Tips for Me - Writing Peer Rec

jax90291
Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:49:19 +0000

Hey there really smart kids applying to Dartmouth, and hello all other readers of the Dartmouth forum!

My friend has given me the honor of writing his peer recommendation for this wonderful Ivy League institution. I have so many ideas on what to say about him, and I essentially know what points I’d like to make about him as a student, community member, and friend. I also consider myself to be a pretty good and experienced writer for my age. But I’m not familiar with writing recommendations in the slightest, so I’m asking for some general tips.

Any tips on diction, like in trying not to sound like a braggart?

What do the admissions officers truly expect from me, given that I’m not a teacher? Can I get away with some informalities in my writing that may give them a clearer picture of my friend?

Should it be structured like an essay with one clear “thesis” that is supported by topic sentences and whatnot, or can I just make some points about him in separate, unrelated paragraphs?

Any other tips that come to mind?