"Brag Sheet" strategies

Midwestmomofboys
Tue, 12 Jul 2016 16:28:08 +0000

In terms of adjectives, consider words which suggest perseverance, determination, grit (everyone’s word du jour). For a student to be a serious athletic recruit (if I’m remembering correctly), it takes tremendous sacrifice, dedication, time management etc., so consider ways to capture those traits.

Traits that make her/others happy – I’d read “others” broadly to include teachers, family, coaches etc., not just peers. What traits make her the athlete player coaches want, or the kind of student that teachers want? What makes her excel, in the classroom and outside? Doing well often makes us, and those around us engaged in the same purpose, happy. Consider whether there are traits that teachers might have mentioned in parent conferences or informal conversations with you about why they enjoy having her in class.

Quality of leadership: (vague question, yuck) – take the opportunity to describe formal and informal leadership, inside and outside school. If there aren’t formal positions, has she served as a mentor to younger students/athletes, worked behind the scenes in any community service roles etc?

Personal difficulties – unless there is a formal IEP on record, I’d probably stay silent about disability which she has not gotten accommodations for. This seems like the question which lets a student share the reason for grade blip because of death, divorce, disease etc.

Goals for future – since the purpose is to help teachers and guidance write better recommendations, focus on the nearer term, so they can tailor their remarks to what she brings to the college community. So, what does she want to study, do, on campus, what kind of community does she want to be part of? What is role of her sport in her college plans?

Again, my apologies if this is not the recruit.

Sounds like a yucky process, my sympathies. My just graduated recruit attended a large public with overworked guidance, so we’ve been there.