My grandfather is extremely close friends with the psychology professor at Columbia university. After telling my grandfather that I want to study psychology, he told the professor and the professor signed one of his books directly to me and wants to give it to me when he visits Florida (where I live) next week and will probably write one of my letters of recommendation. In addition, I have an uncle who lives in New York and works on one of the committees at Columbia. I’m not close to him, I only see him maybe once a year but I believe he is willing to give a good word in for me. I was just wondering if this would help increase my chances of getting in, and if so, by how much?
Definitely won’t hurt, but how are your stats and ecs? Your connections may give you a leg up but you have to be a strong applicant to start off if you are looking for admission. Columbia’s acceptance rate is very competitive, at the point where the adcoms are looking for reasons to deny you rather than accept you since everyone in the applicant pool is so well qualified.
When working on your essays, you could perhaps mention your love for psychology and how you admire the work that professor has done at Columbia. Make sure that whoever writes your letter of recommendation knows you well and can speak on behalf of your passions and interests-- don’t just choose someone who has influence but no significant connection, if that makes sense.
Best of luck! 
Aren’t letters of rec supposed to be from someone who actually knows you? Have you met this professor?
This is a terrible terrible idea. You’re to submit 2 rec letters from people who know you. This person is a complete stranger. A 2nd year teaching rookie at your HS is better situated to give Columbia something about you more than that friend of your grandfather.
Remember it’s not WHO writes it but WHAT it says about you. CU admissions couldn’t care less about the prof’s 15-word endorsement of his friend’s grandson. The other acquaintance won’t be able to help you one iota either.
As long as your stats aren’t too far below Columbia’s expectations, having these connections certainly helps.
I completely disagree with @gdlt234 A CU applicant has FOUR slots to submit something that personalizes him or her. Two essays and two rec letters. You’re going to give one of these slots to a know-nothing prof who hasn’t said 3 words to you in your life? That would be insane.
Everyone needs to read THIS
http://mitadmissions.org/apply/freshman/recommendations
Find out who can write this for you. If it doesn’t rise to this standard, you’re only hurting yourself.
You guys definitely have a point. I’m meeting him next week so I’ll take it from there. Thanks!
A recommendation from someone with whom you are not close will more likely decrease your chances than increase them.
Even if he offers, politely decline. He and granpa likely have zero knowledge of what a competitive application package looks like. Unless you begin working for him for some major research project from now until December, there’s NOTHING he can do for you except water down the strength of your CU application.
I once heard someone speaking of LoR – the AOs determine the level of affection (professional, of course) the recommenders have towards the applicants whom they are writing for.
If the letter does not overflow with “love” towards an applicant, that may substantially decrease your chance of admission and overall first impression by the AOs. So in simple words, it is better to have your high school biology teacher who you have known for 4 years, conducted experiments, researched together rather than a professor at an esteemed institution who, quite frankly, haven’t said three words to you in person.
Take the advice of all the posters above. I know it’s tempting, but it is not worth your time and definitely will not achieve your desired outcome.