The Complete Guide to Writing the Perfect CV for your Master's Application

It’s a long journey from deciding to do a Master’s to getting admission to a university of your choice. Once you have narrowed down the program and shortlisted the list of colleges, you want to apply to, start the herculean task of collating all the supporting documents.

From filling out the application forms and writing personal statements to gathering transcripts and references – applying to a Master’s program is severe work.

But do you know which is one of the most underrated documents in all of it? The Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Yes, you read that right. You do need to submit a CV for your Master’s application. Don’t know where to begin? Let us help you.

How to Write a Winning CV when Applying for a Master’s Program

Many students are under the impression that a CV is only required while applying for jobs. Well, not quite. As per leading admissions experts and counselors, it’s always a good idea to submit an updated, professional CV while applying for a Master’s program.

We aren’t surprised because, at a time when competition is immense, your CV needs to highlight your strengths and accentuate your candidacy. The whole purpose is to protect yourself in a manner that convinces the university that you will be a valuable addition to their program.

Ready or not, here are some valuable tips on creating a winning CV that will set you apart from the competition.

What to Include in the CV for your Master’s Application?

The admissions committee expects to learn about your educational background, work history, experiences, skills, and interests after reading your CV. The key is to present this information in a concise, professional, and exciting manner.

Don’t get overwhelmed by the avalanche of information required - let’s tackle it section by section. Here are the key elements you must include in the CV for your Master’s application in the exact order given below -

Section 1 – Personal Details

You must add your personal details accurately to be reachable. Personal details include your name, date of birth, email id, address, and phone number. You can also insert a link to your LinkedIn profile or website if you have one.

This information can come in the header section or be neatly tucked in the right or left column. It’s a good idea to add a succinct summary or objective statement here which demonstrates your unique accomplishments and ends with your objective of applying for the particular program.

Section 2 – Educational Qualifications

As you are applying for a Master’s degree, this section needs maximum emphasis.

You need to include the name and location of the institutions you completed your Bachelor’s degree and high school, the title of the degree, the subject you majored in, and the years you attended. Remember to start with the most recent college and go backward.

If you worked on a thesis or research during your Bachelor’s degree, you should include its title here along with some relevant courses you have taken.

“Should I put my GPA on the CV?” is a common question students have. According to resume expert, Laura Smith-Proulx, adding the GPA only makes sense when the applicant has recently graduated from a program and has scored above 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Section 3 – Work Experience

When you present work experience in your CV, it demonstrates your genuine interest in the particular field and adds immense value to your application.

So, highlight any professional experience you might have -- whether you started your own company or worked for another one. Include the company name, job title, responsibilities, achievements during your stint, and respective dates.

Worried you have limited or no work experience? Don’t be. Part-time work and internships are applicable in this section as they denote your practical experience.

Section 4 – Volunteer Experience & Extracurricular Activities

Have you ever organized a blood donation camp, organized an event at a nursing home, or volunteered in any other community service activity? It’s time to reflect and jot down your volunteering experience chronologically and describe the important elements under each.

Apart from volunteer work, you must also highlight extracurricular activities you have participated in. If you are confused about which ones to include, here’s an informative video -

How to select the activities that will truly strengthen your CV

Talking about volunteer experience and extracurricular activities gives the admissions committee a peak into your life outside academics while highlighting soft critical skills that are an asset to have.

Section 5 – Honors, Awards, or Certifications

It’s always beneficial to include awards, honors, or certifications you have received and mention any leadership positions you may have held in the past. It adds credibility to your claims.

Along with the name of the award and the year, also spare a line to give a quick explanation of what it was about to give context.

If there are too many awards, ensure you only include the relevant and recent ones. And no, winning a spelling bee contest in 5th grade is not applicable!

Section 6 – Skills & Interests

Who said a CV is only meant to be about all work and no play? A CV needs to encompass your background, including your interests and skills.

Now, you can like many things from singing and dancing to playing badminton and cooking, but should you add everything? Not at all. What needs to go here is only hobbies and interests relevant to the program/university you are applying to.

For instance, blogging, sports, and reading make for much more vital interests than cooking or watching movies.

Similarly, the skills you add need to be beneficial, such as computer skills, languages, experience working with tools/software related to your field of study, and soft skills like communication, leadership, teamwork, etc.

Tip - remember to have a story ready for every skill and interest you include because you might just be questioned on them during the interview.

How to make your Master’s Application CV stand out?

Presentation is everything. You might have done and achieved a lot, but unless you don’t present it compellingly, it will do nothing to your application.

The admissions committee reads hundreds of CVs in a day, so you need to write yours such that it breaks through the clutter and stands out.

Now that you know what to include in the CV for your Master’s application let’s have a look at how you can make it count -

Professional language

From the font used to the language - your CV needs to look and read professionally. Stay away from lazy, sloppy writing because that is sure to kill your chances of getting accepted.

Professional writing involves writing concisely so that every statement is purposeful and adds value. There is no space to waste while writing a CV, so ensure you can effectively communicate your background in 1 page.

Clean formatting

Formatting includes the font size, style, color, and paragraph breakup. Your CV should be such that it is easily readable and can be scanned in one go.

Avoid flashy fonts. Use standard fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman in sizes 10,11, or 12 to keep it simple and professional.

It’s always a good idea to break statements down into bullet points and include factors such as the name of the company/institution, job title, and degree in bold. This breaks up the document and makes for a better reading experience.

Finally, if you are emailing or uploading the CV on a portal, always do so in PDF format instead of Word doc. That way, the formatting is retained, and no one can alter it.

Customize to fit the program

One size does not fit all, especially regarding college admissions.

Always make it a point to tailor your CV to align with the requirements of the master’s program you are applying for. Read the university’s values and ensure your CV resonates with them. This practice will go a long way in demonstrating your attention to detail and making your CV more appealing.

For instance, if you are applying for an MBA, make sure the activities and experiences you add in your resume highlight leadership, teamwork, and other skills that are revered by B-schools.

Use action verbs

Why write ‘helped’ when you can write ‘facilitated’? Why use ‘managed’ when you can say ‘championed’ or ‘headed’?

As you can see, your choice of words can make all the difference. Using action verbs is a powerful way of making your point. It drives the message home in the most precise and effective manner.

To make your work easier, here’s a video.

How to use the right verbs while writing your CV

Edit and proofread

Just like any other piece of writing, even CVs need to be edited and proofread a couple of times before submitting them in.

The first writing round needs to be about enlisting points below every section. Follow that up by editing and removing unnecessary information. Once you have removed the frills, polish the CV and proofread it to check for grammatical and spelling errors.

You should also get a family member or friend to read your CV to get a fresh, new perspective.

Conclusion

Yes, writing a CV while applying for a Master’s program needs to be approached with careful consideration. It’s not something you can whip up in a day or a couple of hours. It requires careful planning and meticulous presentation.

If you are unsure of your CV writing skills and feel that it might compromise your chances of getting accepted by the university, why not get some help from the experts?

We at Writers Per Hour can help you write a CV from scratch. Our expert resume writers ensure they understand your background and the requirements of the program you are applying to before they write a custom-made CV, professionally written and formatted, that is sure to put you at the forefront.