Peer rec examples?

Hey! I need to submit a peer recommendation letter, but I'm unsure what a good example would look like. Has anyone seen any effective peer rec examples or have any tips they could share?

Sure, I can help you out with some tips and an example of what an effective peer recommendation letter might look like. Keep in mind that the idea behind peer recommendations is to provide a different perspective on the applicant than a teacher or counselor could give, by describing the person's qualities and experiences in a more informal and personal context. So, the exact format should be catered somewhat to the personality of who you're writing about, rather than following a strict template.

That said, here are some general tips on how to write a great peer recommendation letter:

1. Start with a brief introduction: Introduce yourself, mention your relationship to the applicant, and state how long you have known them.

2. Share anecdotes: Share specific stories that illustrate the applicant's character, qualities, or experiences. These could be memorable experiences within your friend group, fun times you shared with their family, or even moments from school or extracurriculars, although try to avoid saying things that will likely overlap with what their teacher rec letters say, such as about their strengths in group projects or fundraising abilities. Instead, try to enhance their more objective achievements by providing more personal details about what goes on "behind the scenes."

3. Emphasize the applicant's strengths: Show your enthusiasm for the applicant by explaining how they stand out among their peers. You can highlight their unique skills, exceptional work ethic, or commitment to a cause or community.

4. Maintain a positive and genuine tone: Be honest about the applicant's qualities and achievements, but also upbeat - remember, the reason schools ask for this letter is to get a slightly less formal perspective on the applicant. A genuine, heartfelt, and well-written letter will be more effective than one that might sound impressive, but feels inauthentic.

5. Wrap up with a strong closing statement: Reiterate why you believe the applicant would be a great fit for the college, and mention any outstanding traits or accomplishments that make them an exceptional candidate.

Checking in with your peer about what they discuss elsewhere in their application, as well as if there are any personal details they do (or don't!) want you to emphasize in your letter, could be a good idea, to ensure your letter fits well into their overall profile.

Here's an example of a peer recommendation letter:

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Dear [Name of Admission Officer],

My name is [Your Name], and I have the pleasure of being [Applicant's Name]'s close friend and classmate for the past four years at [Your High School]. I'm excited to share my insights into the qualities and experiences that make [Applicant's Name] an exceptional candidate for your institution.

One of the most memorable experiences I had with [Applicant's Name] was during our junior year, when we did a beach clean-up together. Since it was July, we didn't plan ahead for the possibility of a rainstorm hitting us halfway through. We ended up totally soaked, and the trash we were trying to pick up was even slipping out of our hands, but [Applicant's Name] kept us laughing through it all, by wading into the water to grab things that were drifting off, and even trying on a full wetsuit that had washed ashore!

I also want to mention [Applicant's Name]'s resilience and positivity, as they faced some personal challenges during high school, like when they had issues with anemia our sophomore year and they weren't able to play in the playoffs for our lacrosse team. Even though we all knew how disappointed and frustrated they were, they put aside those negative emotions and channeled them into supporting us. They were always the first one out on the field during timeouts to bring us our water bottles and offer high fives, and would even stay after the games with our coaches, to help them download the film.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend [Applicant's Name] for admission to [College Name]. I'm confident that their unique combination of exuberance, compassion, and selflessness will make them a valuable addition to any academic community. I have no doubt that [Applicant's Name] will continue to excel and make a positive impact on the lives of those around them in college and beyond.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Again, keep in mind that personalizing the letter to your own experiences and the applicant's characteristics will make it more genuine and persuasive. If you want additional guidance on how to tackle this kind of letter, I'd check out this comprehensive blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/peer-letter-of-recommendation

Best of luck with your peer recommendation letter!