<p>Just out of curiousity, couldn't the peer rec be forged or faked pretty effortlessly(unlike teacher recommendations)? Not that I'm considering this of course. :P
Also, when they say this is optional, do they really mean it? Has anyone been accepted w/o it?</p>
<p>EDIT: one other Q
Am I missing something or is there really no additional essay in the williams supplement (none other than the common app one)?</p>
<p>my friend wrote me an incredible peer evalutation, i think it helped.</p>
<p>I had no peer evaluation and I got in off the waitlist.</p>
<p>I didn't have a peer evaluation, and got an early write. Actually, I don't think I noticed that you could send one in... I did send in a music supplement though.</p>
<p>i had a really good peer evaluation...I applied and was accepted ED. No additional essays...that had me wondering too when I applied! I was also thinking of applying to princeton and they had 3-4 essays...so the williams application seemed wonderful in comparison..lol. and yeah, i sent in resumes for music and for theatre..apart from a general resume enlisting my other achievements in school.</p>
<p>If they say it's optional, trust me, it's optional. I would also recommend against sending in a peer rec just for the sake of it, unless you're certain of two things:
1. It will be well-written
2. Your friend has some truly excellent things to say about you that would appeal to an adcom</p>
<p>Personally, I applied RD through the common app and had no additional essays or materials (like tapes, portfolios, etc.), but a very good friend of mine wrote a peer rec for me. I never asked what he wrote, but just based on what I know about my friend, I'm sure it was great. I got in as an early write.</p>