Professor Hill and GRF Magdala discussed the daunting application process for internships and grad schools. As sophomores, it’s possible that you’re applying to some places yourself for the summer. Underclassmen are generally at a disadvantage in the process, so a string of rejections might be easily overlooked on your part. Don’t let your mistakes get away! There is at least one big thing you can do to get past the first hurdle, paying attention to…

Keywords! Keywords, keywords, keywords. If you’re applying to any large firm it is likely that your resume and Cover Letter are being screened by computers. They are being screened for something! Even when they aren’t, your Cover Letter is being read in under 10 seconds…Impressive on HR’s part, but you’ve got to stand out in the process by emphasizing what the company wants. Job descriptions, Info sessions, and a company’s website all can help.

In general, when applying for a job or a masters or PhD, you’ll want to avoid keeping your resumes and cover letters homogenous. In the US, personal statements for applications are likely to ask you about your inspiration, and admission committees will assign you to an advisor if they think you’re a good fit for the department or program as a whole. In other countries like the UK, they’ll expect a specific project proposal, and will look for an advisor to take you on. In some US universities funding will be offered with an acceptance, but in the UK you will have to secure funding yourself through a separate application process. In these cases you’ll definitely want different versions of your resumes and CVs tailored to these different admission criteria; it will increase your chance of getting accepted generally across the board.