I managed to get a letter of recommendation from a well-regarded professor at USC ( he’s worked there since the 90’s but received his education there long before) that I have worked with throughout high school. From what I was told, he spoke very fondly of me. Is this impressive to admission officers? Does it help to have an actual college professor recommendation as a high school student?
Well, you would think so…but I think it depends. So many other factors. At least: it can’t hurt! Good luck.
Only if he can say something that contributes to giving the AO a sense of the applicant. A rec from a prof that says “Student seems like a good kid; I’ve been his dad’s golfing buddy for 30 years” will be meaningless regardless of how prestigious the recommender.