My family friend is a professor at USC, and it’s my #1 choice. Do you think if I get an additional rec from him it’ll boost my chances?
If this person hasn’t worked with you on your academic or extracurricular achievements, would they have anything specific to say about you? A letter that basically says, “I have been friends with the applicant’s parents for years,” will hurt you. A family friend is not an unbiased reference.
I don’t think it would hurt, but it is unlikely to help either. Recs should help the reader understand who you are. Being a family friend doesn’t illuminate much.
@gardenstategal @AroundHere he got me into a pipeline program at USC, which is an EC I listed on my application. He’s an admissions counselor for the med school, and has been recruiting me in hopes that I attend usc (hopefully undergrad, but at least for med school). He’s been an AO for USC for over 20 years and strongly believes he can get me into the undergrad program, but we’ll see. With all of these known, should he write a letter?
If he knows you, yes. I would assume he does if he has been recruiting you.
If he is that involved with SC he will have a much better idea than anyone here if a LOR from him is a good idea and/or valuable. I would ask him.
Gonna hump, but also add. He wrote the LOR, id say that it’s super good and it’s on a usc letterhead. I submitted it through the portal tonight. Do you guys this this’ll really help?
It certainly shouldn’t hurt, as your friend should be very aware of the USC admissions culture and one would expect that he knew how to highlight your application in ways they would respond to.
That said, no LOR (save perhaps from, I dunno, Bill Gates, accompanied by an offer to buy a building…) is going to get a student in on its own. I don’t know if you’ve completed your app yet, but my only caution would be not to let this make you think you can ease up on the quality of your essays etc.
Present the best app you can in all aspects in addition to the letter to have the best shot. Good luck!
@CaliDad2020 yeah, I’ve submitted my app. My essays were really good, I started them back in August and they outline everything (club, specific classes and professors) on campus. I like to think the letter is good, some of the excerpts are “As one of the core faculty members at USC, I know all too well what qualifications are needed to be successful at this university… (my name) is already aligned with the mission statement of USC… Without reservation, I take pleasure in highly recommending (my name) for admission to the University of Southern California.” I have an unweighted 3.75 so it’s right on par, but I’m really hoping for a scholarship notification in January!! Thank you so much for your help!!:))