<p>My friend is applying to Columbia RD and one of her close relatives is a Columbia alum... She asked me if I thought an additional rec from this person would benefit her application. Would this be true?</p>
<p>The website says not to submit any recommendations besides the teacher recs and counselor recs. This is because they will only read the required ones.</p>
<p>People still submit supplemental information... There's a spot on the app where it says that you can attach additional information (although you should not feel compelled to).
I'm certain they'll read whatever you supply.</p>
<p>Does your relative have connections with the CU higheruos? How much does your relative donate to Columbia every year? Is your relative someone well-established? Does the relative have anything to say about you other than "he's a good kid" because he doesn't know you in any sort of academic capacity?</p>
<p>Bottom like, 99% chance it'll be useless and serve to annoy the adcoms. If you want to use an extra rec, get it from someone who has something good to say.</p>
<p>good questions by columbia2002....also, how close/distant is this relative? </p>
<p>If you submit this "rec" and it says nothing useful....just that u r a good kid and that that person has known u since you were two then it will just show the adcom that you are trying to find a backdoor into the school or are not confident that your app is strong enough so you think something like this will make them accept you.</p>
<p>Hi, I've been working with a Columbia Associate Professor on some stem cell research (of which i plan to submit my abstract). However, I was going to get a reccomendation from him (and he's very enthusiastic about writing me one). But someone said (above) that they dont allow reccs? Should I still submit this?</p>
<p>yeah. like C02 said, there are 3 situations in which this rec would be helpful:</p>
<ul>
<li>They personally know higher-ups or admissions officers</li>
<li>They have donated a lot of money</li>
<li>They know you so exceptionally well (perhaps through employment) that they can contribute objective stories about you that paint you in an extremely favorable light and give information to the admissions committee that they would not otherwise have.</li>
</ul>
<p>Otherwise, save your time and theirs.</p>
<p>-Steve</p>
<p>
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and she and and this man have been extremely close for years and years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What doesn't matter is whether they're close. See my post above---those questions matter. What is this alum going to say about your "friend" that will cause Columbia to actually care?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hi, I've been working with a Columbia Associate Professor on some stem cell research (of which i plan to submit my abstract). However, I was going to get a reccomendation from him (and he's very enthusiastic about writing me one). But someone said (above) that they dont allow reccs? Should I still submit this?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Most definitely get a rec here. This is the type of thing that really helps, if the letter is a good one.</p>