Leaving Undergrad School Off Resume

I recently graduated from Booth with a dual degree in Data Science after working for 5 years in RX banking and will be working at an investment manager starting later this fall. 

Now that I'm back in the work force I'm redoing my resume and am finding that since I have 4 total degrees that my education section is taking up a disproportionate amount of space on my resume at the expense of my work experience.

How defensible or indefensible would it be if I took my undergraduate degree off of it to save room?

Thought process is that the Finance and Econ degrees overlap with the MSF degree a ton and everyone knows you can't get a masters degree without a bachelors. My undergrad degree would still be on my Linkedin and if pressed in an interview would lay that out. I'm also very active with my undergrad as an alumni, attend sporting events 3-4 times a year, and am outwardly supportive of it so its not like I would be trying to hide that I attended there.

For context I hold the following degrees:

UG: SEC School with Finance and Econ double major

MSF: Target School 

MBA: Booth MBA and Applied Data Science Degree

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights regarding your situation:

Key Considerations:

  1. Space Management on Resume:

    • It's crucial to balance the space on your resume between education and work experience. Given your extensive educational background, it's understandable that you might want to prioritize your professional experience.
  2. Relevance of Degrees:

    • Since your Finance and Econ undergraduate degrees overlap significantly with your MSF degree, it might be reasonable to consider omitting the undergraduate degree to save space. However, this decision should be weighed carefully.
  3. Transparency:

    • Ensure that your undergraduate degree is still visible on your LinkedIn profile and be prepared to discuss it during interviews. This transparency can help mitigate any concerns about omitting it from your resume.

Recommendations:

  • Condense Education Section:

    • Instead of removing your undergraduate degree entirely, consider condensing the education section. For example:
    • Education:
      • Booth School of Business: MBA, Applied Data Science
      • Target School: MSF
      • SEC School: B.A. in Finance and Economics
  • Highlight Work Experience:

    • Ensure that your work experience is prominently displayed and detailed. This is particularly important given your 5 years in RX banking and upcoming role at an investment manager.
  • Be Prepared to Discuss:

    • Be ready to explain your educational background and the rationale for your resume format during interviews. Emphasize your active involvement as an alumnus and your support for your undergraduate institution.

Additional Tips:

  • Resume Formatting:

    • Use bullet points and concise language to maximize space.
    • Consider a two-page resume if your experience and education warrant it, but ensure the most critical information is on the first page.
  • Professional Experience:

    • Highlight key achievements and responsibilities in your RX banking role and any relevant projects or skills from your dual degree in Data Science.

By following these guidelines, you can create a well-balanced resume that effectively showcases both your educational background and professional experience.

Sources: Running out of time and options in a big, big way; have no idea what to do; losing my mind, Filtering resumes - what I looked for when screening 200+ resumes, Cover Letter + Resume Advice, Thoughts: Okay to remove GPA from resume once graduating undergrad?, Resume Guidelines from a WSO Drop Reviewer

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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