On a US graduate school application resume, list the degree exactly as it appears on your official English-language transcript—for example, "Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science"—and add "(985 Project University)" immediately after the institution name or as a separate line. This rule works because US admissions officers and professors recognize the 985 designation, but they also read dozens of resumes daily; your first job is to make your degree's field and level instantly clear, and the 985 status is a secondary but useful signal.
A 985 Project university is one of 39 elite Chinese institutions designated in 1998 for top-tier funding and development. On a US resume, this status carries weight—it tells a reader you attended a nationally competitive school. But if you list it as "Bachelor of 985 Project" or replace the actual degree name, you risk confusing a reader who may not know the Chinese higher-education system. The official degree name is non-negotiable; the 985 label is bonus information.
Place the 985 designation right after the institution name, in parentheses, e.g., "Peking University (985 Project University)—Beijing, China." This keeps the degree title clean and puts the status where the reader already expects institutional prestige. Alternatively, if your resume has a dedicated "Honors" or "Awards" section, you can write "Selected as a 985 Project University graduate" there—but only if you have other honors to fill that section. Do not create a separate section just for this one item.
A before-and-after example shows the difference:
Before (confusing): Bachelor of 985 Project, Tsinghua University, 2021
After (clear): Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science, Tsinghua University (985 Project University), 2021
The "after" version is immediately scannable. A reader sees the degree field, the university, and the 985 signal without having to parse an unfamiliar phrase. Use this exact format on every resume you submit, including online application forms where you may have to type the degree name manually.
US admissions committees care about 985 because it indicates a rigorous undergraduate environment—among the best in China. If you are applying to a competitive master's or PhD program, a 985 designation can help you stand out against applicants from lesser-known Chinese institutions. However, committees care far more about your GPA, research experience, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. The resume is a summary, not a magic key.
Do not overstate the 985 status. Avoid phrases like "Top 1% nationally" or "China's Ivy League" on the resume itself; such claims feel promotional and are hard to verify. Instead, let the 985 label speak for itself. If you want to elaborate, do so in your statement of purpose or an optional "Additional Information" section, not in the resume bullet points.
Omit the 985 label if you have limited space and your resume already shows strong evidence of academic excellence—for example, a 3.8 GPA, published research, or a national award. The label is most useful when your GPA is average or your research background is thin; in those cases, the 985 signal can compensate. If you have room for only one line under your degree, keep the degree name and institution, and add the 985 label only if space allows. Never sacrifice a relevant bullet point or a skill line for the label.
Your transcript may list a Chinese degree title like "工学学士" (Bachelor of Engineering). On a US resume, use the official English translation from your university, if provided. If not, follow standard conventions: "Bachelor of Science" for 理学, "Bachelor of Engineering" for 工学, "Bachelor of Arts" for 文学, and so on. Do not invent a degree name—use the closest US equivalent that accurately reflects your field.
For each relevant course or project, describe it in terms a US professor would understand. For example, instead of "数学分析" (Mathematical Analysis), write "Advanced Calculus" or "Real Analysis." Add a short parenthetical if the course is genuinely unique, e.g., "Numerical Methods (course in finite element analysis)." This translation step is not about dumbing down—it is about making your background accessible to a reader who may not read Chinese.
When listing a thesis or capstone project, state the title in English and add a one-line description of the problem you solved. For instance: "Senior Thesis: Predicting Stock Volatility Using GARCH Models—built a Python-based model on 10 years of Shanghai exchange data." This format shows both your technical skill and your ability to communicate in an international context.
Most US graduate school applications use an online portal, not a traditional resume for initial screening, but many programs still ask you to upload a PDF resume. Keep the format simple and ATS-friendly: use a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman, 10–12 point size, and single-column layout. Avoid tables, text boxes, or graphics—these can confuse automated parsing. Use standard section headings like "Education," "Experience," and "Skills" exactly as written, so a parser can identify them.
For the education section, write the institution name and degree in plain text, not in a fancy format. ATS systems that parse resumes typically read line by line; a messy format can cause your degree to be missed. One precise fact: ATS parsing works best when you list dates in a consistent "Month Year" or "Year" format, and when you avoid parentheses inside the degree title itself—but parentheses after the institution name are generally fine. Your safest choice is to put the 985 label after the university, not after the degree.
Education
Peking University (985 Project University)—Beijing, China
Bachelor of Science in Physics, 2018–2022
This entry is scannable by both automated systems and human readers. The degree name is clear, the institution is prominent, and the 985 label is a simple addition. Do not use a line break between the university and degree if it creates ambiguity—some parsers might mix them up. Keep them on separate logical lines as shown.
Before you hit submit, run your resume through a free check to catch translation or formatting slips—PrismResume's checker is free and needs no sign-up: https://prismresume.com/check.
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