<p>How does a letter of recommendation to the Dean of Admissions from an alumni, who graduated summa cum laude, affect chances for admission? Assuming the applicant is adequate in all the other criteria (GPA, Class Rank, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, ECs, etc.).</p>
<p>Its just another rec.</p>
<p>Unless the alum is very connected or is a big donor, it won’t mean much.</p>
<p>If it is merely a family friend, it is of little utility and will be more of an annoyance. I know that colleges I visited with my kids discouraged more letters of recommendation than necessary. At UNC-Chapel Hill they laughed about applicants who submitted as many as 20 additional recommendations. If the Dean is a personal friend, and the individual writing the letter really is close to you, it might be worth trying, but most selective colleges see too much of this to be impressed by it. It depends on the connection, also: if this is just a business associate of one of your parents, then it won’t mean much. If it’s someone who really has worked with you, and has direct knowledge of your abilities and the contributions you can make, it might not hurt.</p>
<p>You should only submit letters from teachers. Or if you have some special additional letter that sheds a different light on you in that they have done some in depth activity with you like research, coaching, internship, nonprofit work. You shouldn’t just submit a letter from someone who knows you just because they went to school there Bad form. The actual letter writer should only do something like that if they are a very prominent alumni or major donor. And in that case they will know already who to talk to.</p>
<p>Does not really affect admissions. I would not really recommend it unless they know you personally really well and you have worked with them closely on a project or of some sort. Just because they graduated from the school does that make them more qualified than a teacher or someone in the community that have known you for several years? Plus teachers, coaches, professors, and people you work with are different because they are more likely to be non biased and used to writing quality recommendations that will help your admittance. </p>