<p>Does a rec letter from a Congressman make a big difference? Please say no. . .</p>
<p>It depends.</p>
<p>There are two types of letters of recommendation from Congressmen, CEOs, and the like. The first comes from people who one of your parents knows peripherally, from a Congressman who may know you, albeit not that well, and writes a letter saying, "Bill is a great kid . . . a good guy . . . he seems like a smart kid + should do well." Admissions offices get a lot of these, and they don't like to see them, because they don't learn very much about the applicant.</p>
<p>The second type of letter begins, "Although you must get hundreds of letters from people in positions like mine, I waant to emphasize that I have worked very closely with Bill for a long time." If you really know the person and have worked extensively with them, it would be a good idea. But if they're merely a family friend and you yourself don't know them all that well, it will make your application look extra toolish -- not good!</p>
<p>What if you actually work for a congressman?</p>
<p>What does "work for" mean? If I asked the Congressman who you were, how long of a description would he give me, and would it be nuanced or "Oh, he's a good kid . . ." kind of compliment. The critical issue here is whether he or she knows you well enough to be a good judge of your character.</p>
<p>good answer tim :) I think what tunan said is the best way to judge - if someone asked him about you, what would he say? If he knows you well enough to write a personal letter about you, highlighting things that the admissions officers would not have picked up in the rest of your application, then yes - the letter might make a difference. Otherwise, it's probably better to just mention it in the section for "work experience" or extracurricular activities and leave it at that.</p>