Reccomendations Brag Sheet
Example 1: Collaborative Preparation and Peer Support
- Redid all homework and class assignments to solidify understanding of fundamentals.
- Completed all assigned AP preparation assignments well ahead of time.
- Helped other students understand questions, including:
- Assisted Neal with the polar vs. Cartesian function problem.
- Helped Kelly with various other problems.
- Solved questions on the whiteboard, specifically for polar and parametric questions, reinforcing my learning and contributing to the class’s understanding.
Example 2: Demonstrated Academic Progress
- Achieved As on Series B FRQs and the Chapter Y Exam, marking significant progress in preparing for unit exams.
- Performed well on AP quizzes, with best scores on solo quizzes but also excelling in partner quizzes.
- Consistent improvement in grades, reflecting dedication and effective study habits influenced by your teaching.
Example 3: Learning the Importance of Showing Work
- During the Series A exam, got all the answers right but didn't show work, highlighting a gap in my approach.
- Realized the importance of demonstrating understanding to the grader, not just knowing the answers.
- Made it a habit to return to your desk for guidance on how to properly show work for problems.
- Improved problem-solving skills and learned the importance of clear communication in mathematics.
Everything in an application is important. Writing is iterative, not one and done. If I wanted to just work on my CAPS from now till December, its not possible. Admissions spend more time evaluating supplements rather than CAPS Looking for students who are great fits for their school. Students who have the academics but also watch with the stuff. Looking for students who actually read the supplementals.
List out all of the supplementals, make sure to list out all of the work you need to do to estimate the amount of work required.
Fully read and process each prompt. Youre not answering the questions.
Types of supplemental prompts: * Why this College * Intellectual Curiosity/Why this major * Identity/Diversity * Extracurricular activities * Short responses * Funky Prompts/Choose Your Own Adventure
For example Columbia asks about the books that you have been reading for pleasure. Need to rework your fit based on the prompts asked.
Make sure youre just answering the questions.
Might be able to copy a couple sentences, but never gonna cut it for the whole essay.
Puzzle metaphor. Every part of the puzzle needs to show different parts of you.
Supplement essays might need to discuss activities that are on the list, but cant be repetitive.
Hopefully have relationships with teachers that are writing my reccos.
What is missing in the application that fits within the prompt being asked?
Can take lots of different forms.
Never tell the admission officers what they already know about the college.
Need to think critically about whether a college is actually a good fit for you.
Leveraging SHP alumni and people in your life to know about campus.
Rule 5:
Project yourself into the role of a current student
when you write an essay that falls into those buckets, need to talke about extracurricular opportunities. that are a fit for your interests.
Rule 6:
if answering a why major prompt, dont be afraid to nerd out.
Rule 7
avoid cliches
chliches can show a lack of introspection and maturity. Lack of understanding of a school.
No statements with the word "Dream" or "Journey" or passion
Rule 8
Not about what the campus brings to you, its what you can bring to the campus.
Whether those essays can get you into the school.
Because of affirmitve action, diversity and identity questions are pretty important to self disclose race and identity to colleges.
Why Us?
Looking for concrete information about the undergrad experience that prompted your application
Why Major?
Very important to be specific about the major in
UC Application
once you have completed a section, you will have a checkmark next to each section.
Lived Name: If you go by a different legal name
CA SSID is california students: SHP doesnt have SSID number, only at public schools
For household information. This is important for a fee waiver. Required for scholarships.
They are going to ask you about your legal residence
Yes, I want to be evaluated as a california resident
When you complete each section, theres going to be a review section.
Also going to be true about activities and awards etc.
PIQs and whatever, make sure to have a second eye.
There are 3 main things that the UCs are looking for.
Its not just copy paste into COMMON APP
How long you have been part of each institution, how have you progressed? Etc.
Have you done exams that reflect part of you? etc?
Are you the president?
Leadership is so important for UC Application process.
What were your responsibilities? How did you do things?
Activities and awards
20 spaces, dont need to fill all 20. No preferences for specific types of involvment. important to note all of the facets that they are looking for.
More common activities mentioned in the each section and activities and involvemnt.
For Awards:
Do want to know the type of award. What type of award, Where its recognized? How should it be described? Academic or non-academic. The UC wants to know how selective it was, how many applied for it, etc.What did you do to achieve the award? Recognition? etc.
For Extracurricular Activities:
More about what you did in that activity. Focus on your experience and responsibility. Content > Formatting. How many hour per week, how many weeks per year.
For Work Experience:
Describe the Job responsibilities, What did you do? How did you get promoted? etc. Are going to ask, how did you use these funds that you earned?
Add where there could have been more context etc.
Community Service, Etc.
Your Commonapp Activities and Awards. Thats going to come really handy when filling out the UC application.
Consider the order, Biggest Fish First.
Focus on your contribution and Impact.
Dont talk more about the activity than yourself. Dont assume that the reader is going to know the acronyms that you mention, be verbose within word count.
If you havent created UC account yet, please do so. Review slides from CKO1. Go into greater detail into how to give the insights into your direct impact.
Please note, Academic History, Mandatory part of the process. This is the way that they review the transcript.
California Community Colleges
Alekos Kapur. Community college and the transfer pathway.
Went to SHP and then foothill for 2 years, and now at UCLA.
Pros:
Most people are withing college age-range
Community College is a two year school that provides education after high school as a pathway to a four-year degree.
Associates degree to a bachelors degree.
Two years of free tuition in california promise program. First time college students and full time students.
Cons:
No on-campus living.
Learn how to seek out opportunities without hand-holding.
Not a name-brand school.
Other:
Transfer students are more likely to graduate from UCs with higher GPAs. Know exactly what major they want to enter into.
TAP: Acceptance rates through honours programs.
Schools like stanford/yale have transfer programs, etc.
Co-Op programs can live in other countries. Pretty cool.
kapuralekos@gmail.com
650-670-7500