<p>I was wondering how much it will hurt me that I didn't send in the optional peer rec. Im sure there are some people who got in without it, but does anybody know how much williams stressed it? I know sometimes when they say 'optional' they really mean required if you want to go there. But, other times they say 'optional' as, seriously only if you want to. Also, is it too late for someone to send a peer rec? Or will this look worse?</p>
<p>If you download and read the peer evaluation form you'll notice that there is no deadline by which the form must be received. Handy, no? Get somebody who knows you well to send it in quickly. Couldn't hurt.</p>
<p>Are you kidding me? I wasn't aware Williams required an optional peer recommendation. Damn! And it's hard for me to get one that's well-written.</p>
<p>They do talk it up quite a bit in the info sessions, but the williams admissions department is really chill, and a) probably doesn't really care if you send it in late and b) isn't going to reject you solely because you didn't send in a peer rec. When I was applying, I didn't even realize that a peer rec existed and I got an early write.</p>
<p>Okay... thanks guys! I am probably not going to send one though. Someone already wrote one for me for Dartmouth (my sister who goes to Dartmouth), and I think it sends the wrong message to give Williams a sibling's rec if they go to another school (especially one like Dartmouth where, after Amherst, they lose a big chunk of their accepted students to). My feeling is that they might think I would choose Dartmouth over Williams should I get into both (which is probably not true). THanks for your help tho! Also, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about the effect of a Dartmouth Rec.</p>
<p>Why can't you just delete mention of Dartmouth? Or explain that you prefer a little distance from your sister?</p>
<p>S's sister wrote one for him too; it was great. No conflict though; she attends Barnard, lol.</p>
<p>I don't think the Dartmouth thing is a big deal, you don't even have to mention it.</p>
<p>Also, chalk me up as another one who didn't submit a peer rec and got admitted with an early write.</p>
<p>Have you guys already recieved the EW decisions?</p>
<p>ridon, I'd send one. It doesn't necessarily help to get you in, but not submitting one is, well, odd, as in, don't you have any friends? </p>
<p>I'd ask your sister to include something along the line of "I can't believe he prefers Williams to Dartmouth!"</p>
<p>early writes won't come out for another month or so. I'm a current sophomore (I don't envy you guys having to still go through this process, I'm so glad it's done)</p>
<p>momrath.. I have friends of course, it's just that I asked my sister to write the Dartmouth would cuz I thought it might help at Dartmouth. I didn't even realize that williams had one till now, and it would feel weird to ask a friend to write one at this point. W/e ... i probably can't submit one now anyways, because I have revealed a lot about myself and if what they say is true, that admissions people look at CC, then they'll be able to find out stuff about me once a rec letter comes in late from a dartmouth student.</p>
<p>I don't think admissions people make any particular judgments about people who don't submit peer recs - there are so many reasons why you might not submit one other than just not having friends (and even if that were the case, not having many friends in high school doesn't necessarily mean someone wouldn't fit in at Williams). In general, if you know someone who can say something compelling about you or provide a unique viewpoint they wouldn't get from the rest of your app, it might be worthwhile, but otherwise admissions probably appreciates not having to read the extra paperwork.</p>
<p>do you think they would mind if i submitted an additional rec NOT from a peer? i want to submit one from a research mentor...i already submitted the 2 required ones though...</p>
<p>If it adds something substantial to your application, sure. I submitted one from a teacher with whom I did an independent study along with the other two. Just don't go overboard, and make sure the recommendation will show a new side of you.</p>
<p>Yeah, I never knew that was an option...I didn't send one in and I just got in Early Write.</p>
<p>Oh, and on the research mentor question, I had a similar question...I ended up sending an additional letter from the head of the lab I work in...I figured that if they really minded the additional letter, they just wouldn't read it. I would send it if I were you...can't hurt, at least!</p>