume formats built specifically for students like you. They’re simple, well-organized, and built with admissions expectations in mind. 

And if formatting feels like a time-sink (which it often is), our resume builder can help heaps. It takes the guesswork out of layout decisions so you can focus on the rest of your application.

What to Include in a Grad School Resume

Header:

Start simple. Your full name, email address, phone number, and (if applicable) a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website/portfolio. Make sure the email sounds professional -  ideally just your name, and that all links actually work.

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Example:

Sofia Patel

sofia.patel@email.com | (123) 456-7890 | linkedin.com/in/sofiapatel

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Education:

List your degree(s), the school(s) you attended, graduation dates, and your GPA,  but only if it’s 3.5 or above. Below that, it’s usually best to leave it out and let the rest of your resume speak for you.

You can also include relevant coursework if it ties directly into the grad program you’re applying for. 

For example, if you're applying to a Master’s in Public Health, highlighting classes like “Epidemiology” or “Global Health Policy” shows that you already have some foundational knowledge.

If you’ve received honors like summa cum laude, Dean’s List, or department-level awards,  this is the place to include them.

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Example:

B.A. in Political Science

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Graduated: May 2024 | GPA: 3.76

Relevant Coursework: Public Policy Analysis, Comparative Politics, Research Methods

Honors: Dean’s List (2022–2024), Political Science Department Scholar

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Research/Projects:

This section is especially important if you're applying to a research-heavy program. 

So any labs you’ve worked in, research papers you've written, or significant academic projects you’ve been involved in, make sense to be added here. It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking - admissions committees aren’t expecting you to have published in top journals,  BUT  they do want to see that you’ve engaged with ideas beyond the classroom.

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Example:

Senior Thesis: “Digital Privacy and Public Policy in the Age of Surveillance”

Conducted independent research over two semesters examining the role of government regulation in digital privacy. Designed and distributed a 300-participant survey, analyzed results using SPSS, and presented findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

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Internships and Volunteer Work

These experiences show that you’ve taken your learning outside the classroom and applied it in the real world. So, if you’ve interned or volunteered in roles related to your field of study, highlight those here.

For instance, if you're applying for a psychology program and you volunteered at a crisis hotline or interned at a mental health clinic, that’s highly relevant, and it tells the admissions team that you’ve stepped into real-world environments and chosen to pursue it further as a lifelong career. 

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Example (Internship):
Behavioral Health Intern, MindPath Wellness Center
June–August 2023 | Chicago, IL

• Observed intake sessions and group therapy led by licensed clinicians
• Assisted in developing workshop materials on stress management for teens
• Maintained detailed case notes under supervision while respecting patient confidentiality
  
  

Example (Volunteer):
Volunteer Peer Counselor, Campus Mental Health Initiative
Sept 2022–May 2023

• Provided weekly one-on-one support sessions for fellow students dealing with anxiety, academic stress, or personal challenges
• Received 20+ hours of active listening and peer support training
• Helped organize mental health awareness events during National Wellness Week

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Skills

You want a mix of hard skills (things like coding, lab techniques, or software knowledge) and soft skills (like communication, problem-solving, or collaboration). It helps admission officers see that you not only know the material but can do something with it. 

But this mix should be intentional. Don’t just list everything you know, choose skills that directly relate to your target field.

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Example (for a Psychology grad program):

• Data Analysis (SPSS, R)
• Academic Writing and Research
• Crisis Communication
• Qualitative Interviewing
• Time Management

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Example (for a Public Health program):

• Epidemiological Modeling
• Literature Review
• Project Coordination
• Cross-cultural Communication
• Grant Writing

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Leadership & Extracurriculars

Grad schools want students who participate, contribute, and take initiative and this section is where you show them how you’ve done that. So if you led a student organization, were a teaching assistant, helped organize campus events, or simply showed up consistently for a cause you care about, it all counts.

P.S.: Leadership doesn’t have to mean you held a fancy title. Even if you were part of a team or helping run something behind the scenes, it reflects initiative.

