How to List Unfinished College on a Resume with Examples

How to List Unfinished College on a Resume with Examples But what are they going to think?Thats probably what runs through your mind when you think of putting your unfinished college on your resume.Lucky for you, this is totally a case where you can control what others think.Phrase and include your incomplete degree correctly and professionally and the only thing recruiters will think about will be when you can schedule an interview.This guide will show you how to do exactly that.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample resume made with our builderSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowHere are some other education specific articles that you might be interested in:Make Your Resume Edu cation Section Stand Out20+ Student Resume ExamplesHigh School Student Resume TemplateShould I Put My GPA on a Resume?How to List a Minor and Major on a ResumeExpected Graduation Date on a ResumeHow to Put Some College on a ResumeThere can be a variety of reasons why you have an incomplete degree.And heres a little secret it doesnt really matter what those reasons are.Instead of focusing on how much of your degree is or isnt done, focus instead on these questions:Does your degree align with your career goals or the specific role youre applying for?Would removing your education completely cause a large employment gap in your resume?Were there any courses you took that could be applicable to the job youre applying for?These questions will help you focus on the value that even your incomplete education can bring to your resume.Now, youll generally find yourself in one of two situations. Depending on which one they fall into, you can approach listing your education in your resume differ ently.So here are the two different scenarios:Your degree is in progress and you expect to graduateThis is much simpler to list on your resume than it may seem.Its enough to list the degree program(s) youre taking part in, the name of the school and its location, and your expected graduation date.Remember that your anticipated graduation date isnt set in stone so if you end up graduating earlier or later, employers generally wont hold it against you.That said, dont make up a random graduation date. Its a little hard to explain why you graduated 3 years later than planned and just makes you look sketchy.Your unfinished college on your resume should look something like this:Currently Pursuing Degree on a ResumeExamplerightB.Sc. ArchitectureUniversity of Colorado, Denver, COExpected graduation date 2020If youd like some more insight into adding your ongoing education to your resume, this guide should be right up your alley: How to Include Your Continuing Education on a ResumeEasy peasy . Lets move on to the second scenario.Your education is unfinished and you dont plan to finish itThis is a little more complicated.You dont really want to include your college degree program and then write incomplete at the end. That doesnt exactly look wonderful.You can get around that in several ways:Simply note down the school you attended.You can name the school and add the dates you attended along with the amount of credit hours you finished. If you dont have a sick GPA, then leave it out.You can do the same thing as option #2 above, except focus on the courses that are relevant to the role you are applying for. This option brings the recruiters focus to what you already know instead of the fact that you didnt finish college.When youre done, these options should look similar to this:Unfinished Degree on a ResumeExamplerightOption #1University of ColoradoDenver, COOption #2University of Colorado (2016-2018)Denver, COCompleted 25 credits towards a BA in BusinessOption #3Universit y of Colorado (2016-2018)Denver, COCompleted courses: Architectural History and Urbanism, Construction Practices, Building Systems, Theory of Structures.Now that looks pretty good! With your unfinished college listed like this in your resume, dont be surprised if you actually get interview invitations instead of rejection messages!Pro Tip: Dont try to be cute and include phrases such as Major: Finance and then claim that you never really explicitly said that you graduated. If that comes up at an interview, recruiters are likely to get annoyed.Want to learn more about adding relevant coursework to your resume? This guide will show you the way: How to List Relevant Coursework on a ResumeHave you managed to complete a lower level degree while pursuing a higher one? This guide will show you how to include it in your resume: How to List a Degree on a ResumeStill in college but want to apply to be in a sorority? This guide will get you there:Sorority Resume Sample and GuideKey TakeawayWhe ther your college is finished or not takes a back seat to the value that it can potentially add to your resume.When listing your unfinished college on a resume, remember:Mention your degree program, school name, and expected graduation date if youre continuing your educationIf youre not going to finish your education, find an option that puts your incomplete education in the best possible light.Thats all there is to it!Any questions, comments, or concerns? Drop it down in the comments below!