<p>I am a recruited athlete at a highly selective school and I am applying early decision. I am also a legacy and in the range academically as well. My academics aren't sparking clean; I have a few B's on my transcript. So like all candidates, I'm very nervous that something could go wrong in the process. I want as much of an edge as possible and would like to take up a professor I know personally on his offer to write a recommendation for my application. My college counselor says I already have such an edge that more of one would only be a turn off to the adcoms. He says they don't like too much privilege. Is it possible to be too privileged of a candidate in areas outside of academics?</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn't specify that the professor is at the school I'm applying to and has been there almost 30 years</p>
<p>There is either a lot more to this story or your college counselor is an idiot. A recommendation from a faculty member is invaluable. </p>
<p>How did you meet this professor and why is he willing to write a rec?</p>
<p>I guess the real question is in what capacity is your professor writing the recommendation?</p>
<p>I think that there is a difference in getting a reference from a professor that states I have known Eggbert since the beginning of time, he's a nice kid and does a good job of mowing my lawn ws getting a professor recommendation that talks about Eggbert's interest in widgets and how he has worked as part of my research team as a high schoolo student blah, blah bla.</p>
<p>Type 1 would essentially be useless and just may come back to bite you (go GC does have a point).</p>
<p>I went to a vacation house with a girl that I go to school with. I had no idea that both her parents were professors at the school I'm most interested in--one a professor emeritus. Well I guess I was unintentionally charming or interesting over those four days because my friend said they really really liked me and wanted me to come back next time. They were really cool, laid back people--not the stodgy professor you would imagine teaching kids medicine for 30 years. Over dinner the night before I left, we got on the subject of college and I indicated my first choice. That was when they told me they worked there and enthusiastically said that they would love to write a recommendation for me when the time came. It wasn't fake or in passing. I don't know exactly what the rec would say, but if I had to assume I'd guess that they would mention how mature and respectful I was and how impressed they were at my dedication when I woke up at 5:30 and 6 in the morning to train before our whitewater rafting trip and before I had to leave. So I don't know, my GC seems to think that because I have multiple extra tips already, another one would only be a disadvantage. It doesn't really make sense to me so I was wondering what people on here thought.</p>
<p>Your GC is wrong.</p>
<p>if you are a recruited athlete, call the coach and ask him for his opinion.</p>
<p>yeah good idea i didnt think of that</p>
<p>My initial reaction, based on a similar experience my daughter had with a very high level Yale official, was that this won't help at all. But if you're talking about the college you've mentioned previously, with its rather insular community, yes, I think the opinion of a long-time faculty couple with whom you have spent some personal time would enhance your status as an athletic recruit whose only academic blemishes are a few Bs.</p>
<p>what did your daughter do for yale?</p>
<p>well the coach said to include it, so i guess my GC is wrong</p>
<p>I don't think you'll need it. Recruit is already a hook + legacy and above average grades should get you in. But whatever</p>