Grad School Resume Examples, Templates, and Guide

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A grad school resume should be included in your master’s degree application to give the university’s admissions committee a complete picture of your qualifications.

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To get you started, we’re sharing two graduate school resume examples to inspire you, four writing tips on how to write a standout resume for grad school, and a template you can use to make your own:

Grad school resume examples

To help you put together a great resume for a master’s program, here are two (free and downloadable) graduate school resume examples:

Resume for graduate school application example (current undergrad)

Here’s an example of a resume for grad school written by a current undergraduate:

A grad school resume example that uses a simple resume layout and highlights the candidate's seminar and volunteer experience.

Download This Grad School Resume Sample

Sample resume for graduate school application (text version)

RESUME OBJECTIVE

Undergraduate Political Science student (3.8 GPA) with competencies in polling research and data analysis. A detail-oriented scholar seeking admission into Yale University’s Master’s program in Political Science.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts In Political Science
New York University, New York City,
Expected Graduation: May 20XX

Relevant Coursework: International Politics, Economics, Public Polling, Data Analysis, Electoral Process

Honors:

Magna cum laude
Dean’s List at NYU (Last 3 Semesters)
Tau Sigma Honors Society

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

THE ELECTION PROCESS AND PUBLIC OPINION
NYU Seminar, New York City, NY
Oct 20XX – May 20XX

Developed a thesis proposal for a statewide public opinion poll on tort reform
Awarded a $1,000 grant to expand and execute my polling research
Formulated a series of 10 questions designed to reduce bias
Polled over 1,000 New York residents, reaching the threshold for statistical significance
Organized the resulting data and presented my findings to the NYU Political Science department

TOM SUOZZI FOR CONGRESS
Volunteer, New York City, NY
May 20XX – Nov 20XX

Made and distributed campaign materials to supporters
Helped lead get-out-the-vote efforts in local neighborhoods, knocking on over 800 doors
Wrote scripts for other campaign volunteers to follow when phone banking
Excelled in a fast-paced, demanding environment

SKILLS

Problem Solving
Adaptability
Collaboration
Time Management
Critical Thinking

Graduate school resume example (recent graduate)

If you’ve already graduated, your resume should look more like this recent college graduate resume:

Download This Grad School Resume Example

Grad school resume example (text version)

SUMMARY

Recent Economics graduate with excellent educational credentials and progressive experience in data analytics and reporting. Aspiring to pursue a Master’s degree in Finance from a renowned institution to expand my knowledge in quantitative finance, investments, financial markets, financial reporting, and analysis.

EDUCATION

SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY, San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, May 20XX
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.7/4.0)

Coursework: Introduction to Microeconomic & Macroeconomic Analysis, Intermediate Microeconomic & Macroeconomic Theory, Calculus, Mathematics, Quantitative Reasoning

Awards and Honors:
President’s List, 20XX | Dean’s List for 4 semesters | Pathways Scholarship Recipient, 20XX

EXPERIENCE

SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY, San Francisco, CA
Intern Analyst, May 20XX–Oct 20XX

Evaluated and organized 1995-2019 US personal income data by gender, race, education, and prognosis 2020-2040 gender income gap trend
Worked closely with the professor and 4+ team members to develop a detailed gender income gap report on gender inequality studies
Conducted detailed research to identify trends and formulate forecast models
Maintained 100% accuracy in analyzing large economic and statistical data to derive results and achieve desired outcomes

POP WARNER FOOTBALL & CHEER, San Clemente, CA
Volunteer, March 20XX–November 20XX

Managed youth football programs in the country with 400+ annual participants, $300k annual budget, and 8+ direct reports
Represented the organization at local, regional, and national level
Employed best practices to handle all aspects of discipline, as well as all marketing, financial and special event functions

SKILLS

Leadership
Analytical Problem Solving
Research & Analysis
Data Gathering
Forecasting
Public Speaking
Communication
MS Office Suite

How to write a resume for graduate school

Now that you’ve seen some examples, here are four writing tips to help you write a compelling resume for your graduate school application:

Start with a targeted resume objective

A strong resume introduction will capture the interest of admissions committees and convince them you’re the right candidate for their master’s program.

