I was curious whether it would help (or hurt) my admissions chances to get a letter of recommendation from a faculty member that is a family friend for a very selective school. I realize that even if it helps, it probably won’t make a significant difference.
It would hurt your chances because it highlights the fact that you don’t know the purpose of a LOR – which is to expand upon you as an individual – not your serendipity to have a broad circle of family friends.
The LOR is about you – not who writes it. An enthusiastic second year teacher’s notes about you are 8,000 more valuable than some “family friend” whom you’ve never worked for or been taught by.
The letter of recommendation is to get to know you from a different perspective. Your rec should know you well. If you did research with that faculty member, then it would probably be a pretty good rec, but just being a family friend isn’t enough. They must be able to speak on your strengths, leadership abilities, achievements, and personal characteristics.
I was told by a HPYSM AO that they routinely receive rec lettters from faculty members which they largely ignore unless the applicant worked closely with the writer. YMMV
Okay, I probably won’t ask. I was just curious.
It’s a legit question. But from the perspective of colleges, you see why they want to reward the applicant’s characteristics more than the serendipity of having a well-placed or celebrity family friend.