Letter Writer Wants CV

[PopeKnope23]

Hey guys! I've been browsing SDN for threads on this, but I'm still having trouble getting a clear idea of what my current CV should look like. One of my letter writers wants me to include my PS (easy) and a CV, but I don't really have an official CV typed up and I'm not sure what kind of outline to follow.

Do I make it "pre-med" -esque? I was thinking of laying it out like this:

1. Education (Where/when I graduated HS, current school, major, minor, grad year.. do I include GPA or Dean's List awards here???)
2. Work Experience
3. Clinical EC's
4. Nonclinical EC's (or should I just list ALL EC's in one category?)
5. Skills/Hobbies?

Like I said, I'm just guessing here. I'm assuming he wants a CV to see if 1) I'm even cut out for med school and 2) to get a better idea of my experiences and motivations for medicine, aside from just writing about how he knows me and my academic skills.

Any advice is appreciated! THANKS!

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[altblue]

That all sounds good! I included my GPA after one recommender requested it though I don't think it's the standard to do so. You likely don't have to, especially if you have some experience that implies good grades (tutoring STEM classes at your U, dean's list or a merit scholarship).

I wouldn't worry about the letter writer seeing if you're "cut out" for med school, though. If you have a solid relationship with them, they'll only want the information so they can write more specific, positive things about what you did outside of class.

 

[bubba21]

A CV is essentially just a longer resume. Your writer likely just wants a fuller picture of your life/background/accomplishments in order to supplement his own comments about your potential to succeed in medical school. You're definitely on the right track! Common sections include Education (no need to include high school, its assumed that you graduated since you are in college), work history, achievements/awards (might be a good place to list Dean's List)...
If applicable, you can also include certifications, publications, languages, or skills (if substantiated, not just generic things like "great people skills")
As far as ECs go, I think categorizing them helps. Clinical vs. Nonclinical is one way. Or you could break it up as Clubs, Research, Health-Related Volunteering, Non-Health-Related Volunteering, Leadership positions, etc.
In general, don't stress too much about it. This person has agreed to write a letter for you already, so I assume he just wants a little extra info to make his letter even better!

 

[PopeKnope23]

Thanks for your reassurance! 🙂

 

[PopeKnope23]

Quick follow up question--I'm assuming there's no need to include physician shadowing on a CV, right? That doesn't have much to do with what I've done. But part of me wants to somehow show my letter writer that I've shadowed a good amount of specialties. Thoughts?

 

[altblue]

Quick follow up question--I'm assuming there's no need to include physician shadowing on a CV, right? That doesn't have much to do with what I've done. But part of me wants to somehow show my letter writer that I've shadowed a good amount of specialties. Thoughts?

It can't hurt to include it.

 

[Welshman]

you should give all letter writers a packet with your CV, PS, AMCAS writing letter guide, example letters (found online) and the release waiver if your school requires one.

The CV should make yourself look good, if your GPA is 3.2 dont put it on there, if its a 3.8 do it. After that ask yourself, "does this letter writer care? Will it help the write a better letter?" if the answer is no, get rid of it. For example, would any of your letter writers be able to write a better letter after knowing you watched a doctor for 40 hours? Im doubtful

Make it as easy as possible for your writers to write you a good letter

 

[bubba21]

I say include it! Shadowing experience shows that you truly understand what the profession entails!

 

[Welshman]

In my experience, most people's CVs at this stage in their life come out to 1.5-2 pages at best and their descriptions are often quite verbose, so if its around that length I would push hard to just fit it all on one page for readability sake. Just above all consider what other people will be interested in reading, otherwise they might not read it at all. I gave a 1-page resume formatted like this.

