I was wondering whether an online friend (who can provide a different aspect to my application) can write a peer recommendation which will be submitted as a supplemental one.
Or is it a necessity that peer recommendations need to be from someone you know in real life, and not virtually.
Any thoughts?
I don’t think peer recommendations are a good idea in general unless the college specifically requests one. Dartmouth requests one right? I think it would be better for you to call or email admissions and get a direct answer.
@sophie9999 Yes, Dartmouth requires one peer review.
I asked MIT admissions about it, they said that a peer can write a supplemental letter. It is up to me to get it written or not.
However, they did not address the question whether it would have a high impact or not.
Then like with any recommendation, it probably depends upon the content of the letter, not who’s writing it. If it’s a stellar letter of rec that convinces admissions of the great person you are, it will have high impact. Likewise, if it’s a terrible letter of rec that shows all your bad qualities, it will have high impact in a bad way. I’m not sure how observant and convincing of a writer a peer would be, which is why it’s probably more common to have an adult like a coach, pastor, etc. write the additional rec.
@sophie9999 In that case, I may have an advatage, as the “peer” happens to be an online friend, who is 37, and lives in Illinois. So, I am pretty sure his review will be better than what a classmate could write.