<p>If I send in a solid, one of a kind recommendation from a prominent political figure, could that be considered a hook?</p>
<p>By prominent, I mean a founder of 2 political parties (led one; now party leader of the other), former Supreme Court Justice, 2-time presidential candidate runner-up, close ties with the U.S. government, etc. Obviously, he's not part of the U.S. government.</p>
<p>But, what do you guys think? I guess a hook can come in many forms, and I was just wondering if this recommendation could be thought of as one.</p>
<p>If he's your father, it's a hook.<br>
If he's your uncle, maybe not.<br>
If he's a family friend, probably not.<br>
If he's just an acquaintance, not a hook.</p>
<p>I don't think it's a hook anyway you look at it.</p>
<p>It could be a powerful rec if he says that over the decades of his career, you are among the brighest he ever taught or ever had work for him, however. Clearly he's been among the best and the brightest, and if you stand out in a very real way, that says a lot.</p>
<p>On second thought, I think I may have labeled it wrongly as a hook--possibly because I loosely defined the term for myself. I guess I was just wondering if it'd make me a more attention grabbing and competitive applicant / give me an edge in one way or another. </p>
<p>He's a close family friend and I've known him for... 6 years? Give or take a year. And I've worked with him, though not necessarily in the political sphere, on occasions. But he knows me well, as well as my credentials.</p>
<p>I just thought I would ask because my family and I know someone who got into Yale without the grades or anything particularly stellar with a recommendation from the mayor of a city from the same country. I'm not assuming he got in because of that recommendation, so I was just wondering the type of factor such a rec may play into the process.</p>