A brag sheet is a gift to your recommender: it helps them write with specific examples and reduces guesswork. The best brag sheets are short, concrete, and story-driven. Our interview prep hub includes strategy for the full recommendation package.
What to include (student version)
- 1–2 sentence “throughline” (what you want colleges to understand about you)
- Top activities (role, time, impact)
- 2–3 highlights (projects, leadership, wins) with specifics
- 1 challenge you overcame (focus on growth)
- What you hope to study / explore (tentative is fine)
Prompts that generate good details
- “A time I changed my mind after feedback…”
- “A project I'm proud of — and why…”
- “How I contribute in groups…”
- “What I do when something is hard…”
Parent brag sheet (optional)
Parents can add context (family responsibilities, growth over time), but they should avoid writing a “sales pitch.” Keep it factual and supportive.
How to hand it over
- Share early (weeks before deadlines).
- Include a short thank-you note and a clear deadline list.
- Offer to answer questions — then don't pester.
Use our teacher recommendation request template alongside your brag sheet. Work with an Ivy Ready expert to strengthen your full application.