"From..To" fields

[smithcanada]

What is the suggested way to list the dates in the history section? For example, should we list as:

January 2000-December 2000
December 2000-March 2001

OR

January 2000-December 200
January 2001-March 2001


Also, for listing the schools/colleges/universities, do we include the summer vacation in our education history or list each academic year as September-May...and then May-August as summer vacaction???

[SenoritaBella]

A lawyer helped me with mine and we listed dates as:

January 2000-December 2000
December 2000-March 2001

For listing schools, etc:

Sep 2011-May 2011 - studying
May 2011 - Aug 2011 - summer vacation(be specific - were you travelling? unemployed? working? etc)

[smithcanada]

Hey, what if I did nothing during summer vacation? i.e., stayed in Canada?
Also, anyone else just listed the university/college studies for all the years in one line, including summer? Or did everyone list school year (sept-may) separately from the summer vacation???

[SenoritaBella]

I studied and stayed in Canada during the summer months and from my experience, it should be:

Sep 2011-May 2011 - studying
May 2011 - Aug 2011 - unemployed(since you did nothing).

The problem with writing "Sep 2011 - Aug 2011 = studying" is that, when the officer cross-references with your transcripts and does not find summer classes(i.e missing information), he/she will return the entire application.

Hey, what if I did nothing during summer vacation? i.e., stayed in Canada?
Also, anyone else just listed the university/college studies for all the years in one line, including summer? Or did everyone list school year (sept-may) separately from the summer vacation???

[jes_ON]

The problem with writing "Sep 2011 - Aug 2011 = studying" is that, when the officer cross-references with your transcripts and does not find summer classes(i.e missing information), he/she will return the entire application.

I'm pretty sure that CIC sees a lot of variation in how this history is completed, so don't worry too much if someone has done it differently than you!  But want to comment that summer classes are NOT expected, the typical student will have fall and spring classes - it will not be a problem to not have summer classes.

I listed my undergraduate time in a 4-year block  (e.g. August 1990-May 1994) as that was my main activity for those four years. 

But if I held a summer job elsewhere, I listed that separately (June 1993-August 1993).  I called CIC and they confirmed it was OK to have overlapping time frames - just NO GAPS! 

[smithcanada]

Yeah, i'll list as blocks instead of individual years.
It's amazing that I've probably filled out a dozen applications for study/work permits over the last 10 years or so, and after reviewing each a couple of times, I'd just mail it. Not really worrying about the tiniest of things.

But, while this site is extremely useful, it's also very stress inducing when you see people worrying about things like stapling or paper clipping! You begin to realize how nervous everyone is about everything, like walking on egg shells through every question on the application.
Normally, these things wouldn't even register in a person's mind. But this PR process wreaks havoc on your brain!

thanks for the tips though, jes_on. you're a good man
if there are other people who've listed their education in blocks or split them up into academic year/summer vacation, please let us know!