Applying to college often requires getting letters of recommendation from teachers counselors or other mentors. A brag sheet is a document you can provide to your recommenders to help them write the best possible letter for you.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what a brag sheet is, why they’re useful for college applications, and how to craft an awesome one that results in stellar recommendation letters.
What is a Brag Sheet?
A brag sheet also called a recommendation letter questionnaire is a document that gives your recommenders background information about you to inform their letter.
It provides details on things like:
- Your academic achievements and strengths
- Extracurricular activities and awards
- Personal qualities and values
- College and career goals
- Why you want a letter from this particular person
Essentially, it’s a cheat sheet that makes it easy for your recommenders by reminding them of your accomplishments and aspirations.
Why Do You Need a Brag Sheet?
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Jogs recommenders’ memory – Most teachers write many rec letters each year. A brag sheet prevents them from mixing students up.
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Provides examples – Vivid examples bring letters to life. Your brag sheet equips recommenders with them.
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Saves time – Gathering info on each student is tedious. A brag sheet provides it upfront.
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Lets you highlight key info – You suggest achievements and qualities you want emphasized.
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Results in stronger letters – With more background, recommenders can write more vivid, compelling, detailed letters.
What to Include in Your Brag Sheet
While brag sheets should be customized, many contain similar sections.
1. Logistical Information
- Your name
- Classes taken with recommender
- Schools you’re applying to
- Deadline dates
2. Why You Want Their Letter
Explain how they impacted you and why they can write insightfully about you. Mention any times you shined in their class.
3. Academic Achievements
- GPA, class rank
- Notable classes or projects
- Academic awards
4. Extracurricular Activities
- Clubs, sports, jobs
- Leadership positions held
- Major accomplishments
5. Personal Traits and Values
Share qualities, passions, motivations important to you.
6. College Plans and Career Goals
Briefly explain intended major and aspirations.
7. Thank You
Express your appreciation for their time and effort.
Brag Sheet Examples and Templates
Below are two brag sheet examples – one focused on academics, one on activities – to illustrate what an effective brag sheet contains.
You can use these as templates to model your own after. Customize them by adding or removing sections to reflect what’s most relevant for you.
Academic Brag Sheet Example
Brag Sheet for Jon Lee To: Mrs. Davis For letters of recommendation to: Penn State, UMich, UW-MadisonDeadlines: 12/15 for UMich, 1/1 for others I'm asking you to write a letter of recommendation because you were my most influential math teacher. Although I found calculus challenging at first and scored poorly on the first exam, you took time to patiently explain concepts I was struggling with until I mastered them. Your advice helped me turn things around and get an A- in your class. This gave me confidence that I could excel in college math classes as long as I put in the work.My weighted GPA is currently 4.1, and I'm in the top 5% of my graduating class. I've gotten A's in challenging courses like Honors Chemistry, AP Literature, AP US History, and your AP Calculus class. Outside academics, I enjoy rock climbing, playing percussion in the school band, and hanging out with friends on the weekends. In college, I plan to major in mechanical engineering. My analytical skills and determination will hopefully serve me well. I appreciate you taking the time to write a letter emphasizing my academic abilities and potential. Please let me know if you need any other information from me. Thank you for your support!Jon LeeExtracurricular Brag Sheet Example
Brag Sheet for Sarah MatthewsTo: Mr. Thompson For letters of recommendation to: Florida State, University of Florida, University of South FloridaDeadlines: 11/15 for all schoolsI'm requesting a letter from you because of the huge impact you had on me as my basketball coach for the last 3 years. I began playing basketball freshman year simply to stay active, but your love of the sport and emphasis on character development inspired me to start taking it more seriously. You helped me improve essential skills like discipline, time management, leadership, and teamwork. As co-captain junior and senior year, I assisted newer players and facilitated off-season practices and bonding events. I received the Coaches' Award for Leadership last season.In addition to basketball, I've participated in the following activities:- Student Government Association - Class Treasurer (11th-12th grade)- Yearbook Committee - Layout Editor (11th-12th grade) - National Honors Society (11th-12th grade) - Church Youth Group - Volunteer at food bank & summer camps (9th-12th grade)I hope to study business in college and would appreciate you highlighting my strengths working in a team, persevering through challenges, and leading by example. Thank you for helping shape me into who I am today! Sarah MatthewsTips for an Amazing Brag Sheet
Follow these tips when creating your own brag sheet:
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Be succinct – Aim for 1-2 pages max.
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Add specific examples – Vivid stories or details make the biggest impact.
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Highlight key attributes – Emphasize accomplishments and traits you want conveyed.
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Personalize each one – Tweak details for each recommender.
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Express gratitude – Thank recommenders for their time and support.
Key Takeaways
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Brag sheets provide recommenders with helpful information about you, refreshing their memory and supplying examples. This allows them to write stronger, more vivid letters.
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Effective brag sheets summarize your achievements, activities, goals, and why you want a letter from that particular person.
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Personalize each brag sheet and highlight accomplishments you want conveyed. Succinctly provide key details to make the recommender’s job easy.
Crafting a brag sheet is a valuable step in the college application process that results in better letters that make you stand out. Use these tips and examples to create a compelling brag sheet for each of your recommenders.
