<p>Some colleges explicitly state in their application materials that all information must be provided on the application itself and actively discourage sending a separate brag sheet/resume with the application. The idea, as I understand it, is to focus in the application on the few areas in which the student has a passion or which are significant accomplishments, rather than providing what often becomes a laundry list of activities or awards.</p>
<p>It is, however, helpful to bring such a brag sheet/resume to an interview, so it is worthwhile to put one together. It just may not be something the student will want to include with the application.</p>
<p>I included a resume for most colleges because on the applications there is usally only space for 3 or activities and 3 awards, etc. I didn't feel like I could show who I truly was in such a small space. I included just 3/4 page resume that detailed my Extracurriculars (i.e. sport, subpoints national ranking, etc.), Academic Achievements/Awards (with description if necessary), & Summer Programs (with brief 1 line description). It was simple and to the point. I was able to explain what I needed to and I didn't have to truncate my ecs, awards, etc. because they didnt fit on the app itself.</p>
<p>Wow! I ask a question, leave for a few hours, and come back to discover a whole thread about brag sheets! What a wonderful variety of responses -- much food for thought.</p>
<p>I can see how a resume/list of activities <em>would</em> be useful for GCs or teachers doing recommendations, and for students preparing for an interview or compiling scholarship apps. </p>
<p>As for including a brag sheet with a regular college application -- it seems to depend on the student and the college -- After reading this thread, I think I'd suggest to my DS that a resume might be helpful as part of the app, but only if the college welcomes it, and only if it adds significant depth to his qualifications. </p>
<p>But that's just <em>my</em> take on the question. Very few cut-and-dried answers in the world of college apps, it seems [wry grin].</p>
<p>The problem with the Common App is that there is no room hardly at all in the EC portion of the app (it's ridiculous!). D attached a 1 1/2 page resume that explained a little more about her ECs, awards and leadership positions, if any.</p>
<p>I haven't looked at the common app, but I wanted to mention that the area many other apps give for ECs can be deceivingly small. Several web applications my D submitted had areas to put in your resume that looked completely impossible. But when you actually click your cursor within the box, you find you can scroll a long way over to the right and a long way down. So she could in fact cut and paste her resume from Word, right into this little box and it would all fit--(just watch your tabs and line breaks). But even when you printed the form, it would only show whatever was on your screen. So you want to keep a copy of your word document for backup. </p>
<p>Also some apps give you separate lines to list each activity and again, though it may look like about only about 5 characters will fit, you can actually go much further to the right, so it's deceiving. I assume somehow at the school's end it all prints out fine. So do play with it a little and verify how much area you actually have before you feel the need to send a separate resume.</p>
<p>Thanks for all this useful information! Would you bring some sort of resume along to interviews conducted on campus in the summer before an application has been sent? It sounds as if this might be helpful.</p>
<p>My personal opinion only:
1. I think is useful to develop a "brag sheet" for the applicant's own use - as a reference sheet from which the application can be filled out.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I would not include a separate resume or brag sheet on the application itself unless the student's accomplishments are truly outstanding or unusual - OR if they are so unusual that they cannot be explained adequately by simply reporting the title of the award or accomplishment. If the items did fill that category -- then I'd keep the brag sheet very short, only highlighting the items that fit that criteria. I think it is better for an ad com to read 3 things that produce an "oh wow" reaction, than wade through a list of 20 things. </p></li>
<li><p>If there is not room on a section of the common app or the college's application form for listing every <em>important</em> award, then it probably is also acceptable to say "see attached" - and include a piece of paper that says "More info re question 8:" -- again, listing only significant or very important awards. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>The colleges really don't want the kid's life history. They don't CARE. They are not impressed by how brilliant or talented the kid is or by who he knows. They just want to get the information they need to make a decision as to whether to admit the kid. In most cases if you list the 3 most important awards, the 3 most significant ECs, etc. -- that's all they need to get the picture. </p>
<p>I mean, think of it this way: if you learn that a prof at your child's university has won the Nobel prize .... you're impressed, right? Do you want to see the prof's c.v.? Probably not - the Nobel pretty much trumps everything else. </p>
<p>The same would be true of a high school kid who was an Intel finalist. The most important accomplishments speak fo themselves, the rest seems superflous. Of course the kid who won the Intel must have entered other science contests and worked very hard over the years -- but listing every single activity and award isn't going to change things.</p>
<p>Cal Mom, I just happen to disagree somewhat. For example, my son was an intel finalist, but that doesn't tell the whole story of his commitment. (eg. published paper, other major competitions, etc.) Just listing the top award doesn't give the reader a sense of the time and degree of commitment to a field of study or activity. I'm not suggesting giving your whole life story, but you want the adcom's to appreciate both the depth and breadth of the student's involvement.</p>
<p>"Also some apps give you separate lines to list each activity and again, though it may look like about only about 5 characters will fit, you can actually go much further to the right, so it's deceiving. I assume somehow at the school's end it all prints out fine."</p>
<p>I believe Common App automatically takes the data and converts it into a PDF document. The schools print out the PDF, not the web form.</p>
<p>I can't help wondering: if I had bought one of those "how to beat the college app" books, would I have done better in the application process? Oh well...what's past is past...:p</p>
<p>I agree in theory with Donemom about a short description not giving the flavor of how much work an EC or award entailed. However, "Intel finalist" isn't a good example to use. Colleges are VERY aware of what it takes to be an Intel finalist. It is one of the most prestigious awards you can put down on your app.</p>
<p>My D used a "brag sheet" required by the GC of all students, for GC, a resume for teachers. But, having taught business English many years ago, I told her that we needed to get her resume down to one page. With much struggle, we did. At the ceremony where all vals and sals from the HS's were presented to the school board, our principal said he had adifficult time culling through the val's 7-page resume! Afterward, he thanked D for putting basically the same info on one page - made it much easier for him! I would think that this would apply to college apps, as well. Too much won't get read. So, use your judgment - make sure the most important things are listed first, and limit explanations - be concise. It is hard, but it can be done. D was accepted to many selective schools and WL at others without a brag sheet.</p>
<p>My D had to have a theater resume for most of her schools plus figure out how to list all her other non-theater stuff. No way it was going to all fit on one page, so we did her resume double-sided. One side listed all the school productions she designed for, professional affiliations, special theater awards, internships, and theater courses. The other side was all her regular ECs, volunteer work, school-related activities, other awards, and summer school work. At the bottom of that side it had "See other side for theater resume" (in case they happened to not notice the front side). That way the theater schools got more than just a theater resume but it was still on just one sheet of paper.</p>
<p>Getting it down to one sheet still requires creativity in saying a lot in a few words, but also takes several iterations of little things like adjusting margins and type size. Sometimes it just takes a little scrutiny and observation that one word is causing a sentence to wrap, which when fixed frees up a whole line that can be used to say something else, or just used to better balance the white space on the resume. I am fanatic that resumes must be clear, well-organized, and easy to read at a glance.</p>
<p>Nester,
Having a resume at the interviews was very helpful to my son. He offered it to the interviewer at the point when the interviewer began asking questions regarding interests/accomplishments, etc. It seemed to facilitate the conversation. The interviewer typically made this part of the file.</p>
<p>dd did not add any resume. iirc, she was able to list about 6 things on the common ap. The other stuff she just left off. I have to kinda agree with calmom that the stuff that had the 'wow' factor really stood out. The acceptances were awesome.</p>