<p>I recently recieved a letter of recommendation for college from a Congressman and I was just wondering how much, if any, this will help me in the college admissions process? Do many people have them? Can they have a significant impact on the decision (obviously not as much as grades and standardized test scores, but in terms of extracurricular activities?</p>
<p>Thank you....</p>
<p>Does the Congressman know you very well personally? If so, it would probably mean as much as any other recommendation. If it isn't personal, then it would mean nothing at all.</p>
<p>well, i slaved on his campaign for a full summer (150 hrs worth) and its one of my major continued extracurricular activities (political activity)</p>
<p>"well, i slaved on his campaign for a full summer (150 hrs worth) and its one of my major continued extracurricular activities (political activity)"</p>
<p>If you worked with him directly I would say it would be quite meaningful. If he saw you only at the beginning of the summer to take a group photo, not so much.</p>
<p>it stipulates in the letter exactly what i did for the campaign like 25 hrs weekly, 5 hrs daily, 100-200 phone calls daily, set up office and computers, devotion, knocked on doors, etc.</p>
<p>It will help a lot. It shouldn't substitute for any other recommendations though.</p>
<p>The thing with recommendations is that it really doesn't matter who it's from, but what it says about you. In many cases, colleges could be more interested in recommendations from teachers than that of politicians since the former has known/observed you for a year or more in academics while the latter only for the summer or other season.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, if the recommendation itself is great, then it is great regardless of who it's from (except from parents and family friends).</p>
<p>"it stipulates in the letter exactly what i did for the campaign like 25 hrs weekly, 5 hrs daily, 100-200 phone calls daily, set up office and computers, devotion, knocked on doors, etc."</p>
<p>Recs should be personal, not just repeat entries that could be found on a resume. If the Congressman personally knew you and can say something personal about you (not that you worked X hours, but that you were smart, creative, whatever) then it means a lot. If you worked on the campaign under someone else's supervision and he doesn't know you personally, it doesn't mean anything.</p>
<p>This might be very helpful in getting a nomination to a service academy. And it might be helpful in admissions to the State U, as State Us are always sensitive to politics, which is the source of some of their funding. As other posters have said, however, this will probably be no more helpful than another recommendation at most colleges. But if, as you say, this is part of a major theme of your ECs and academic interests (you want to major in poli sci for example), it will help paint a consistent and richer picture of who you are.</p>
<p>If he doesn't know you personally it isn't worth much. You can list the hours you worked elsewhere, recs illuminate what type of person you are and it doesn't sound like this rec will do that. I'm not saying don't send it, I'm just saying it probably won't be excellent.</p>
<p>My friend got his rec from Congressman Mary Bono (pretty famous), was valed., and had 2200ish SATs and was still rejected by top schools. Also, keep in mind congressman are partisan so it could actually hurt you if your adcom would be the type to vote against your candidate.</p>
<p>zoosermom is right about what recs should be. The letter you have is not a helpful rec. It is essentially a form verifying your EC hours. Useful in case someone asks you to prove you did what you said (some schools do random verification), but not a good choice from what you've described as a rec. You don't need this letter to let the college know you took part in ECs; they ask about it elsewhere on the app. Submitting it in place of a letter from a teacher or someone else who knows you personally and can comment favorably on your personal qualities is a waste of one of your rec letters.</p>
<p>Let me suggest this - that you have your direct supervisor on the campaign add to the recommendation letter. He or she should mention your dedication, trustworthiness, that sort of thing. The congressman's letter will be perfunctory in that he can't address your personal qualities, but having an extra page or letter from your supervisor will fill out the picture.</p>