• Student Brag Sheet 1 Revised 5/17/16

    link to downloadable .pdf

    Student Name: _______________________

     

    Advisor: ____________



    Recommendation letters can have an important impact on you getting into a college or earning a college scholarship. College admissions officers and/or members of a scholarship selection committee want more thana list of descriptive academic adjectives of a list of personal traits, activities or honors. 

     

    To say that you are responsible or creative or possess intellectual curiosity is not enough. 

     

    You must provide examples or anecdotes that support these personal or academic traits. This   helps the reader gain insight into your true essence. 

     

    Our task is to help the reader of the letter of recommendation, distinguish you from other qualified applicants.

     

    Directions: The tasks that follow will help me write an effective letter of recommendation for you. You don’t have to answer all questions. However, the more information you provide, the more likely it will be that I will be able to write you a good recommendation letter.

     

    Task 1: Describe yourself – What are the first words that come to mind to describe yourself?

    1. _________________________________ 4. _________________________________

    2. _________________________________ 5. _________________________________

    3. _________________________________ 6. _________________________________

     

    Task 2: Family Background – Is there anything unusual about your family (cultural background, shared interests and activities, travel, size, crisis, etc.) that has had a significant impact on your personal or academic life?

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 3: Personal/Academic Traits – Examine the academic and personal traits listed below. Rate yourself  using the following scale: 1 = Below average, 2 = Average, 3 = Good, 4 = Very good, 5 = Outstanding

     

    ______Initiative/motivation ______Leadership/influence ______Emotional maturity

    ______Intellectual curiosity ______Integrity ______Sense of humor

    ______Creativity ______Concern for others ______Reaction to setbacks

    ______Energy ______Responsible ______Tolerance for differences

    Directions: Next, select your top two traits. Provide and example(s) or an anecdote that explains why you  selected it as your most important trait. Explain why you selected the traits below as your two most important.

     

    Top Trait: : _____________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ___________________________________________________________________________



    Second Highest Trait: _____________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ___________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 4: College Choice – List the colleges you plan on applying to in order of preference:

    1. __________________________________ 4. __________________________________

    2. __________________________________ 5. __________________________________

    3. __________________________________ 6. __________________________________

     

    Directions: Explain why you are choosing to apply to your top college. Why is this college a “good fit” for you? What are the qualities that the top college looks for in their applicants?

    (Having trouble? Check the college catalogue. Most college catalogues describe the qualities they want in theirstudents.) Find this paragraph and make a copy and attach it to this packet.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 5: Intended College Major/Career Goal (If you are unsure of what your major or career goal will be, move on to Task 7).

    Major: ___________________________________

    Career Goal(s): __________________________________

    Why have you selected this major/career goal?

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 6: Favorite Academic Subjects – What academic subject(s) are most interesting to you? Why? How does this subject connect with your career goal?

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Task 7: Greatest Academic Strengths – What are your greatest academic strengths? Explain.

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    _________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 8: Greatest Areas of Weakness – What are some areas you need to improve in? Explain.

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    _________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________



    Task 9: Athletic Abilities and Accomplishments – What sports have you participated in? List them below along with the years you participated and/or any special recognition (Team Captain, MVP etc.) you received.

     

    Sport Circle Years Special Recognition/Honors/Awards

    ________________________ Fr So Jr Sr 

    ________________________ Fr So Jr Sr 

    ________________________ Fr So Jr Sr 



    In what ways has your athletic involvement impacted your personal development?

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________



    Task 10: Extra-Curricular Activities – List the extra-curricular activities and circle years you have

    participated.

    1. _____________________________ Fr So Jr Sr 2. _______________________Fr So Jr Sr

    3. _____________________________ Fr So Jr Sr 4. _______________________Fr So Jr Sr

     

    Which of these extra-curricular activities was most important to you? Explain.

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________



    Task 11: Community Service – In what organizations or activities outside of school have you participated?

     

    1. Organization Name: ____________________________ Total Hours: _______

    Activities Performed:

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    2. Organization Name: ____________________________ Total Hours: _______

    Activities Performed:

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Which community service activity was most meaningful to you? Explain.

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



    Task 12: Leadership Experiences – Describe any leadership roles you have taken in your community service activities OR at school. List the activity or office and describe what you did.

    1. Leadership Role: ______________________________ Years Held: _______

    Organization Name: ______________________________

    Activities Performed:

    __________________________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________________________

     

    2. Leadership Role: ______________________________ Years Held: _______

    Organization Name: ______________________________

    Activities Performed:

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    What makes you a successful leader?

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 13: Overcoming Adversity – Explain any situations that required you to overcome challenges, adversity, or obstacles (divorce, accident, illness, etc.)

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



    Task 14: Work Experience: Describe your most significant work experience – employer, length of

    employment, position, and responsibilities. What lessons did you take away from this experience?

     

    Employer: _____________________________ Length of Employment: _______

    Responsibilities: ___________________________________________________________________________

     

    Lessons Learned: __________________________________________________________________________

     

    ____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Task 15: Test Information – Fill in your test scores and the month and year the test was taken for each score.

     

    SAT Reasoning: Verbal: ________ / Date: _________ Math: ________ / Date: _________

    Writing: ________ / Date: _________

    SAT Subject: Subject: ____________________ Score: _______ / Date: _________

    Subject: ____________________ Score: _______ / Date: _________

    Subject: ____________________ Score: _______ / Date: _________

    ACT: English: ________ Reading: _______ Math: _______ Comp: _______

    Date: _________

     

    Task 16: Senior Classes – Write the classes you are taking this year.

    1. ____________________________ 5. ____________________________

    2. ____________________________ 6. ____________________________

    3. ____________________________ 7. ____________________________

    4. ____________________________ 8. ____________________________



    Task 17: Additional Information – What additional information should I know to write your letter of recommendation?

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________

    ___________________________________________________________________