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It's tough for a high school student to brag about themselves. Basic preschool etiquette taught them not to brag or they wouldn't have any friends. But now as they are winding down their high school careers, they need to learn the art of bragging to college admissions officers.
Students applying to college should complete a resume, often called a “brag sheet.” I always describe the brag sheet as an evolving document. It is wonderful when students have the opportunity to create their first draft when they are sophomores or early in their junior year, and then add to it as they have more experiences throughout high school.
ABC's of the brag sheet
What's the purpose? It is essentially a student's resume of what they've done outside the classroom during high school. It encompasses extracurricular activities, sports, religious/youth group activities, community service, internships, honors/scholarships/awards, employment, summer/leadership programs etc.
Ideally the brag sheet should be 1-2 pages; this is not an autobiography.
What should it look like? Use the headings mentioned above and start listing the range of activities, the time spent in each activity. Include the number of hours per week and number of weeks per year itemized and the responsibilities or duties performed.
For summer activities just identifying the summer (2009) and the number of weeks is sufficient. Just like a traditional resume, the brag sheet should be arranged in reverse chronological order with the most current activities first. If a student has multiple, simultaneous activities, the one with the greatest number of hours comes first.
How will it be used?
The brag sheet can be attached to the college application or sent separately. Although one-dimensional, the brag sheet provides the college – and those the student will ask to write letters of recommendation – with a more comprehensive picture of who they are, what makes them tick and where they have been spending their time outside of the classroom.
Anytime students visit a campus they should bring copies of their brag sheets with them. If they plan to sit in on a college class, meet with a scholarship committee, or with anyone from the Admissions Office whether it is a formal interview or a chance meeting, they should take the opportunity to share the brag sheet.
The brag sheet allows the student to present themselves in the best possible light and demonstrates responsibility and initiative. In addition to graphically showing the Admissions Office what the student has done, the brag sheet communicates that the student is taking the college search and admissions process seriously. And that says a lot.
Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@college admissionsstrategies.com; www.collegeadmissions strategies.com