Why should I give my recommender a brag sheet?
Ideally, the recommenders you select will know you well and probably have an idea of what they want to emphasize about you in their letter based on their experience and relationship with you. The brag sheet helps them to get a sense of what you want to highlight in your applications based on your knowledge of your own transcript, academic and career goals, personal statement, and the schools and programs you are applying to.
By providing your recommenders with specific details about the aspects of your performance you want schools you are applying to learn, you can help your recommenders avoid using generic or recycled language when writing about your skills and qualifications. Most importantly, the more detailed the brag sheet, the more effective the letter of recommendation will be—so be as specific and comprehensive as possible!
Remember, you want your admissions officer to walk away from reading your application having gained a thorough understanding of your hook, or the story you are telling about who you are, what you are passionate about and the impact you have had in your community. Every component of your application should be strategically used to further that goal, including your letters of recommendation.
Many recommenders will have their own brag sheets they will ask you to complete for them, but here is a template you can print and give to your recommender if they don’t have one they already use!
Finally, think critically about why you have selected each of your recommenders. While they are all speaking to your skills and abilities, consider how each of them can uniquely attest to different qualities, characteristics and capabilities that you want the admissions committee to know about you!
What should I put in a brag sheet? (For a Coach, Employer, or School Counselor)
Be sure to include the email you check frequently (whether school email or personal email) and be consistent across all of your brag sheets and recommendation requests so that all of the information is organized in one place.
Be sure to verify this on the college admissions website. Return your brag sheet to your recommender ideally 2 months prior but at least 10 school days prior to the due date. Be sure to CHECK your school’s policy for recommendation requests so you do not miss a deadline!
Think carefully about how you want to characterize yourself and what you hope your recommenders will convey about you—do you want colleges to see you first and foremost as a hard worker? A leader in your community? Someone with a clear academic or career goal?
This is perhaps the most important question you will answer on the brag sheet. Your reason for choosing this recommender should correlate directly with the strengths you want your recommender to attest to. As you consider your answer to this question, be intentional about highlighting different aspects of your skills, experience, and performance—what unique experiences and abilities can each of your recommenders speak to?
By providing your reasoning for choosing this recommender in particular, you will better enable your recommender to speak to your abilities. In addition, considering this question can help you to be intentional about highlighting different aspects of your skills, experience, and performance through each of your individual recommendations.
These words should be accurate and specific—while our sample sheet provides a list of words you can choose from, you can also brainstorm and list your own descriptors for your recommenders to include!
If you know what major and career you want to pursue, be specific about the path you intend to take and any subfield within that career or major you are most interested in pursuing. If you are undecided, do your best to convey your interests and a path that you would be interested in exploring further during your time in college.
Providing your recommender with this information will help them to highlight specific accomplishments you want the admissions committee to take note of.
These can be academic activities, sports, extracurriculars, leadership roles you have held, work experience(s), internships, or community service. Use this section to give your recommender a well-rounded sense of who you are and what you are passionate about.
If you have already completed your activities list for the Common App, attach it to your brag sheet to answer this question.
This is an opportunity for you to enable your recommenders to highlight accomplishments that might not be reflected in your transcripts or test scores. Consider an accomplishment that is personally significant for you—if you are proud of a paper or project you completed, think about why you are uniquely proud of it. Did you overcome a fear, or research your topic strategically? Did you learn something new in the process? Highlight an experience, whether academic or non-academic, that contributed to your growth as a student and as a person.
Help your recommender add context and additional information about gaps in your resume, classes that you may have struggled with, or grades that you feel misrepresent your skills or effort. Remember that your letters of recommendation are not only helpful ways for others to attest to your stellar qualities, but also to fill in the gaps that your other submitted materials might demonstrate.
This is your opportunity to let your personality shine!
It’s helpful to include a copy of your transcript with your brag sheet, particularly for recommenders who have not taught you and who are therefore less familiar with your academic skills and experience.
Is there something you want your recommenders to keep in mind as they write your letters that you may not have mentioned elsewhere on your brag sheet?
How to Get Teachers to Write The BEST Recommendation Letters (according to UPenn Admissions!!!)
How to write a brag sheet for a letter of recommendation?
In learning how to write a brag sheet for a letter of recommendation, there are things you need to consider. First, remember to use persuasive language. Your goal is to convince your recommender—and by extension, the admission committee or employer—that you are an exceptional candidate.
Why should I give my recommender a brag sheet?
They help teachers to recall students’ work and tailor their recommendations to particular strengths that students wish to highlight in their applications, and enable counselors and teachers to craft the very best letters of recommendation possible.
How do you write a good letter of recommendation?
The simple solution is to create a brag sheet. A well-crafted brag sheet is an essential tool that provides the foundation for a standout letter of recommendation. By detailing your accomplishments and experiences, it equips your recommenders with the insights they need to advocate for you compellingly and convincingly.
Can I use a brag sheet to write a letter?
In fact, it shouldn’t, since each brag sheet is specific to the person writing it. Instead, use this example as a brag sheet template to base your own sheet off. Brag Sheet for Sofia Jackson Letter Writer: Mr. Perez Classes I’ve had with you: Honors Biology, AP Biology Sending letters to: The University of Iowa, Drake University, Grinnell College
