Does Extended Family Ever Help?

<p>I am applying to Duke, which is my stretch school. My uncle is a professor of philosophy with tenure there. In the supplement they ask if a family member can write about you, and for obvious reason I asked him. How much will this help me? Not that it really matters, I'm just interested to know.</p>

<p>Also, does it help that I inadvertently hacked this thread to make it a duplicate?</p>