<p>When schools evaluate recommendations, how much does the recommenders'
fame count? Do they subordinate a reference from a young associate
professor to one from an experienced professor who is, for example, the chair
of a group in IEEE? Do they consider a professor who has published more
refereed papers more important and reliable?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, whether or not the professor is well known DOES matter somewhat... but if that famous professor doesn't know you well, it won't matter... it is still better to have a professor who knows you and your work very well, even if that professor is relatively new/young rather than getting a famous professor who barely knows you write a lukewarm generic letter.</p>
<p>I see. So, at least I should try to make myself known by a more famous
professor so that I might be able to get a good reference from him.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>No, that is not what I said... but if you choose to interpret it that way...</p>
<p>What I meant above was that, since applicants need more than one
recommendation in most cases, it is better to consider various possibilities.
I am likely at this point to get the most detailed reference from a young
professor. But I think I should also interact with other more experienced
professors to obtain as good recommendations as possible, hopefully from
famous ones (although I understand that what matters is the contents,
not the recommenders' reputations).</p>
<p>Does this differ from your thought?</p>