Dean's List should be included next to your Grade Point Average (GPA)
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Should You Put Dean’s List on Resume?
Dean’s list on resume should be included next to your Grade Point Average (GPA). There is some debate over whether it should be included or not. Some professionals consider it redundant, unnecessary resume-padding. This guide will show you how to put the dean’s list on your resume and weigh the pros and cons of including it. CFI’s recommendation is to include it if you achieved it all semesters (to demonstrate academic consistency). Otherwise, exclude it.
Pros of Adding Dean’s List
There are many advantages of including this honor in your job application.
Benefits of including dean’s list on resume:
- Demonstrates strong academic performance
- Shows a consistent level of performance if achieved all semesters
- Adds another credential and honor to your resume
- Depending on the school or employer, it may be extra valuable if the GPA requirement for Dean’s List is especially high
- Adds more detail to your resume
Cons of Adding Dean’s List on Resume
It may surprise you but there can actually be some disadvantages of including the dean’s list honor in your application (although they are very minor).
Potential disadvantages:
- It may be considered redundant since your GPA is listed right next to it.
- If it’s not clear what the criteria are for making the list, that makes it less meaningful.
- It can add clutter to your resume.
- If you achieved it some semesters but not others, then it may appear to indicate inconsistency.
Learn more in CFI’s Career Prep Center.
Example of How to Include It
Here is an example of how to include it on your resume.
Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Economics, Minor in History
- Cumulative GPA: 3.8/4.0; Dean’s List all semesters
- Varsity Sport – starter on the varsity sports team all four years; 20+ hours per week
- President, Student Club – responsible for managing all aspects of a student-run club
- Study Abroad – Exchange in a foreign country
Image: CFI’s investment banking resume template.
More Resources
Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on whether to include Dean’s List on resume. If you want to stand out from the competition when applying for a job, enroll in CFI’s Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)TM certification to get the job-based training and skills finance employers want in their new hires. To help build your resume, these resources will useful:
FAQs
Include the dean's list on your resume if you made the list regularly. Making the dean's list for many semesters throughout your college career demonstrates a strong, consistent work ethic, as well as academic ability.
Is making the dean's list a big deal? ›
Making the dean's list is an excellent way to commemorate your hard work during the semester and have evidence that you were academically ranked in the top percentage of students at the university. Having the award on your transcript could impress graduate schools.
Is making the dean's list an honor or award? ›
The dean's list is a scholarly award for undergraduate students who achieved high scholastic standing during the academic year.
Do I put dean's list on resume Reddit? ›
List every award that you got for any academic accomplishment. No reason not to list it. When you get further along in your career and have a lot more prestigious awards, you can trim the smaller things like Dean's list. But, especially early in your career, every little thing can help.
Is the Dean's List prestigious? ›
Your academic performance is then compared amongst your peers, meaning you have to achieve more highly than them to make the list. During a competitive semester, this makes the dean's list a highly desirable honor that only the top students will achieve.
Does Dean's List show up on transcript? ›
If you qualified for the Dean's List, your achievement will be noted on your unofficial transcript, directly under each semester's entry.
Is a 3.7 GPA Honor Roll? ›
Honor Roll GPA must equal a 3.30 or higher • High Honor Roll GPA must equal a 3.7 or higher • When calculating the Honor Roll GPA use the chart below and average out all letter grades.
How significant is the Dean's List? ›
What's the significance of being on the Dean's List? Making the Dean's List is a big deal because it shows that you can get good grades, but also it's a testament to your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your education. It shows that you've gone above and beyond in your studies and stood out among your peers.
How much GPA is Dean's List? ›
The dean's list GPA requirements vary from school to school, although there are general standards: With the GPA scale from 0 to 4, 4 being an A, the dean's list cutoff is typically around 3.5 to 3.7. Top 10 percent of the class in GPA.
How rare is Dean's List? ›
The most common GPA thresholds are 3.5 for undergraduates and 3.85-4.0 for graduate students. But the criteria can vary between schools, and some actually put the top 1-5% of students in their class on the dean's list, regardless of GPA.
Here are six Dean's List benefits that will impact you during college and beyond:
- A sense of personal accomplishment. In our opinion, this is the most significant reason. ...
- Invitation to Special Events. ...
- Getting your name recognized. ...
- Improving your employability. ...
- Exclusive access to top employers. ...
- Prestige.
If you have received any academic honors or awards, such as a Dean's List recognition, scholarship, or academic prize, make sure to include them in your education profile. This can demonstrate your academic excellence and work ethic to potential employers.
Is Dean's list worth putting on a resume? ›
Since dean's list is one of the highest collegiate levels of academic achievement that a student can be recognized for, there is little doubt that this is an honor worth letting employers know about.
How do you highlight a dean's list on a resume? ›
Format it properly
Write and format the inclusion of the dean's list on your resume in the most professional way possible. Be sure to add how many semesters you were on the dean's list. You may choose to bold or italicize this listing to distinguish it from other information in the section.
Should I put Dean's List on my law school resume? ›
If you have only one or two honors and/or awards (e.g., dean's List), then it would be better to include the item(s) in the education section. If you have one or more items of research to highlight, it may be appropriate to include a separate section for research.
Is it okay to put honors in resume? ›
If you are a student, it is definitely worth including Honors and Awards on a resume because you are likely to have limited work experience and you will need to fill space. Honors and Awards on a resume can highlight skills which are valuable to many employers.
How to put honors student on resume? ›
"If you graduated with honors, list it prominently on your resume under the education section. You can mention it as ""XYZ University, Bachelor of Arts, Graduated with Honors"" or ""XYZ University, Bachelor of Arts, GPA: 3.8 (Honors). "" Add any other honors or awards received during your time at the university."
Is Dean's List an honor or award caspa? ›
Honors. Honors received as a special distinction for work done, including Dean's List and memberships in honor societies, such as Phi Theta Kappa.
