Hey guys, I'm planning on applying to Dartmouth, and I heard they have a 'peer evaluation' part of their application. I'm a bit nervous about this. Any tips on whom I should ask to write this for me? And what kind of things should they focus on?
Choosing the right person for your Dartmouth peer evaluation is certainly an important decision to make. Conventional wisdom would be to select someone who knows you well and who can provide a unique and personalized perspective on your character, your abilities, and your potential.
A good peer recommender could be a friend from school, but also consider individuals you know from your extracurricular activities or community volunteering experiences. Basically, you should consider someone who has witnessed you in situations outside of the typical classroom setting. This could provide an additional layer of depth to your application that faculty recommendations might not capture.
When it comes to what they should focus on, it can be helpful to guide them towards examples of your qualities not fully displayed in other parts of the application. It could discuss times when you displayed leadership, perseverance, creativity, or kindness. It might also highlight how you contribute to a community or handle adversity.
Lastly, it's also important to give your recommender ample time to construct a thought-out response, so be sure to ask them well in advance of the application deadline. You might also want to provide them with a brief, structured guideline about what the letter should cover - no need to dictate it, but do help them understand the purpose of the peer evaluation.
Good luck with your Dartmouth application!
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