Making Your CV

First of all in America (and I think elsewhere too!) there is a difference between a Resume and a CV. A resume is generally demamded in industries and companies and is supposedly smaller than a CV. CV is extensive and consists of details of the projects, publications, awards, honours, affiliations etc and is genrally what the academic institutions are looking for. The soul purpose of asking a CV is looking at your past 'academic' excellences which includes any academic honours, academic projects, professional courses etc. Yes you should donate one small portion to your extra-curriculats and its better if you could show by that - that you take initiatives and have the ability to work independently as well as in a team. That is why sports can be a good point if you have been playing at some level. But do not blab about the 'volley' position you took in Antaragni at IITK and help you provided the girls in finding thier way at IIT, or some inter-college contest that you won in singing. Yes! they are important to build one's personality and the university wants all round development of the student but not when its paying money for your education.

Oh! so you have two sisters and an elder brother. And your brother is in MIT - well the university does not need to know that. Keep your personal details at the minimum - this is not a matrimonial biodata. A general segmentation could be (not in any order)

1. Personal Information
2. Academic Interests
3. Education Background
4. Academic Projects
5. Professional/Other Projects/Publications
6. Relevant Courses
7. Technical Skills
8. Awards and Honours
9. Initiatives and Other Activities
10. References (if required)

Mention your academic interests, your skills and Oh! dont forget to write that you know Windows and MS office. And that you have worked in MS-DOS and you can write codes in GWBASIC. That you have used oscilloscopes in your first year. If you still need to show your skills you can also write that you know how to use a mouse and can type with multiple fingers and use both hands. For those who are perpetually confused wether to write all that or not - counsult your friends in class 10th or simply dont cus the information content in all that is ZERO. You are expected to know all that so think what elements of your skills would count as information to the university and mention only those.

One last thing after you write your CV is to get it proofread by your friends and your seniors.