Revising Your

CV and Cover Letter

GAC 003 – Study Skills
Interview Preparation
  Format errors
 Changing font/size at random in the letter
3. Changing format at random in the letter
Common  Basic errors
Student  Using Laoshi’s contact info instead of your own
Mistakes  Writing the letter to Laoshi instead of the school
in the you have selected
 Not having a school to write to(!!!)
Cover Letter
 Information errors
 Telling the school things they already know
 Sounding too proud, or too humble
 $Date

Sam
$MyAddress
$Recipient, Director
$Name of University
Office of Admissions

p le
$UniversityAddress
Dear $Recipient, (Dear Sir or Ma’am,) (To Whom it May Concern:)
Thank you for considering me to be a student at $University. I am interested in
studying at $University because…
When I am accepted to your university, I will…
In high school, I did/participated in/enjoyed…
Thank you again for considering me, and I look forward to studying at $University!
Sincerely,
$Your_Name_in_Hanzi
$Your_Name_in_Pinyin
 10 June, 2021

Sam
257 Sifantai Avenue, Building 5-4, Apartment 601

Sam
Daoli District, Harbin
Heilongjiang Sheng, China, 150087
Duke University

pl e
Office of Admissions
2080 Duke University Road
Durham, North Carolina 27708
Dear Sir or Ma’am,
Thank you for considering me to be a Duke University student! I am so excited to be a Duke Blue Devil,

p le
because I know that Duke has the finest physics department in the Western World. I have heard that Duke’s education is
unparalleled, and especially the science department has some of the best programs available. I especially look forward to
studying under Dr. Ben Rose, whose work on radioactive decay rates I greatly admire.

Sam
I am fascinated by particle physics and have been working hard to gain a better understanding of radioactive
isotopes. It is my dream one day to help design a better, safer nuclear reactor using Sodium 24, eliminating dangerous
toxic waste from Uranium reactors. It would be a mark of honor for me to be able to say, “I did this because of what I
learned at Duke.”

ple
My teachers have all encouraged me to work towards this dream. Mr. DeSantis, my physics teacher, had me
join the school robotics club so that I could practice basic engineering, and I even took art classes to help me learn design
and drafting skills that will be critical in the design of a functional reactor. I know that I have much still to learn, and I
truly believe that Duke University is the best place to do it.
Thank you again for considering me, and I look forward to studying at Duke University!
Sincerely,
王西龙
Xilong Wong
  Name doesn’t stand out
 Big font, bold text!
 Sections not used correctly
 Headings not clearly visible
Common  Information in wrong sections
 Employment used for school, clubs, honors
Student  Awards listed as activities
Mistakes  Activites listed as awards
in the  List order is wrong
CV  Always list in order
 Most recent goes first
 Syntax errors
 Bullet points, not full sentences
 NEVER EVER EVER abbreviate
 Must include: Optional sections:
 Name (big and bold!)  Employment history
 Contact information  Where, when
 Address  Job description
 Phone Number (+86…)  Activities
 Email  Clubs
Sections to  Education
 Where, when
 Organizations
 Sports teams
Include in Your 

Certificates
Degree earned
 Awards
 Special skills
CVs  Major/Minor Courses
Do not include:
 Empty sections
 Religion
 Race
 Gender
 Philosophy
 Advanced Programs for Excellence, Computers, 1990
Xilong Wang

Sam Sam
Advanced Programs for Excellence, World Games
257 Sifantai Avenue, Building 5-4, Apartment 601 International Summit Simulator
Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, 150087
Advanced Programs for Excellence, Wilder Seminar
+86 120-8888-1666

ple ple
Advanced Programs for Excellence, Greek Mythology
[email protected]
Advanced Programs for Excellence, Hands-on Minds-on
Education Science
West High School, September 1993 – June 1997 Boy Scouts of America Cub Scouts, Pack 25, 1987 – 1990
Central Middle School, September 1991 – June
1993 Honors and Awards

Sam Sam
Prairie Elementary School, September 1985 – June Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout, June, 1997
1991 Order of the Arrow Honor Scout Inductee, June, 1997
Presidential Academic Fitness Award, June, 1991

ple ple
Activities
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 76, 1990 – 1997 Skills
Honor Band, Trombone, First Chair, 1996 - 1997 American Red Cross First Aid, July, 1994
Jazz Band, Trombone, First Chair, 1995 – 1997 American Red Cross Emergency Cardio-Pulmonary
National Forensics League, Humorous Resusitation, July, 1994
Interpretation of Literature, 1993 – 1996
page 1 page 2