Terminology and Program Notes

The Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is used to achieve a job, grant or award in the academic world more often than its well-known sibling, the resume. Below are some tips on preparing a CV. For further assistance in preparing your CV, please contact the Lakehead University Career & Co-operative Education Services.

  • Curriculum vitae loosely means "this is my life", so make certain yours reflects your every success and achievement in its best light.
  • Assemble your information: degrees, diplomas, papers published, books and articles authored, patents earned, courses taught, grants and prizes earned.
  • Decide on a style. As with resumes, there are formats geared toward every objective.
  • Check out current trends in CVs in books, magazines, and web sites dedicated to careers and graduate programs. Look at CVs on the Internet, especially within your area of interest.
  • List your diplomas, GPA, experience, and education first.
  • Dates and names can be easily checked. Keep your CV up-to-date and honest.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT or GMAT Focus Edition)

This exam is a test of general skills and abilities that you have acquired over time. For admission into either of our Master's programs in Management, you are must achieve a minimum score of 500. For an overview of the test, for preparation resources, or to register for the test, please visit www.mba.com.

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) Test - MBA & MScMGT

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study and is often required for admission into a master's degree program. For admission into either of our Master's programs in Management, you are required to complete the GRE General Test and achieve a minimum score of 1000. For an overview of the test, for preparation resources, or to register for the test, please visit www.ets.org.

Resume or Curriculum Vita?

In North America, the terms "resume" and "CV" may be used interchangeably. However, a resume more often has a free-form organizational style and is used for seeking employment in the private sector, whereas a curriculum vitae (also called vita) usually has a more standardized look and format for the purpose of seeking positions in academic or educational institutions. A resume tends to be more descriptive and tailored for a specific purpose or target audience. A resume may begin with a statement about a personal goal, followed by a list of most significant accomplishments or characteristics in order of significance. For resume writing tips and assistance, please contact the Lakehead University Career & Co-operative Education Services.

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) Test - Psychology

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study and is often required for admission into a master's degree program. For admission into either of our Master's programs in Psychology, you are required to complete both the General Test and the Subject Test. For an overview of the test, for preparation resources, or to register for the test, please visit www.ets.org. For information regarding the minimum required test scores, please contact the Department of Psychology.

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) Test - Physics

The GRE General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study. The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study and is often required for admission into a master's degree program. For an overview of the test, for preparation resources, or to register for the test, please visit www.ets.org. For information regarding the minimum required test scores, please contact the Department of Physics

The Study Plan - MSW

All applicants to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program are required to submit a study plan, which clearly sets forth a topic intended for in-depth study related to a chosen practice concentration area and plans for a practicum experience. This is an important part of the total application process to which careful consideration should be given. For further assistance in preparing a Study Plan, please contact the School of Social Work

The Statement of Goals & Intentions - Master of Nursing Advance Practice Specialization

The Statement of Goals and Intentions for the MN Advanced Nursing Specialization must address specific issues. The statement should not exceed four pages, and must be one-sided, double-spaced, with one inch margins. MN Advanced Nursing Specialization applicants should address the following two (2) statements in the Statement of Goals and Intentions for the program.

  1. What are your specific career goals, and how will the Master of Nursing – Advanced Nursing Specialization program assist you to fulfill them?
  2.  Please indicate how your previous academic and/or work experience has prepared you to study in the Master of Nursing Advanced Nursing Specialization program. Please refer to specific courses from your transcript and/or specific experiences from your Curriculum Vitae.

The Statement of Goals & Intentions - Master of Nursing Nurse Practitioner Specialization

The Statement of Goals and Intentions for the Master of Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialization must address specific issues. The statement should not exceed four pages, and must be one-sided, double-spaced, with one inch margins. Applicants should address the following two (2) statements in the Statement of Goals and Intentions for the program.

1.      What are your specific career goals, and how will the Master of Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialization program assist you to fulfill them?

2.      Please indicate how your previous academic and/or work experience has prepared you to study in the Master of Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Specialization program. Please refer to specific courses from your transcript and/or specific experiences from your Curriculum Vitae.

