Wait... What the heck is the Peer Evaluation?!

<p>So, as I finished up the last of my apps tonight, I log on to read a post about a Peer Review. Here I am thinking, "Oh, wow, that supplement was soooo easy!" and that I had submitted all of my stuff two weeks ago.. and now I find out that this Peer Evaluation is required?</p>

<p>Some background info: About a month ago, I had discovered that I had received eight free application waivers that I was able to use to apply to the remaining schools I hadn't already paid for. I had three left over and couldn't NOT use them, so I decided to apply to Dartmouth after reading a little bit about it on third-party websites and through emails they had previously sent me. I ended up really liking the school (and was super mad that I hadn't researched it earlier)! Stupid me thought that the Common App website was good enough to figure out most of my app stuff, so after never looking through Dartmouth's official website, I'm a little bit stuck seeing as the postmark deadline is tomorrow. </p>

<p>Is there a way I can still be considered if this is not submitted on time? Should I contact the Admissions Office directly and try to work something out with them?</p>

<p>Help! I'm ready to have a heart attack right about now.</p>

<p>I can’t really tell you if your application is screwed without the peer evaluation. You have to contact admission asap (while looking for a friend to write it for you). Since, Dartmouth’s admin office is still probably closed, you can’t call them but send them an email (like right now) and reference it when you get someone on the phone later. Say something like, I am really sorry I just did not notice it, I already contacted a friend to complete it, will you accept it late???.. and hope for the best </p>

<p>Keep in mind: It shows that you really did no research on them though, so that might affect your chances. But who knows…</p>

<p>Yes, I didn’t research it to the fullest extent that I could have, but I was satisfied with what I did read. Now I’m paranoid about that too! Haha. I will take your advice; I am planning to call as soon as they are open as I have found out there are a lot of difficulties going on with their email right now. Thanks!</p>

<p>I’d definitely call them. There was a link to the peer supplement on the Common App page when you clicked through to the supplement, but it was really easy to miss.</p>

<p>I would not call and draw attention. I would find a peer who can write a great recommendation letter and then have them mail it fast, like today.</p>

<p>You can call Dartmouth in a week to ask them whether they received the letter as you knew it was mailed late. They don’t have to know why.</p>

<p>@perseverance I haven’t called yet, and that had become my plan later last night when I really thought about everything… Thanks, everyone! I’ll update when this whole mess gets sorted out.</p>

<p>the peer evaluation is completely optional. the dean of admissions said so on one of their videos on youtube. so calm down.</p>

<p>that said, if you still want to do the peer evaluation, try sending it in ASAP. they will understand.</p>

<p>I completely agree with perseverance.</p>

<p>Was the peer evaluation compulsory?</p>

<p>^I’m pretty sure it’s required but at the information session I attended the admissions counselor said that they’re only a minor part of your application. They just want to know more about you, and having a 5th person offer their perspective on you (after counselor+2 recs+your essays) helps them do that . He also said that the deadline is for the commonapp application and the supplement. Everything else can trickle in later as they’ll still be processing materials well into January and even February. To the OP: find someone now and have him or her send the letter when it’s finished. You won’t be penalized in any way even if it’s postmarked after the deadline.</p>