A lot of people seem to advise students applying to colleges to write up a “brag sheet” to give to recommenders when asking for a letter of recommendation.
Does this ring true with prep school admissions as well? If so, what kinds of things should be included on it?
I think that anyone being asked for a recommendation would appreciate information on the student’s key message points, accomplishments, etc.
More than just a list of accomplishments, a “why i want to attend X”, “the story I’m telling X for admission”, etc. would be just as/more valuable.
It helps when a recommender’s message is supportive of the student’s.
I don’t think this is a BS thing @RichInPitt.
@mondaydevil: The teachers you approach for recommendations will be the ones who know you best, who know your accomplishments in and out of class, and who are able to write sincerely and eloquently about all those things that make you a standout. I wouldn’t limit them with a brag sheet. They probably have more to say about you than you can think to put on that paper.
My kids asked their recommenders if they could provide them with any information to help them write their LOR and proceeded accordingly. The teacher’s answers varied from not wanting anything, asking for a list of activities, asking for a resume if they had one, and having their own information form to fill out.
The amount of space given for comments using the SAO or Gateway is so small, I’m not sure a brag sheet would even com into play. DD’s teachers were very disappointed with the recommendation forms, stating they were too generic and left little room to emphasize her unique qualities. It is basically a tick sheet rating worst to best in fixed categories.
Ah, I was responding to college admissions from prep school, not middle school to BS. Where are my glasses…
No idea what this means.
@RichinPitt: This is the Prep forum where BS is used as an acronym for Boarding School.
My kids did. I think it is appreciated by the recommendation writers to have the details and facts clearly laid out for them. I view it as a courtesy really.
I would ask the recommender if they would find it helpful. I’d also offer to meet with them to talk about your BS plans. In many ways, the latter is preferable- more “human”. Remember that one of those big things BS are screening for is your ability to function independently. Handing someone a piece of paper about yourself doesn’t demonstrate that as effectively as a conversation but giving the option shows you are respectful of their time.
Our child’s guidance office (large, public middle school) required her to complete a brag sheet when she was applying to BS. It was used to help the counselor and teachers complete their portions of the application/recommendations.
Yes. Don’t forget to make it easy to read and provide self addressed stamped envelopes. It is preferable to have everything sent electronically but you should still have envelopes in case something has to be sent by mail ( transcripts or additional work, or in case of an electronic issue).
Also, it’s a nice idea to have the student write a letter thanking the person recommending the student. ( And a later written note is also nice). Most will say an email is fine ( and it is) but a written note is nicer.
@Happytimes2001 can you explain more about self-addressed stamped envelopes?
I feel like that might be perceived as a way to get a copy of the recommendation, given all recommendations are electronic now (and even if paper is used for some reason, schools seem pretty insistent that things go directly to them – so in that case stamps yes, but self-addressed feels like a misstep?). What scenario am I missing? (I feel like the days of self-addressed with signature over the envelope flap edge are long gone, no?)
No, in our case we had the addresses pre-written to the recipient. Most ended up using the electronic version. It was several years ago but wanted to give them the option. I don’t think anyone did it by mail : The English teacher did have an issue with one school and got the link at the last minute, otherwise they were going to use the envelope). We discovered that most stuff could be done entirely online. That wasn’t apparent in the beginning.
I think lots of people don’t have an envelope. Perhaps the system is entirely online but since the package was already being put together the envelopes made sense. I’m old school and made my kids write the Thank You’s as well. I know most people send an email.
@Happytimes2001 got it. I think now with most schools having everything online, it would be perhaps a little confusing to give an envelope as standard practice. (Not to mention a huge waste – ten schools at four recs each is 40 envelopes-- that’s a lot of useless work and stamp $). As a recommender I personally wouldn’t want pieces of paper plus stamps that aren’t actually needed to complete the project. (But of course: the second there is a problem, well then student shows up the next day at school with addressed and stamped envelopes for all the schools.)
But Thank You notes – That is a whole different category. These recs take teachers hours. An email to an AO after a 30 minute interview is one thing (although we did proper thank you notes for those too), but a recommendation is a pretty big deal. We did thank you note with gift card for recommenders (afterward of course).