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Example:
Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Sociology
Spring 2023

• Led weekly discussion sections of 15–20 students
• Graded assignments and provided detailed feedback
• Held office hours and supported students one-on-one with course content

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Example:
Vice President, Environmental Club
Sept 2021–May 2023

• Coordinated campus-wide recycling initiative, reducing waste by 18%
• Managed outreach campaigns and partnered with local eco-nonprofits

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Awards & Honors

Mention any and all scholarships, fellowships, and academic distinctions you’ve received. They tell the admission officers that you’ve already been recognized for your potential before, and they need to do the same. 

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Example:

• Academic Merit Scholarship, 2021–2024
• Winner, Undergraduate Policy Case Competition, 2023
• Best Research Poster, Annual Student Symposium, 2022
  
  

Tailor Your Resume to the Program

Getting into grad school isn’t something you want to leave to chance,  especially not because of something as fixable as a generic resume. And honestly, it’s not like you're applying to 30 different places. Realistically, most people apply to maybe 4 - 7 programs at most. That’s a manageable number to work with when it comes to customizing your resume.

So start by reading through the program details carefully. Look for patterns. What kind of students do they talk about in their testimonials? What strengths does the department seem proud of? If you can, chat with current or past students. They can often tell you things you won’t find on the website - the kind of qualities that professors or admissions officers tend to appreciate more than others.

Then, frame your resume accordingly. 

Highlight the courses, research, projects, leadership roles, internships, or teaching experience that relate to what the program values. Use specific keywords or phrases from the program page, not to keyword-stuff your resume, but to show that your experience speaks the same language as theirs.

It’s kind of ironic, but while this resume is technically about you, what they really want to see is how well you fit into their world. So yes, it’s your story,  but told in a way that makes them feel like you belong in theirs. That’s what tailoring really means.

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Craft a Strong Opening Summary

Your resume summary is your way of saying: “Here’s who I am, what I care about, and why this program makes sense for me right now.”

It’s the very first thing the admissions committee will read,  and if it’s written with intention, it’ll silently guide how they view everything that follows. This doesn’t mean it has to be full of big claims. In fact, the best summaries are simple, direct, and human. They bring together your academic focus, your motivation, and your readiness for graduate-level study,  not in a laundry list, but in a short, thoughtful paragraph that sets the tone.

The key is to be VERY specific. Don’t just say you’re a “motivated student” with “strong communication skills.” Tell them what you’ve done, what you care about, and what you’re aiming for. 

In other words: connect the dots between where you’ve been and where you’re trying to go.

Here’s how that might actually look:

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Example (for Clinical Psychology):

• Psychology graduate with hands-on research experience in adolescent behavioral health and two years of peer counseling work on campus. Currently preparing to pursue graduate study in clinical psychology with a focus on youth mental health and early intervention. Passionate about combining research and practice to improve access to community-based care for underserved populations.

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Example (for Cognitive Neuroscience):

•  Recent neuroscience major with a concentration in cognition and behavior, and lab experience studying memory retention in older adults. Developed a strong interest in brain plasticity through research and coursework, and now seeking to further explore neural mechanisms of learning at the graduate level. The long-term goal is to contribute to academic research in cognitive aging.

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Example (for Public Health or Social Work crossover):

• Sociology undergrad with a background in crisis intervention and volunteer work in domestic violence shelters. Driven to study the intersection of mental health, trauma, and public policy through graduate study in social work. Looking to build on real-world experience and deepen understanding of systemic barriers to care.
  
  

Highlight Unpaid & Academic Experience

Your most valuable experience isn’t always paid. And that’s completely okay. Admissions committees know this. In fact, they expect to see things like unpaid internships, volunteer work, and course-based projects on your resume.

So, to them, it doesn't matter if you got a paycheck or not; it’s what you learned, how you contributed, and how the experience connects to what you want to study next.

And these roles should be listed just like paid jobs. That means clear titles, dates, organizations, and bullet points that explain what you actually did, what it taught you, and what skills you picked up along the way.