The Statement of Goals & Intentions - MPH

The Statement of Goals & Intentions for the MPH program must address specific areas. The statement should not exceed three pages, and must be one-sided, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. MPH applicants should address the following three areas in the Statement of Goals & Intentions for the program.

  1. Your specific career goals and how the Master of Public Health program will assist you in fulfilling them.
  2. How your previous academic and/or work experience has prepared you to study in the Master of Public Health program. Please refer to specific courses from your transcript, and/or specific experiences from your Curriculum Vitae.
  3. Although not a requirement for admission, having experience with statistics or data analysis may make your application more competitive. Please include a description of any statistics courses taken, including the course content and the grade attained. If you have conducted any data analyses, please provide an overview of that experience.
  4. If you are applying to a specialization, please include: a description of how the specialization relates to your career goals; a list of any related courses taken (course content and grade attained); as well as any related work or volunteering from your Curriculum Vitae.

The Statement of Goals & Intentions - MHSc

The Statement of Goals & Intentions for the MHSc program must address specific issues. The statement should not exceed three pages, and must be one-sided, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins. MHSc applicants should address the following three statements in the Statement of Goals & Intentions for the program.

  1. What are your specific career goals and how will the Master of Health Sciences program assist you to fulfill them?
  2. Please indicate how your previous academic and/or work experience has prepared you to study in the Master of Health Sciences program. Please refer to specific courses from your transcript, and/or specific experiences from your Curriculum Vitae.
  3. Although not a requirement for admission, having experience with statistics, qualitative or quantitative research methods and analysis may make your application more competitive. Please include a description of any courses related to qualitative and quantitative methodologies taken, including the course content and the grade attained. If you have conducted any data collection or analyses (e.g., in an undergraduate thesis), please give an overview of that experience.
  4. If you are applying to a specialization, please include: a description of how the specialization relates to your career goals; a list of any related courses taken (course content and grade attained); as well as any related work or volunteering from your Curriculum Vitae.

Master of Public Health with Specialization in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Electives Personal Essay

The personal essay is an important part of the screening of candidates for admission to the Master of Public Health with Specialization in Nursing with Nurse Practitioner Electives. The scores will be based on your ability to address all the items below in a comprehensive manner. It is suggested that you include examples of your experiences that illustrate your responses. Answers must be in Times New Roman 12 font & limited to one-page per question. As well, answers that are overly brief and/or very general will not be highly scored. Your written submission contributes strongly toward determining whether you are selected for admission to the MPH with Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Electives program.

  1. What is your motivation for wanting to become a NP-Primary Health Care (PHC) rather than an NP-Adult or NP-Pediatrics?
  2. What professional and personal attributes do you bring to the NP-PHC role?

The Personal Essay for Nurse Practitioners

The personal essay is an important part of the secondary screening of candidates for admission to the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (PHCNP). The scores will be based on your ability to address all the items below in a comprehensive manner. It is suggested that you include examples of your experiences that illustrate your responses. Answers must be in Times New Roman 12 font & limited to one-page per question. As well, answers that are overly brief and/or very general will not be highly scored. Your written submission contributes strongly toward determining whether you are selected for admission to the PHCNP program.

  • What is your motivation for wanting to become a NP-PHC rather than an NP-Adult of NP-Pediatrics?
  • What professional and personal attributes do you bring to the NP-PHC role?

The Statement of Goals & Intentions - PhD Health Sciences

The Statement of Goals & Intentions for the PhD in Health Sciences program must address specific issues. The statement should not exceed four pages, and must be one-sided, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins and 12-pt font. PhD applicants should address the following three areas in the Statement of Goals & Intentions for the program.

  1. What is your proposed research program (plan of study, topic of interest) for the PhD in Health Sciences? What are the theoretical foundations you will draw on and what methodologies and methods will be used in your doctoral research? 
  2. How your previous academic and/or work experience has prepared you to study in the PhD in Health Sciences program? Please refer to specific courses from your transcript, and/or specific experiences from your Curriculum Vitae.
  3. What are your specific career goals and how will the PhD in Health Sciences program assist you to fulfill them?