While there are several types of resume introductions, a resume objective is an ideal choice for grad school applicants because you can use it to target a university’s admissions department directly.

Your resume objective should be two or three sentences long and inform committee members about your educational achievements and goals without focusing heavily on your formal work experience).

A graduate school resume objective should also highlight your:

Undergraduate degree and key achievements
Relevant internship/volunteer experience
Provable skills
University and program name you’re applying to

Here’s an example of a well-written graduate school resume objective:

Undergraduate Economics student (3.8 GPA) with proven leadership and research skills. Six months of international internship experience with the UNHCR. Seeking admission into New York University’s Master’s program in Economics with a specialization in Development Economics.

Include a detailed education section

Your resume education section is the most important part of a graduate school application because it gives a complete overview of your educational achievements and background.

To make an impressive education section, include the following seven pieces of information about your previous degrees and qualifications:

Name of university or college
College location (city, state)
Graduation date (month and year)
Degree(s) (including minors)
Relevant coursework
GPA
Awards (like making the dean’s list)
Latin honors (such as cum laude)

Regarding your relevant coursework, only list classes that qualify you for your master’s program. For example, if you’re applying to a computer science program, list your computer science coursework.

Here’s an example of a complete, well-written education section for a graduate school resume:

Include internship, volunteer, teaching, and work experience

Your grad school resume’s work experience section is where you should highlight any significant career accomplishments you have thus far.

Most graduate school applicants don’t have much formal work experience to list. In this case, your experience section should highlight any relevant work-related qualifications that demonstrate you’re a great fit for the program, such as:

Internship experience(s)
Volunteer work
Extracurricular activities
Teaching experience (TA)
Relevant study abroad experience

Internships and volunteer experience are great ways to supplement formal work experience on your grad school resume.

Having internship experience shows you’re proactive in gaining relevant experience, and that you’re responsible enough to work while also attending class (which demonstrates good time management skills).

Here’s an example of how to include internship experience on your resume:

Internship Experience on a Grad School Resume

Material Express

Risk Management Intern (Airline) / New York / June 20XX-May 20XX

Built a database of airline frequent flyer program features for a major US carrier.
Conducted primary research with seven important industry stakeholders about factors affecting airline profitability.
Developed financial models along with three other employees for a start-up in the aviation sector.
Created a cost-benefit analysis model to analyze the feasibility of building new airport lounges versus renovating unused space.

On the other hand, volunteer experience demonstrates your commitment to serving society and can help you highlight some of your transferable skills.

Here’s an example of how to list volunteer experience on your resume for grad school:

Volunteer Work on a Grad School Resume

ABC Retirement Home
Volunteer Elder Care Worker / California / June 20XX-July 20XX

Collaborated with fellow volunteers to ensure efficient mealtime service, adhering to established protocols.
Provided personalized assistance to two elderly residents during lunch, ensuring their comfort and dignity.
Engaged residents through activities such as playing the guitar, storytelling, and leisurely walks in the garden, tailored to their individual preferences.
Facilitated transportation for five retirees to their respective places of worship every Sunday, promoting social connection and community engagement.
Coordinated recreational events including bi-weekly Bingo sessions and monthly singing and dancing gatherings, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment for all residents.

The Humane Society of the United States
Volunteer Worker / California / September 20XX-May 20XX

Contributed to the welfare of dogs at the KLM dog shelter by diligently performing feeding, cage maintenance, and exercise routines for 10+ dogs.
Rescued five dogs from unlawful breeding situations, advocating for their well-being and rehabilitation.
Achieved licensing as a veterinary technician, leveraging skills to support the in-house veterinarian in administering essential medical care.
Maintained meticulous documentation of each dog’s health, behavior, and adoption status, ensuring effective tracking and personalized care plans.

Certain master’s programs, such as MBAs, often require candidates to have formal work experience to be admitted. While focusing on your education is essential, ensure you always follow admission guidelines to avoid missing any requirements.

Highlight the skills you learned as an undergraduate

Your graduate school resume skills section should highlight the hard and soft skills you acquired as an undergrad that apply to your master’s program.

