Recc from Alum

[the marauder]

How are recommendations from Alums viewed by schools?  Do they really care?  Say the recommender knows the applicant both personally and through internships and was editor of law review at the particular school?

[lp1283]

I would really like to hear imput on this as well. I work for a very active alum of a well-known Boston law school who meets with the Dean of Admissions from time to time. Will a recommendation from this person give me any leverage? (He is very eager to write a rec. for me for this school even though my numbers aren't really in the ballpark) 

[the marauder]

Anybody else on this?

[UFBoldAsLove]

I think its one of the strongest soft factors you can have, other than significant WE.


Though I dont know if I'm one to talk... my targeted Rec was from a former Duke prof. and I have not heard back! 

[Ilovecheese]

It really doesn't help you much.  I talked to a Cornell representative about this.  He told me that what matters is hoe extensive the recommendation is, rather than who is the person who wrote it. 

[ironny]

Extensive meaning details?
In my case, the founder partner of my law firm wrote a recommendation for me and sent them directly to the Deans. His letter is kinda general though, since he only knew me briefly and from other partners.
I don't know whether that may help or hurt.

[Ilovecheese]

Extensive meaning details?
In my case, the founder partner of my law firm wrote a recommendation for me and sent them directly to the Deans. His letter is kinda general though, since he only knew me briefly and from other partners.
I don't know whether that may help or hurt.

Yes, details.  General letters are usually not very helpful, they carry a message of, "This guy looks like a good worker, but I don't know him too well to comment on anything more."  One of my letters was from an Alum, but i selected her as my recommender not because she graduated from one of my top choices, but because I have known her for over two years, wrote several papers for her, and kept in touch even outside of class.

[the marauder]

bump

[UFBoldAsLove]

bump

Haha I got WLed by Duke 5 months after I applied. So guess it does nothing!