<p>Is it ok if the extra recommendor sends in the recommendation letter to Duke before I send in my common app and supplement?</p>
<p>I would send in at minimum the supplement just so a file will already be waiting to receive the extra rec letter.</p>
<p>Ok this is another question dealing with the optional rec… Does anyone know if it would be advantageous to have the letter be written by either a professor at Duke or a doctor at Duke’s Medical Center?</p>
<p>It depends on how you know the professor/doctor and what their position is. </p>
<p>A resident, fellow, or regular attending in the medical center would have little influence since 1) their work do not generally affect undergraduate education 2) residents and fellows are not high on the totem pole (and neither are regular attendings either). </p>
<p>If the doctor is a chairman of a department or part of the administration (dean of the medical school, chancellor of the medical center, etc) then it may look better though still not that much more advantageous. </p>
<p>If the person is a professor, it depends on whether they are tenured and what department. Non-tenured faculty like adjuncts, assistant profs, and profs of the practice generally do not carry much influence. A tenured prof or one with endowed chair might, especially if the department is involved in undergrad education. But I doubt just any tenured prof will do. It’s best if the prof has administrative position such as director of undergraduate studies, or chairman of the department, etc.</p>
<p>@reelee7</p>
<p>I think @SBR hit it on the head regarding the letter writer’s importance. Only thing I would add is that unless you have a REALLY good reason to get a rec from someone affiliated with Duke, I think you’d be shooting yourself in the foot. It looks like a total suck-up move.</p>
<p>Another important consideration is whether the letter will illuminate any new information about you. If it’s redundant to your existing recommendations, with respect to content, it won’t help. If it sheds new and positive light on you, send it in.</p>