<p>I'm a college freshman this year at Loyola University of Chicago and I'm planning on applying to transfer to Notre Dame (IN) this March for the Fall '08 semester. I applied as a high school senior for admission but was denied. On ND's application it explicitly said that any extra material such as extra letters of rec would not help your cause in applying. However, on the transfer application it says nothing to that extent. I have a few connections with notable alumni and distinguished professors at Notre Dame, should I have them write supplemental material for my application?</p>
<p>My opinion: ONLY use supplementary letters of recommendation if they can speak from direct experience about you as a student, you as an employee or you as having worked directly with the individual in some extra-curricular activity.</p>
<p>Letters from people who have some family connection to you or someone you know but who cannot speak to your actual academics or work are a turn-off, imo, and sound like "name dropping." Not an attractive thing.</p>