How to Build Your Brag Sheet (And Why Every Student Needs One) [Bonus at the End]

Ever wonder what your teachers and counsellors actually write in your recommendation letters?

Spoiler alert: they don’t have magical insight into all your accomplishments, goals, and growth moments—especially if they only know you from one class or club.

That’s where a brag sheet comes in.

This isn’t about showing off. It’s about showing up with clarity, intention, and a little help for the people supporting your college journey.

In this newsletter, you’ll learn how to build a brag sheet that highlights your strengths, supports your recommenders, and makes your college applications stronger, more personal, and more memorable.

What Is a Brag Sheet?

Let’s clear something up first: a brag sheet isn’t about actual bragging.

Think of it as your personal highlight reel—a well-organized summary of your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, jobs, and goals. It’s designed to help the people writing your letters of recommendation paint a fuller, more compelling picture of you.

Teachers and counselors often write dozens (sometimes hundreds) of recommendation letters each year. Your brag sheet helps them remember specific stories, recognize your strengths, and highlight your growth—all of which can make your recommendation letters more detailed and persuasive.

Why You Need a Brag Sheet (Even If No One Asked)

Even if a teacher or counselor hasn’t explicitly requested one, submitting a brag sheet along with your recommendation request is a smart move.

Here’s why:

• It makes their job easier: You’re giving them facts, milestones, and anecdotes to work with.

• It gives you some control: A good brag sheet gently steers the narrative of your recommendation.

• It helps you reflect: The process of writing it forces you to think about your own growth, values, and accomplishments.

• It can double as a resume draft: Many of the same details will be useful when applying for internships, scholarships, or part-time jobs.

What to Include in a Brag Sheet

Every brag sheet is different, but here are the must-have sections:

1. Basic Information

Start with your name, contact info, high school, and anticipated graduation year. You might also include your intended college major and a short personal mission statement.

2. Academic Highlights

List key academic achievements such as:

• GPA (if strong)

• Class rank (if applicable)

• AP/IB courses and scores

• Academic honors (e.g., National Honor Society, Honor Roll, subject-specific awards)

3. Extracurricular Activities

Focus on depth, not just breadth. Admissions committees want to see impact and consistency. For each activity, mention:

• Your role (member, leader, founder)

• Time commitment (e.g., hours per week)

• Noteworthy contributions or results

Example:

4. Community Service

Show your engagement with the world around you.

Include:

• Organization or cause

• Your role and responsibilities

• Hours contributed

• Any specific outcomes or lessons learned

5. Work Experience

If you’ve held part-time jobs, internships, or freelance gigs, list them!

This shows responsibility, time management, and real-world skills.

6. Awards and Recognitions

These might come from school, competitions, volunteering, or external organizations.

Even small recognitions can matter—just don’t list every participation certificate from elementary school.

7. Mention achievements you want them to spotlight

If there's something you're particularly proud of—like leading a fundraiser, winning a competition, publishing a piece of writing, or overcoming a major challenge—include it.

Don’t assume your teacher or counsellor remembers everything you’ve done. Spell it out so they can highlight it effectively.

8. Hobbies and Passions

This section adds personality. Are you into photography, coding, origami, or podcasting? Share it—especially if it reflects creativity, initiative, or curiosity.

9. Future Goals

What do you want to study? What kind of impact do you hope to make?

This gives your recommender a sense of your direction and long-term ambition.

How to Structure It

Brag sheets don’t have to follow a rigid format, but clarity and organization are key.

You can use:

• Bullet points for quick readability

• Headings/subheadings to organize each section

• Brief descriptions (2–4 lines max per entry)

• Reverse chronological order (most recent first)

You can use a simple Google Doc or download a resume-style template from platforms like Canva or Microsoft Word. Some schools also provide their own brag sheet templates—check with your counselor!

Dos and Don’ts

When and How to Share Your Brag Sheet

Ideally, you should send your brag sheet when you ask for a letter of recommendation, typically at the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year.

How to share it:

• Attach it as a PDF when emailing a teacher.

• Provide a printed copy if asking in person.

• Upload it to your college application portal if requested.

Pro Tip: You can even tailor different versions of your brag sheet depending on who you’re asking. For instance, a math teacher might benefit from seeing your STEM-related achievements front and center.

A Quick Template You Can Follow

Here’s a simple layout to get you started:

Name: Priya Kapoor
School: Eastview High School
Email: [email protected]
Graduation Year: 2025
Intended Major: Computer Science
Personal Statement: I want to build inclusive tech solutions that bridge access gaps in education.

Academic Highlights:

• 4.1 GPA (weighted)

• AP Computer Science (Score: 5), AP Calculus AB (Score: 4)

• National Honor Society Member (Grades 11–12)

Extracurriculars:

• Girls Who Code Club – Founder & President (Grades 10–12)
  Led 15+ members, conducted workshops, raised $800 for laptops for underprivileged girls.

• Robotics Team – Member (Grades 9–12)
  Worked on design team; helped secure 3rd place at state-level meet.

Volunteer Experience:

Don’t just say “Volunteered at an NGO.”
Explain what you did, how often, and what you learned.

• The name of the organization and your role.

• A brief summary of your responsibilities.

• Any impact you created (e.g. number of people helped, funds raised, events managed).

• What motivated you to volunteer and what you learned from the experience.

Work Experience:

Whether it was a paid job, internship, or family business, you gained real-world skills. Highlight them.

• What was your role and where?

• What did you learn that school didn't teach you?

• Any challenges you overcame?

• How did you grow professionally or personally?

Awards:

Awards can signal excellence, but context makes them memorable.

• What is the award for, and who gave it?

• How competitive was it?

• Why was it meaningful to you?

• Was there a story behind it?

Example:

Hobbies:

Hobbies show passion, creativity, and balance.

• What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

• How long have you been doing it?

• Have you pursued it in a structured way (courses, performances, competitions)?

• Has it taught you anything?

Example:

Future Goals:

This shows vision and ambition. Be honest and specific.

• What do you hope to study or pursue?

• Why does that matter to you?

• Any long-term dreams?

• How do your experiences connect to this goal?

Final Thoughts

Your brag sheet is a behind-the-scenes asset that can boost the quality of your college applications significantly. It’s not just for your teachers—it’s for you too. It helps you reflect, take ownership of your journey, and express your story with confidence.

And remember: creating a brag sheet isn’t about impressing people with titles. It’s about showing who you are, what you care about, and where you're headed.

So grab a blank doc, start listing your proudest moments—and get ready to stand out.

—--------------------------------------

Amol & Nishant,

The College Crest - Powered by Lets Unbound,

We have worked with thousands of students over the past 7 years. This newsletter captures the essence of our insights to simplify the college readiness journey.