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[pathanalysis]

(Field: Applied psych)

How long is too long for a grad applicant CV? I've been updating mine, and it looks like it will be around 4.5 pages.

It's all relevant experience to my field (research, theses, pubs, posters, teaching, clinical and child experience); the only thing that could be slightly "off topic" are the general academic scholarships I've received to my university, but I've seen advice saying that those are relevant and should be listed (no?).

I do list general "descriptions of duties" for each position, but I keep them brief and unique to each experience/position (i.e., not listing "data entry" ten times).  My contact info isn't overly long, other than that I do list two addresses (academic year and summer). I know that it's generally okay to have a long CV (c.f. resumes), but would a long grad applicant CV raise eyebrows?

On a separate but somewhat related note, should  manuscripts submitted or in progress be listed (status noted, of course) or is that just considered padding?

Thanks!

[sciencephd]

You don't need a description of each item.  This is one of the difference between a CV and a resume.  A CV is a list of things, more or less.

[scampster]

You don't need a description of each item.  This is one of the difference between a CV and a resume.  A CV is a list of things, more or less.

I might argue that since the OP is applying to grad school that specific skills they have from their previous positions might be useful for potential advisors to see, especially if there is software or analysis methods very specific to the field that profs would be glad to see that they don't need to train the new student to do.

I kind of think of these kind of CVs are less of a CV and more of a long resume. Although I guess one could put information about specific skills somewhere else in a grad application.

That being said, I don't know if anyone will read 4.5 pages of undergrad resume.

[sciencephd]

Graduate programs are not looking for specific sets of technical skills for incoming student.  If that's what they want, run a mile from the program.

[pathanalysis]

In my field, this is standard practice for grad applicants, as programs want to see WHAT you've done in the lab (did you just enter data? did you do lit reviews? give assessments? IRB applicants?) because it can vary so widely (moreso than in hard science)

[artsy_122]

My CV when applying for PhD programs was about 7 pages long...  (I had an MFA and relevant professional experience as an artist as well as academic jobs, awards, conference papers...)  I don't think it sounds too long.  Again - look and make sure you are being as brief as possible inthe descriptions.  But I wouldn't leave them out.  And at this stage in your work I think it is perfectly fine to leave the papers that have been submitted.  Maybe don't put the in progress ones unless they are going to be submitted before you would begin a program.  (trust me - you will not have time to progress on them any further once you start.)

Good luck!