<p>I was just looking at the Common App Supplement and saw this. So what's the deal? Do I really have to make a friend of mine fill out the form and write a statement? I'm not sure I have any friends capable of doing a very good job.</p>
<p>The peer evaluation is required, and yes you must submit it because Darmouth holds personal/character traits to very important regarding the non-academic evaluation of your application</p>
<p>just make sure youre friend is a godo writer...personally, my friend reads a bunch of my college essays and helps me correct them, and after, they sound amazing compared to before...and just be careful about who you give it to...i read about how one guy wrote a horrible rec for his "friend" and talked about how he cheated on numerous occasions, and then he ended by saying "its obvious this guy doesn't know who his real friends are"</p>
<p>The person doesn't have to be an incredible writer...it's the material that counts- I'm fairly sure. I mean Dartmouth doesn't expect you to know a brilliant writer, jsut somebody who can vouch for your character traits via anecdotes, etc.</p>
<p>of course the material counts, but a bunch of websites ive seen said to make sure the person is a strong writer...if you have a few good friends, and you know one is a stronger writer, you might wanna go with him/her...</p>
<p>but... you should choose great material over a good writer...I would say... I mean unless the person is illiterate. Anyone else have an opinion? Because I'm actually not quite sure...both ways seem to have advantages...I got lucky- my best friend is an incredible writer.</p>
<p>same here, actually...one of my best friends is an amazing writer..pulled 98's and 99's on papers last year, and i read one of his essays for college...incredible</p>
<p>It just seems like a big weight to put on a friend.</p>
<p>I completely agree...that's why I feel that Dartmouth isn't looking for an incredible writer, thougho ne may be better able to portray your charachter, etc., but rather a commitment to the applicant. For example, the peer feels that the applicant is hard-working, motivated, etc., and can testify to that through experience with him/her. I just don't think that Dartmouth will penalize you for an okay writer instead of a literary savont- although I'm sure it helps to have a great friend who is a great writer. Although, I probably advise against asking a poor writer to write it.</p>
<p>i agree with you in that sense werd...but i think you'll be okay as long as you give him/her plenty of time to write it...my friend has had about a month now to write it, so he has time to revise some parts of it if he doenst like the sound of it and stuff...i wouldnt worry too much about some structural mistakes or things like that...and i dont think you should have him write about hwo youre a god or somehting either...trust your friend, and once you hand him the form, forget about it...have some faith</p>
<p>Give them plenty of time, and show them that you trust them--don't be begging to see it or read it or correct it. The friend that did it for me was someone I've known since I was 8--for a decade--with whom I've been through Girl Scouts, orchestra, trips, classes, etc. We literally finish--and sometimes start--each other's sentences. I didn't see it and didn't have to to know that she did a great job.</p>