Welshman
contact details​

EDUCATION
XYZ University College of Arts & Sciences; May 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Science Concentrating in XYZ with Honors and a Minor in ABC
GPA: 3.71, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa (whatever honors you have)
MCAT: 515, 94th Percentile
Skills

· List of Lab skills if relevant to the writer
EXPERIENCE (Jobs, major positions that give experience etc.)
Wales General Hospital january 2016 - Present
Laboratory Assistant, Wales

• description

Job 1 january 2016 - Present
EMT, Wales

• description

Job 2 June 2015 - June 2016
ABC, Wales
· description
ACTIVITIES (volunteer stuff, ECs)
Format as above
Interests
· Interests and hobbies

This simple arrangement will easily fill out a page

 

[apps2019]

I would actually put awards under your name as to highlight them.

 

[PopeKnope23]

In my experience, most people's CVs at this stage in their life come out to 1.5-2 pages at best and their descriptions are often quite verbose, so if its around that length I would push hard to just fit it all on one page for readability sake. Just above all consider what other people will be interested in reading, otherwise they might not read it at all. I gave a 1-page resume formatted like this.

Welshman
contact details​

EDUCATION
XYZ University College of Arts & Sciences; May 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Science Concentrating in XYZ with Honors and a Minor in ABC
GPA: 3.71, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa (whatever honors you have)
MCAT: 515, 94th Percentile
Skills

· List of Lab skills if relevant to the writer
EXPERIENCE (Jobs, major positions that give experience etc.)
Wales General Hospital january 2016 - Present
Laboratory Assistant, Wales

• description

Job 1 january 2016 - Present
EMT, Wales

• description

Job 2 June 2015 - June 2016
ABC, Wales
· description
ACTIVITIES (volunteer stuff, ECs)
Format as above
Interests
· Interests and hobbies

This simple arrangement will easily fill out a page

Thank you, Welshman! Should job and activity descriptions be in bullet points or full sentences, or does it not matter as long as it's consistent?

 

[Welshman]

Thank you, Welshman! Should job and activity descriptions be in bullet points or full sentences, or does it not matter as long as it's consistent?

I used one bullet point and then wrote a paragraph. So the paragraph was contained within the bullet if that makes sense. Definitely not a series of bullets, that makes it harder to give a good description without taking up a ton of space

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

A simple google search should give you many boiler plates and examples for CVs for you to use

 

[aldol16]

CVs are actually quite different from resumes and are more in use in academic settings (which is where you will most likely be for the next 10 years of your training). So a CV is supposed to have education (don't put high school; just put your college, expected degree (e.g. BS in Biology), expected year of graduation). From here, CVs generally have sections for research, publications/posters/abstracts, other activities (some will include teaching as well). So this part is more flexible and will depend more on your personal experiences. Most pre-meds at this stage don't have that much research experience or papers so feel free to lump all your ECs into one section. Order them by reverse chronological order. Don't let it be just a mixing bowl of all your random activities. Try to highlight your most important activities.

 

[Jdp00921]

Hey guys! I've been browsing SDN for threads on this, but I'm still having trouble getting a clear idea of what my current CV should look like. One of my letter writers wants me to include my PS (easy) and a CV, but I don't really have an official CV typed up and I'm not sure what kind of outline to follow.

Do I make it "pre-med" -esque? I was thinking of laying it out like this:

1. Education (Where/when I graduated HS, current school, major, minor, grad year.. do I include GPA or Dean's List awards here???)
2. Work Experience
3. Clinical EC's
4. Nonclinical EC's (or should I just list ALL EC's in one category?)
5. Skills/Hobbies?

Like I said, I'm just guessing here. I'm assuming he wants a CV to see if 1) I'm even cut out for med school and 2) to get a better idea of my experiences and motivations for medicine, aside from just writing about how he knows me and my academic skills.

Any advice is appreciated! THANKS!

I see you already have plenty of responses but I figured I'd increase the re-assurance. Letter writers often like a CV and personal statement so that they can be specific with your letter. No one likes generic, and the CV/PS gives the writer an opportunity to not only comment on specifics they witnessed, but to also comment on things you do outside of the writer's environment that also support your candidacy for medical school.

 

[PopeKnope23]

Thanks for all your help guys! I know have a much better idea of what to do!