Should my child make a resume, aka “brag sheet,” for colleges?
From the Pros
From Scott E. Queener, Ph.D., Director, Student Success, Lincoln Land Community College: Most colleges do not require a resume as part of the application process.
From Springfield Academic: Yes, some schools allow you to attach an expanded resume. You may also want to give a resume to a teacher/leader writing a letter of recommendation. On your resume, list all volunteer experiences.
From Mary Beth Stephens, MBS College Coaching LLC: Yes. But be honest. College admissions officers can smell an inflated resume from a mile away. They’ve seen and read it all before. The Common Application allows students to enter up to 10 “Activities” which can include school and community-based activities and employment. Some schools allow a resume to be uploaded.
From the Moms
From Julie Kaiser: My son did not make a resume.
From Angela Try: My daughter began making her resume during sophomore year. It was a great way to track activities, GPA, etc. Teachers will also use this to write you rec letters.
From Lisa Whelpley: My son was involved in performing arts. Audition forms often ask for past experiences, so we’ve been keeping track of all his performances since he was little. In high school, he began adding his other activities to the document. For the college application process, he pared down that document to only include what was relevant. He sent it to the colleges that offered the option to include it, and he sent it to people who wrote letters of recommendation for him, so they had a better idea of what he’s involved in.
From Denise Beauman: My daughter did not make a resume.
