U.S. Graduate School Applications (4): How to Prepare a Strong U.S. Graduate School CV

Jason Lu
Jan 3
3 min read

Person with glasses smiling, using a tablet and reviewing documents in a library setting. Bookshelves and papers visible, calm atmosphere.

Introduction

Following the previous articles on application documents (SOP), school selection, and emailing professors, this article focuses on another critical—but often underestimated—component of U.S. graduate school applications:

The U.S. graduate school CV (Curriculum Vitae).

Typical U.S. graduate school applications may include:

Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
(For some programs) Diversity Statement
(For some programs) Research Interest or Personal Statement

Admissions committees cannot read all of these documents carefully within a short time.

In reality, the CV is often used as a first-pass screening tool.

This is why a strong U.S. graduate school CV can determine whether your application moves forward.

What Is a CV and Why the U.S. Graduate School CV Matters

A CV is a document that summarizes your academic background, research experience, work history, and recognized achievements.

In academia, senior researchers may have CVs dozens of pages long (sometimes called Harvard-style CVs).

However, for U.S. graduate school applicants, length is not the goal—clarity and prioritization are.

A strong U.S. graduate school CV allows admissions committees to understand your profile within seconds.

Is There a Standard Format for a U.S. Graduate School CV?

The short answer is: No.

There is no universal CV template.

The structure of your CV should always reflect its purpose.

For graduate school applications
→ Education, GPA, rankings, and research experience matter most.
For postdoctoral applications
→ Publications, research expertise, advisors, and academic impact take priority.

👉 This is why you should never use the same CV for different application goals.

How to Prepare a U.S. Graduate School CV: Start With the Purpose

Before formatting, ask yourself:

What does the admissions committee want to see first?

For biomedical engineering or STEM graduate programs, a U.S. graduate school CV typically includes:

Education
Research Experience
Technical and Laboratory Skills
Relevant Coursework
Publications / Presentations
Volunteer or Teaching Experience (if applicable)
References

The key step is prioritization, not listing everything.

Examples:

If research experience is your strongest asset, place it immediately after education.
If your references are well-known in the field, consider highlighting them earlier.

Formatting and Readability: How Admissions Committees Scan a CV

Even strong content can fail if the CV is hard to read.

A simple reality:

Admissions committees will not search for information—you must surface it.

Practical Formatting Tips

Use bold text for key items (universities, degrees, section headers)
Font size: 11–12 pt
Line spacing: 1.0–1.5
Maintain clean spacing and white space

Your goal is to make important information visible at a glance.

Using Quantified Results in a U.S. Graduate School CV

One of the most effective ways to strengthen a CV is to quantify research outcomes.

Example:

Large-scale biomanufacturing and cryopreservation for organoids in hydrogel capsules:

Organoid expansion increased 1.5-fold, and post-cryopreservation viability improved from 20% to 80%.

With numbers, admissions committees can immediately understand:

The problem addressed
The impact of the work
The value of the approach

This is far more effective than vague descriptions such as “worked on a research project.”

A Practical Tip for Future U.S. Job Applications

If you plan to reuse your CV for U.S. job applications and you hold permanent residency,

you may include:

Permanent Resident

after your name.

This can reduce visa-related uncertainty for employers and improve response rates in practice.

Conclusion: A U.S. Graduate School CV Is a Strategic Document

A CV is not just an application requirement—it is a strategic communication tool.

By organizing your experience clearly, prioritizing relevant information, and tailoring your CV to each program, you significantly increase your chances of standing out in a competitive applicant pool.