Does a letter of recommendation from a former Columbia professor really help?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hi,
I'm applying ED to Columbia. In a science camp last summer, I happened to know a former Columbia professor who offered to write a letter of recommendation for me. This professor was a Columbia alumnus, who got both his Bachelor and Master degrees from Columbia. He taught at Columbia for 7 years before moving to our state university. There're two things that concern me:</p>

<p>1/ He does not know much about me. The summer camp lasted for only one week, and besides a college essay and a resume I sent him, he knows nothing about me. This problem can somehow negatively affect my application.
2/ He's a former Columbia professor. Will his words have any weight in the admission process?</p>

<p>Could you tell me if I should submit his letter of recommendation?</p>

2

<p>Should you? I don’t know, it is your choice. Once again, a subjective answer is not helpful. But rather you mean to ask - would you.</p>

<p>Would I? No. It does not sound like it would be helpful and if anything having someone who barely knows you sounds desperate.</p>

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<p>And in the interests of not starting another thread, to have an additional rec, do they send it online or direct to the University?</p>

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<p>it is sent direct to the university. and pnptruong, some of ur concerns have been addressed in a recent thread of mine, u can take a look. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/791305-columbia-prof-s-reccomendation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/791305-columbia-prof-s-reccomendation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>themerlion, sorry, but that is not true.</p>

<p>his relationship with said professor is markedly different. </p>

<p>saying - 1) i would like to work with this student, v. 2) i got a master’s (not a phd) from columbia and taught as an adjunct and know this kid barely - are not equatable.</p>

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<p>Office of Undergrad admissions to be sure right?</p>

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<p>^where else?</p>

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<p>Does it help? Yes.</p>

<p>How much? Very little, IMHO.</p>