Academics and Research on Your Résumé

Any time after your first semester, you might include your GPA and your most advanced coursework. Your courses may be from any semester, including coursework you’re currently pursuing.

In the education section of your résumé, after listing the degree you are seeking and the date you expect it, the next line will include the name of your college and your intended or declared major. Following that, list via bullet points your GPA (at Grinnell, this might look like a number out of 4.0, for example, 3.65/4.0). The next bullet point includes the phrase Selected Coursework, followed by the most relevant classes you’ve taken or are currently taking. Include the department code, course number, and class title.

Choose Thoughtful Section Headings

Section headings in your résumé are like directional signposts for the person reviewing your application. Use a section header to prioritize your research and project experience. Some examples to center your academic experiences in your field of study:

• Research Projects
• Research Experience
• Scholarship Activities
• Relevant Coursework

To feature a research project, start your résumé item with the phrase Research Project and then list the project title in quotation marks. On the right margin, list the dates of the project.

The next line lists the name of your college, the department, and on the right margin the city and state of your college.

Bullet points for a research project begin with lively action verbs, describe what you did during the project, mention the methodology and tools you used, including programs, databases, archives, and lab tools and processes, and show your results.

Here is a sample for a biology class project focusing on improving the dietary behavior for college students.

If your projects do not make up an entire projects or research section, but you would still like to feature them:

• Return to your education section, where you can list 3–6 courses that are truly relevant to the position for which you’re applying—additionally, this can be useful if you’ve taken courses outside of your major that are relevant.
• Include brief descriptions describing the skills you used or projects you completed.
• Map key words from the opportunity description onto your classroom experience.
• Confirm your knowledge in scientific and technical fields.
• Consult this sample for an intended computer science major that lists computer science applications to two computer science courses and one Shakespeare course.

You can create a section just for coursework. Here is a sample (intended art history major):

Next-level research activities for students include Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs) and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs). Students apply for summer MAPs early in the spring semester of second year. The work is supervised by Grinnell faculty and often done in collaboration with other students. MAPs are offered by a range of departments 

If you have a blend of relevant research and work experience, those might be listed under the heading Research Activities and Work Experience.

Here are sample REU and MAP entries, along with a related work experience entry, for a declared sociology major:

When you’ve published several papers or presented at more than one conference, signal these accomplishments in a dedicated section of your résumé. Be certain, if you include a Publications and Presentations section, that you edit any corresponding bullet points in other sections to avoid being repetitive. If you have one publication you are representing as part of an experience entry, the citation can stand as its own bullet point.

When you list your publications and presentations, use the style frequently followed in your chosen discipline—MLA, APA, Chicago—with your name in bold. No matter what, be consistent in your approach to your entries (MLA style below).

Be certain you include:

• author list
• title
• type of presentation (e.g., poster or oral presentation)
• venue (name of the conference, symposium, etc.) and year
• location (city and state/country)

If you’re a co-author on a manuscript, it can be listed once it’s been submitted to a journal for peer review. Indicate the status (in review, no journal title). Once your article is “in press,” it can be designated as such with the journal title added.