How to Answer Education Level Questions If You Are Still in School

How to Answer Education Level Questions If You Are Still in School

If a job application asks about your education level questions, you might worry that checking the “wrong” box could hurt your chances. The good news: you can answer accurately (and confidently) by choosing the option that matches what you’ve completed and clearly noting your current status. This guide shows you exactly what to select in common education fields, how to describe your in-progress degree, and how to handle tricky prompts like “highest level completed” and “graduation year.”

Whether you’re applying for internships, entry-level roles, or switching careers, you’ll leave with a practical workflow you can use for every application—especially when an ATS education level form doesn’t give you enough space to explain.

Step 1: Identify what the form is really asking (completed vs. current)

Many education prompts look similar, but they mean different things. Before you pick an option, check the wording carefully. The difference between “completed” and “in progress” is often the key to selecting the most accurate answer.

• “Highest level of education completed” usually means what you’ve finished—not what you’re currently working on.
• “Highest degree you are pursuing” or “Current education” means you should reflect your ongoing program.
• “Education level” may be a simplified dropdown that expects your current status (but not always).
• “Are you currently enrolled?” is straightforward: answer yes if you are in school right now.

Decision rule: If the question includes the word completed, do not count your current degree as completed. If it doesn’t say completed, you can typically report your current pursuit or current status.

Tip: If the form doesn’t let you separate “in progress” from “completed,” you’ll often need to use the closest truthful option and add your status in the notes, school description, or education details section.

Step 2: Use accurate options for the most common “in school” scenarios

Once you know what the application is asking, match it to your situation. Below are practical, real-world examples you can adapt without overthinking.

Scenario A: You’re still in a bachelor’s program

If you are currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, your answer depends on whether the form asks about completion.

• Highest level completed: select the highest level you have finished (often this is “Some college” or “High school” depending on what you’ve completed).
• Current education / Highest level of education: select “Bachelor’s” (or the closest available option) if it’s meant to reflect your current pursuit.
• Graduation year: enter your expected year if the form asks for it.

If there’s a text box, a simple line like “B.S. in Computer Science (In progress), expected May 2027” can remove ambiguity for ATS education level fields that don’t capture “in progress” well.

Scenario B: You’re in a master’s program

For a master’s degree you haven’t completed yet, many forms will still show “Master’s” in the education dropdown, but you may also be asked about completion.

• Highest level completed: often refers to what you completed before the master’s (for example, your bachelor’s).
• Current education: you should report the master’s as your current program.

If your application has both a degree dropdown and a “completed” indicator, use the completion logic above. If it doesn’t, rely on the most truthful default and clarify in the education entry.

Scenario C: You’re in a bootcamp or certificate program

Certificate and bootcamp programs can create confusion because many dropdowns are designed around degree levels. The best approach is to reflect what your program is, using whatever options the form provides.

• If the dropdown only lists degrees: choose the closest option available (for example, “Other” or “Some college” only if those are the nearest truthful categories).
• If there’s an “Education type” or “Program” field: specify “Certificate” or “Bootcamp” there.
• In the school/program name field: write the exact program name and include “in progress” if applicable.

You don’t need to force-fit your program into a degree box if the form offers a way to represent it accurately. If it doesn’t, use a clear education description in the details section.

Scenario D: You’re in high school or GED/alternative education

Some applicants are applying for internships, apprenticeships, or early pipeline roles while still in school. For education level questions, be direct and accurate.

• Highest level completed: select what you have completed to date (or the closest dropdown option that matches your completed education).
• Current enrollment: answer yes if the form asks about it.
• Notes: include “Expected graduation” if it’s requested or helpful.

Remember: many applications are designed to collect baseline education info. Clear phrasing prevents misunderstandings and supports the ATS education level structure.

Step 3: Handle “expected graduation” and “in progress” fields correctly

Some job applications include fields like “Expected graduation date,” “In progress,” or “Degree date.” These fields help you answer education level questions without implying you’ve finished a program.

What to enter when you’re still enrolled

When asked for graduation, use your most realistic expected date. If your plan isn’t fixed, choose a date range approach if the form allows it. If it requires a single date and you genuinely don’t know yet, pick the closest estimate you can stand behind consistently.

• If the form has an “In progress” toggle: turn it on.
• If it has a degree completion date: leave it blank if allowed; otherwise use the expected date only when it’s explicitly requested.
• If it has a “Year completed” dropdown: use your best estimate for expected completion, but do not mark the degree as “completed” if the form distinguishes “completed” vs. “in progress.”

If the form doesn’t provide good controls, don’t guess completion. Instead, choose the closest category that matches your current status and clarify your expected timeline in the education description.

Example entries you can reuse

Use language that is truthful, short, and ATS-friendly. Avoid long explanations in dropdown fields.

• Education entry: “B.A. in Economics (In progress), Expected 2026.”
• Education entry (master’s): “M.S. in Data Analytics (In progress), Expected Fall 2026.”
• Program (certificate): “Full-Stack Web Development Certificate Program (In progress), Expected completion 2025.”

When in doubt, prioritize clarity over creativity. You want the application to understand your status at a glance.

Step 4: Decide what to put in “highest education level” dropdowns when options are limited

Many ATS-based forms offer dropdown choices like “High School,” “Some college,” “Associate’s,” “Bachelor’s,” and “Master’s,” but they don’t always include “In progress.” That can create a dilemma for your education level questions.

Here’s a safe approach: select the option that corresponds to your most advanced pursuit when completion is not explicitly asked, and select the option that corresponds to your most advanced completed education when completion is explicitly asked.

Use this quick decision table

This is a practical guide for choosing the dropdown option in an ATS education level form.

Form wording	What you should enter (in school)	What to add in details (if available)
“Highest level of education completed”	Your last completed level	Optional: “Currently enrolled in …”
“Education level” (no “completed”)	Your current pursuit level (closest option)	“In progress,” expected graduation
“Currently enrolled?”	Yes/No	School name + expected date
“Degree date/year”	Only if it asks for expected date	Clarify “in progress”

If a dropdown truly forces you to pick completion even though you’re not done, choose your closest truthful category and use the education description to say the degree is in progress. That keeps your answer accurate without misrepresenting your status.

Avoid this common mistake: marking a degree as “completed” when the program is still ongoing. If a form has a “completed” indicator, leave it off and use “in progress” wherever possible.

Step 5: Keep your education answer consistent across your application materials

Even a perfect dropdown choice can backfire if your resume and application disagree. Your goal is consistency: your resume, cover letter, and application education fields should tell the same story about what you’ve completed and what you’re currently doing.

Here’s a simple consistency workflow you can use every time you fill out a job application:

1. Update your education section on your resume first to reflect “In progress” and an expected graduation term.
2. Copy the same phrasing (or near-equivalent wording) into the application’s education details field.
3. Match the level logic: if the application asks for “completed,” don’t use your current program as completed.
4. Check for date mismatches: expected graduation year and semester should match across fields.

If you use a resume template, make sure the dates and “in progress” wording are visible and accurate before you paste anything into the application. Small inconsistencies are one of the easiest avoidable reasons education level questions create confusion for job seekers.

When you should add a brief explanation

Only add explanation when the form doesn’t capture your status clearly. A single line is usually enough.

• If the dropdown can’t represent “in progress,” add “In progress” in the school/program details field.
• If you transferred schools or changed majors, you can clarify briefly in the education description (without writing your whole history).
• If you’re part-time or enrolled differently, include a simple note if the form asks for it.

You’re not trying to write an essay—just preventing the reader or ATS education level data capture from assuming you’ve finished when you haven’t.

FAQ

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