<p>How much weight do you think a recommendation from a big contributor (not a family member) to the university swings?</p>
<p>Just wondering.</p>
<p>well its gotta be personal. i know a guy whos dad is best buds with george w and got a rec from him--still deferred from yale ed and he was a great student. they can tell when uve just gotten lucky from knowing a big name or when the person actually knows u and can tell penn ur personal qualities.</p>
<p>If you're asking if the sole fact of the recommender being a contributer is a hook, then most likely not. Universities like contributers for one reason: they may contribute to the school in the future. That's why applicants with parents or even grandparents as big contributers are at a distinct advantage. But with a contributer who's outside of the family, that's quite different because the reason is void. I don't know about you, but not too many ppl will contribute large sums of money to someone outside their immediate family. I'm betting that's the case with your recommender, and the adcom ppl are smart enough to realize this. So...the fact that he/she is a big contributer? Not a hook. And like chocolatechip87 said, if the recommender doesn't know you well, then that's even worse.<br>
So, getting this recommendation will help your app, but no more than any other thoughtful, personal recommendation by anyone else who knows you well too.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on how much the contributer likes you, but I think that a few phone calls or emails would work better than a rec (unless the guy is someone that everyone at the school would know.) Are you related by marriage to the person, or just a friend of a friend. Does the person know you well?</p>
<p>on dasher on dancer on prancer on vixen on cupid on comet on donner and blitzen.</p>
<p>Radar,
I sure wouldn't depend on it. If you have worked with/for the person in some capacity and they can comment and recommend as a teacher would...then I would submit the recommendation. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother. The children of big donors don't even get in sometimes!</p>