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[pigou]

I'm somewhat stumped on this question, so I thought I would see what the wise forumites think. An undergraduate student has been accepted as a visiting student at a prestigious university. Hu is, however, choosing to take only one course there, while keeping a regular schedule at hu's regular institution.

When it comes to hu's CV, is the term "Visiting Student at X, Semester/Year" misleading? It seems factually correct, but it would presumably imply that hu took a full load of courses there. For what it's worth, hu would be entitled to do so (i.e. it's not a lack of merit).

I'm inclined to suggest adding it, but including a transcript from the other institution with the graduate applications to make sure there is no perceived deception about how many courses were taken there. edit: I have no qualms about adding it to a CV for private employers, but I'm somewhat torn on what is acceptable for academic purposes.

Thoughts?

[benchmark]

I vote definitely include, and I don't think your suggestion is misleading.  I don't think anyone would assume that a visiting student took a full load of courses - it's not the norm for visiting students to take the full load far as I know.

But I'm in the UK and maybe it's different here. We have lots of visiting students from the States (I have a junior from Cornell at the moment) and they never take a full load of courses. I can't see that there's any deception with your suggestion.

[skippityskipskip]

It seems fine to include it.  If the employers request all transcripts, they'll see it was only one class.  Modifying the entry would be awkward:

"Visiting Student*, AwesomeU"
*Note: I only took Advanced Basketweaving I

Just confusing.

[voxprincipalis]

I'm somewhat stumped on this question, so I thought I would see what the wise forumites think. An undergraduate student has been accepted as a visiting student at a prestigious university. Hu is, however, choosing to take only one course there, while keeping a regular schedule at hu's regular institution.

When it comes to hu's CV, is the term "Visiting Student at X, Semester/Year" misleading? It seems factually correct, but it would presumably imply that hu took a full load of courses there. For what it's worth, hu would be entitled to do so (i.e. it's not a lack of merit).

An undergrad hardly even has a CV.

I will disagree with the others who have posted thus far and will say that yes, I think it is misleading. (I will also say that for God's sake, if the student can do a full load of coursework at Prestigious U, then why the hell aren't they planning on doing it?)

I would advise a student in such a situation to list their Bachelor's degree at Regular U, and then underneath that to put a line of "Additional Coursework Completed at Prestigious U" and a list of courses.

VP

[seniorscholar]

I would advise a student in such a situation to list their Bachelor's degree at Regular U, and then underneath that to put a line of "Additional Coursework Completed at Prestigious U" and a list of courses.
VP

I gave a graduate student exactly that advice and largely because it was NOT "Prestigious U" but rather one undergraduate semester at an unusual college that serves a known constituency -- the kind of college in which the grad student was interested in landing a faculty job (and has done so). Useful information, presented clearly, hardly ever hurts a c.v., but unclear information which can be interpreted in several ways does.

[pigou]

(I will also say that for God's sake, if the student can do a full load of coursework at Prestigious U, then why the hell aren't they planning on doing it?)

I know the student is taking some required courses here (including a year-long thesis project) - maybe those can't easily be substituted.

I would advise a student in such a situation to list their Bachelor's degree at Regular U, and then underneath that to put a line of "Additional Coursework Completed at Prestigious U" and a list of courses.

Thanks for the advice, I think I will suggest that. I appreciate the other thoughts as well, but I think the risk of misinterpretation would do more harm than good. As Seniorscholar put it:

unclear information which can be interpreted in several ways does [hurt a c.v.].

Good point. There are always letters of recommendation to call attention to an experience like this, if necessary.