A graduate school's online application asks for an essay or my resume, which one should I go for?

Question

It specifically asks for academic, professional and personal development. Listing each significant position held, most recent first. Including dates, agency or firm, title, starting and ending salary, major responsibilities, and name and title of your supervisor.

And then it says "Your current resume, if it includes all of the above information, is enough"

I´m rooting for just the CV but perhaps an essay is something more elaborated and thus will be more benefitial, what do you think?

Answer 1

This does not sound like an essay but rather a listing of what might be in a well developed CV. What they are telling you is they want more than is in a one page typical resume. They want you to document how you got to the place you have here in terms of your accomplishments.

Answer 2

Because some students do not have practical world experience before entering grad school, an essay is sometimes given as an option. If you have what they are asking for on the resume, I would go with that because it shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have successfully applied what you have learned in the real world.

Answer 3

If you have a substantial CV and if you are certain it meets all the requirements and answers all the questions, go with the CV alone. If you are uncertain, do the essay. As the previous poster indicated, be very careful with whichever route you choose. Graduate schools look for people who can be meticulous, and they choose the best, the ones that stand out. So make your CV and/or your essay, stand out. Best of luck with it.

Answer 4

If your resume is sufficiently impressive, use it.

If not, go with the essay. HAVE SOMEONE CHECK YOUR ESSAY CAREFULLY. ALLOW A WEEK OR SO TO TOOL IT APPROPRIATELY. SPELLING WILL KILL YOU.

It's spelled "beneficial," for instance.