CV + activities + pubs

 


This is probably the easiest part of your application to put together, since you've already been doing this stuff all along and just need to organize it!

CV

There's not really much for me to say here, as you probably already have some version of this that exists. Just know that this is no longer your standard 1 page resume, but can be a longer doc that lists everything that you've done. 

Here are some good resources and example CVs from some college career pages that I find somewhat helpful. 

https://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume/cv

https://career.ucsf.edu/phds/academic-careers/academic-samples

https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/files/ocs/files/phd_resume_cover_letters.pdf

I am also happy to share my CV, both my current one and the version I submitted when applying to PhD programs. Just contact me!


Activities

If you used SOPHAS to apply for MPH programs, this is pretty much this exact same thing where you summarize all your activities. This is a nice part of the application to work on when your brain is tired and you need a break from staring at your personal statement. Again, I'm not sure how critical this part of your application really is, so no need to pour your heart out in making these descriptions sound impeccable. 


Publications 

To publish, or not to publish, -- That is the question-- (I literally get all the time!)

I think there is a (mis)perception that in order to get into a PhD program, you must have published at least 1 scientific paper, ideally a first author. I think that this is not true for multiple reasons:

  • Programs always say always say that it is not required to publish in order to apply/get in, and professors usually reiterate that
  • I don't think a lot of my cohort-mates had published prior to getting in
  • Speaking from experience, it takes A LONG time for some papers to go through the publishing process (I've had some of my papers take over a year from initial submission to final acceptance) so I think as long as you put on your CV any papers in progress/under review, that will go a long way too! 

And don't forget about conference posters and presentations! Those definitely count too towards your "publication" list in a way, and will mean a lot on your CV and application when applying!

For me personally, I had 1 first author commentary, contributing author to a future Surgeon General's Report, and no conference posters and presentations when I was applying to programs. I talked up that 1 little commentary like no other when I was networking and interviewing, and I will admit that it did help and made me feel more "impressive." (It also helped that that paper had a very catchy title!) So my takeaway on all this is that publications can only help, but not having any will not hurt.