Applying to Graduate/Law School?: A CV Sample Template

A well-formatted and strong CV not only helps aspiring graduate and law students to distinguish themselves to the admissions committee, but it often aids in scholarships and other financial awards. One word of advice: don't "fluff" up a CV with a bunch of nonsense or by including the same achievement in more than one category. If you received an award for volunteer work, for example, you must choose whether to place it in an "Academic Honors/Awards" category or a "Volunteer Work" category, but not both.

If you are applying to graduate school or law school, and are searching for a CV format that is specified to your needs, consider the following template. And, for god's sake, use a professional email address! (You will need to tinker with spacing, bolding, and/or italicizing the headings and subheadings as you wish. For instance, I would probably add bullet points in the place of listing my achievements by number. As long as your formatting is streamlined and consistent, though, you should have little to worry about.)

CURRICULUM VITAE

[Place your name, your mailing address, your phone number(s), and your email address at the top of this document.]

Academic Preparation: 1) XYZ Undergraduate University: Major Field of Interest: Sociology, Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, May 2007; 2) Junior College or Technical School: Major Field of Interest: Foreign Languages, Degree: Associate in Arts, with Honors, December 2004

Academic Honors, Programs, and Scholarships: 1)Present Scholarship (2007-10); 2) Prior Departmental Award (month/semester and year received); 3) Exceptional Student Award (April 2006); 4) President's Honor List: fall 2005, spring 2005, and fall 2004; 5) Dean's Honor List: fall 2006, spring 2006; 6) Previous Scholarship: recipient, summer 2004 - spring 2005

Publications: 1) Doe, Jane X. 2006. "Publication Title." Publication Journal, [volume number, e.g. 8], [month], [page numbers, e.g. 60-67]; 2) Doe, Jane X. 2006. "Publication Title." Publication Journal, 8, January, 60-67.

Presentations: 1) Presentation Title: Presentation location (ex.: 2007 conference for CV Writers) (month, year); 2) Presentation Title: Presented at the Bling Bling conference (June, 2007); 3) Presentation Title: Presented at XYZ University's student competition (April, 2007)

Work(s) in Progress: Doe, Jane X. 2006. "Publication Title." Currently under consideration for the Applicable Journal.

University Activism: 1) Any Group that You were (or are Currently) a Part of: member and volunteer, fall 2004 - spring 2006; 2) Doe, Jane. 2004. "Title of Paper." Student Newspaper, [name of university that runs the campus paper]. [date]; 3) Doe, Jane. 2004. "Title of Paper." Student Newspaper, XYZ University. September 15.

Community Service and Activism: 1) Any Reception at which You Spoke: speaker for the Bling Bling Program, November 2006; 2) Any Activity for Any Organization at Which you Participated: volunteer fundraiser, and participant, October 2005; 3) Any Relevant March or Rally: activist/protester, Los Angeles, April 26, 2004; 4) Any Activity having to do with Public Awareness: participant, February 2004; 5) Any Volunteer Work for Other Organizations of Interest, such as a Religious Institution: volunteer Sunday school teacher, fall 1996 - fall 1998

Professional Affiliations: 1) Bling Bling Association: 2005, 2006, 2007; 2) American ABC Sciences: 2006, 2007

Teaching/Work Experience: Any Experience as a Facilitator, a T.A. (Teacher's Assistant), or R.A. (Research Assistant) - fall 2006, spring 2007

Research Interests: [Be specific! For example:] 1) Demography; 2) International Law; 3) Critical Race Theory

Technical Skills, Foreign Languages, or Other Relevant Talents: 1) Conversationally fluent in Spanish; 2) Conversationally intermediate in French; 3) Reading, speaking, writing, and translating comprehension in Spanish and French; 4) Proficient in PowerPoint; 5) Knowledgeable in SPSS