Remember, you don’t always need formal work experience to acquire relevant skills. Through your coursework, extracurricular activities, and volunteer and internship experience, you’ve likely developed various transferable skills you can list, like analytical skills.

Here’s an example of a graduate school resume’s skill section:

Graduate programs highly value candidates with a strong set of soft skills and technical skills, as these candidates are more likely to have the tools they need to succeed in a variety of environments and industries.

Grad school resume template

Now that you’ve learned how to write a resume for graduate school, let’s focus on the format. Universities are sticklers for proper formatting, so make sure you’re following all the resume formatting best practices and use our template below to make it easier.

You can copy and paste this graduate school resume template into Microsoft Word or Google Docs and fill it out yourself:

Grad School Resume Template

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: youremail@gmail.com

Phone: (895) 555-5555

Address: 4397 Aaron Smith Drive Harrisburg, PA 17101

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourproﬁle

RESUME SUMMARY

Undergraduate [field of study] student (current GPA) with competencies in [relevant hard or soft skills]. A [positive personality trait] scholar seeking admission into [university name]’s Master’s program in [program name].

EDUCATION

Degree Name / Major
University, Location | Start Date – End Date

Relevant Coursework: You can list your relevant areas of study, either in paragraph or bullet format
Honors: If you graduated with honors (i.e. summa cum laude), list it here

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Most Recent Title or Project Name
Employer or School Name / Location / Start Date – End Date

Include a bulleted list of your accomplishments (this can include coursework)
Make sure you quantify (add numbers to) these bullet points

Most Recent Title or Project Name
Employer or School Name / Location / Start Date – End Date

List key accomplishments from an earlier position, internship, or project
Assuming you no longer actively perform this job or project, make sure you use past tense verbs to describe your experience

SKILLS

Highlight your relevant professional skills. If you don’t know what the hiring manager is looking for, try reading through the job requirements and pairing your own abilities with ones in the description.

ADDITIONAL RESUME SECTIONS

Here’s where you can add any other information relevant to your background.

This section could highlight publications, languages, volunteer experience, community service, professional associations you belong to, or any training or certifications.

The best resume templates for 2024

One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

View Resume Templates

Additional resources

Finally, in addition to the grad school resume writing resources on this page, here are some other resources to help you write a competitive resume for your grad school application:

Frequently asked questions about writing a grad school resume

Looking for more answers? Check out some of these commonly asked questions about writing a grad school resume:

Can my grad school resume be 2 pages?

If you have significant academic achievements, relevant experiences, and skills to showcase, you can make a two-page grad school resume. However, because students typically don’t have much experience to showcase, we recommend sticking to one page – you shouldn’t need much more than that.

If you opt for a two-page resume, make sure that all of your most impressive accomplishments are featured on the first page, and that every detail on the second page is relevant and contributes to your application positively.

Is a grad school resume the same as a job resume?

No, a grad school resume differs from a job resume as it’s tailored to showcase your academic qualifications and suitability for a master’s program.

So, instead of focusing on professional work experience, a grad school resume emphasizes your academic achievements, research experience, internships, volunteer work, and relevant coursework.

How far back should a resume go for grad school?

Your grad school resume should typically include experiences and achievements from the past four to six years. Focus on highlighting recent academic accomplishments, relevant internships, volunteer work, and other experiences that show you’re ready for graduate-level study.

How do I make my resume stand out for grad school?

To make your grad school resume stand out, tailor your resume to the specific program and highlight how your background aligns with its requirements and objectives.

For example, if you’re applying to a master’s program in environmental science, emphasize relevant coursework, research projects, internships, or volunteer experiences related to environmental issues. Make sure to showcase any specific skills or certifications that are sought after in your field of study.

By demonstrating a clear alignment between your background and the program’s focus, you’ll make a compelling case for your candidacy.

Should I put my GPA on my resume for grad school?

Yes, you should include your GPA on your resume, especially if it’s competitive and relevant to the program you’re applying to. However, if your GPA is low or not particularly relevant, you can leave it out and prioritize other strengths in your application.