<p>I know a doctor who went to Johns Hopkins. Is getting a rec from him useful for JHU? what if i dont know him that well? I mean i know him but ive never really spent time with him, but im sure he can write me a good rec. </p>
<p>also how big a hook is it if your parents work for a school? My dad is a doctor and is a professor at madison (we dont live in madison-he teaches residents which are doctors in training along with his normal doctor duties)</p>
<p>It's better to get a recommendation from someone you know really well. After all, they would have lots to write about. Getting a recommendation from an alum is good (not sure if it helps or not), but there is no value when you don't know the person.</p>
<p>If your parents work for a school, it could be a hook (it depends on the school, I suppose).</p>
<p>does doc knows you well? if you've never really spent time with him, he probably isn't a good idea for a rec.</p>
<p>as for your second question, varies with school. not sure how UW sees that.</p>
<p>According to insider books, recs like that are not normally even read.</p>
<p>If a parent is an employee at a school, the applicant typically gets the same as legacy status at that school. There may also be tuition discounts.</p>
<p>yeah, don't do the doctor thing. Pick someone who knows you well and can give you a really heartfelt review.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your answers. I used to know him very well (he lived in the apartment next door and i went there a lot) but i havnt seen him as much. i still go to the occasional dinner party and see him there, but i dont know him as well anymore. oh and thanks dufus3709 if they aren't read, then theres no point in sending one in.</p>
<p>oh and yeah, i'll check out that employee discount thing. I have a good shot even without the parental hook, but tuition discounts never hurt.</p>
<p>Be careful how you handle your friend if he really does want to give you a rec. Sometimes, a person's grandmother will say that she is sure that you can go to Harvard because she knows somebody who graduated from Harvard and they can put a good word in for you. You don't want to insult him because of his relative lack of importance to adcoms.</p>