<p>A friend asked me to write one. What is it like? Is it like an essay, or more like teacher recs? I know all about the specificness, yada yada, just wondering about structure/format/tone. Thanks.</p>
<p>just describe your friend. :) like a rec.</p>
<p>hahaha</p>
<p>what about the style? If it was essay-ish, I would start in medias res, have dialogue, etc. If more teacher rec-ish, I would be more distant from the audience.</p>
<p>rec. dont write like an essay. like how your teacher would write. describe, but no need to be descriptive.</p>
<p>My S wrote one for his buddy and asked for the same. What is likely ton not be easy to see looking at a list of stats? Get those intangibles across. Colleges want kids with EQ as well as academic potential. Write about your friend's personal strengths and things that make him/her unique, refreshing, a team player, a leader, a respected individual or a wit. The teachers will focus on academics and the Activity sheet chronicles busy bee activities but what kind of energy does this person have? Illustrate. Nicknames? How do others see this person? Try not to use cliches but do use examples. They don't have to be Nelson Mandela to be principled for instance or have to be Olympic as an athlete to be a force that is admired in a sport. Be specific in compliments and it is OK to demonstrate things like humor and perserverance and growth during the years you have been contemporaries and friends. Speak from your home base..don't worry if it seems ordinary or not dramatic enough. If you agree to write it, take some time, write a draft, then do a rewrite and be very responsible and generous.</p>
<p>Do you write it as if you are addressing an adcom or just a general rec. What I mean is, this is an opportunity to make some excuses (real ones though). For example, no where on the app is there anything about why this person wasn't captain of xc senior year, even though he was one of the fastest times in the state. The reason is that he focused mostly on out-of-school athletics since the coach was REALLY mean and no one wanted to be on the team until this year when the old coach left. Can I discuss all this (except maybe the mean coach)? The applicant didn't do it so it wouldn't seem like whining probably, and no one else probably knew.</p>
<p>Address to the Admission Committee and assume a handful of people will review your peer reference. You are correct in assuming it is perhaps desirable to "shed Light" on things the applicant might be too modest or reluctant to address. However, an even tone is best without making too many judgments and without whining. It is also OK for you to write it and get some feedback from a trusted teacher or GC. My S showed his Peer letter to his friend and asked if he had addressed what was needed most. (His friend by the way was too modest of a person to make any such critique or comment.) I am not sure I would get into a timeline re personality conflict issues with a coach in this letter...unless you are very cogent, brief and diplomatic. Positive attitudes are so much more attractive and the adcoms may not care to get the blow by blow of this local issue. But it sounds like you would be clarifying why student took his sport on the road a lot. How is he viewed by peers and why is he respected? Or why is he just fun company?</p>
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For example, no where on the app is there anything about why this person wasn't captain of xc senior year, even though he was one of the fastest times in the state. The reason is that he focused mostly on out-of-school athletics since the coach was REALLY mean and no one wanted to be on the team until this year when the old coach left. Can I discuss all this (except maybe the mean coach)? The applicant didn't do it so it wouldn't seem like whining probably, and no one else probably knew.
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<p>leave it out.</p>
<p>Like Faline mentioned, the school is going to have your friends transcripts, scores , teacher recs etc. to address how he is as a student. Colleges look to build classes and basically how will this erson fit in. From peer rec, the adcoms want to know how he is as a person. Is he a stand-up guy, is he a true friend to his friends, does he value people, do people value him, is he the kind of person that people want to be around? Is he a leader, does he lead with compassion, does he excercise good judgement. why is this person your friend?</p>