Here’s  how that plays out in real life:

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Example (Academic Project):
Senior Thesis: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Short-Term Memory
Jan–May 2024 | Department of Psychology, UC Davis

• Designed and conducted a study with 30 participants measuring memory performance after sleep restriction
• Performed data analysis using SPSS and presented findings at the Undergraduate Research Conference
• Explored implications for cognitive functioning in high-stress academic environments
  
  

Example (Unpaid Internship):
Research Assistant, Cognitive Development Lab
Sept 2023–Present | UC Davis

• Assisted with participant recruitment and behavioral assessments for a study on language acquisition in toddlers
• Managed data entry and coding for video-based observation sessions
• Gained exposure to IRB processes and child-friendly research methodologies
  
  

Example (Volunteer Role):
Volunteer Mentor, Girls in STEM Initiative
Summer 2023 | Sacramento, CA

• Led weekly virtual sessions to support high school students exploring careers in psychology and neuroscience
• Created age-appropriate lesson plans on cognitive bias, memory, and attention
• Built meaningful connections and helped students explore academic pathways in behavioral science

So paid or not, anything that helped shape your academic direction, developed your skills, or gave you insight into your field - it belongs on your resume.

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Common Grad School Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few missteps that can hurt your chances (and how you can avoid them):

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1. Adding unrelated job experience just to “fill space”

It’s tempting to list every role you’ve ever held, especially if you don’t have a long work history yet. But here’s the thing -  grad admissions officers aren’t trying to see how well you managed a cash register or how many shifts you covered during undergrad.  If a job doesn’t support your academic goals, through transferable skills, exposure to relevant settings, or personal growth, it doesn’t belong. 

So, instead focus on experiences that show curiosity, initiative, or direct relevance to your field of study.

Instead of this:
“Barista at Starbucks – Took customer orders and maintained inventory.”

Try this (only if relevant):
“Part-time Barista – Balanced 20+ hours of work per week while maintaining a 3.8 GPA, developing time management and communication skills in a high-pressure setting.”

You see how that connected soft skills back to academic readiness?

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2. Using overly flashy templates or messy formatting

When it comes to grad school resumes, clarity > creativity. 

So please avoid over-designed formats with multiple columns, icons, or funky fonts. Admissions officers don’t need bells and whistles; they need to scan your document quickly and understand your journey at a glance.

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3. Typos, grammar slips, and hard-to-follow structure

Yes, they’re small things, but they add up. A typo or unclear phrasing might seem harmless, but to someone reviewing dozens of resumes a day, it can make them question how serious you are about this. 

So read it out loud or have someone else look it over. Make sure every section flows and that your formatting is clean and intentional.

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4. Copy-pasting your job resume without tailoring it

This is probably the most common mistake and one of the easiest to fix. 

A resume made for employers speaks a different language than one meant for academia. Your grad school resume should be about learning, inquiry, and your intellectual path. That means research, academic projects, relevant coursework, and leadership, not sales quotas or “results-driven” jargon.

So, before you submit, take a breath and ask: Does this resume reflect the kind of student/researcher I am and want to become?

Check out our detailed guide on common resume mistakes to avoid for more insights on this.

Include a LinkedIn or Online Portfolio

This part might feel optional, especially if you’re used to thinking of resumes as stand-alone documents. But in the context of grad school applications, adding a link to your professional online presence can give admissions committees a more complete picture of who you are.

The key, though, is that whatever you link to has to ADD VALUE. Take the time to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

If it still reads like a part-time job history from freshman year, or your portfolio has broken links and a blog you haven’t touched in a year, leave it off until you’ve overhauled your profile. Admissions officers are short on time, and you only get one chance to guide what they see.

If you do include your LinkedIn, take a minute to customize the URL. It’s a small detail, but it makes a difference.

Here’s what that might look like:

LinkedIn (cleaned-up URL):

linkedin.com/in/jordan-ramirez → looks way better than linkedin.com/in/jordan-ramirez-2391a7x09

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Final Tips

Before you wrap things up:

• Look at real examples -  especially from your school’s career center or grad programs in your field. Sometimes seeing how others structure their story helps you better tell your own.
• Proofread -  not just for typos, but for tone, flow, and clarity. If you’ve been staring at your screen for too long, ask someone you trust to give it a once-over. A fresh pair of eyes can catch what you miss.

Test your layout using Careerflow’s Resume Builder especially if you’re short on time or second-guessing your formatting. You can plug in your content, adjust the structure, and download a clean, professional file in just a few minutes.