<p>One of our family friends is a senator and he has stated that he would be more than willing to write a recommendation for me. Would this recommendation look "good" on my application or would it increase my chances for gaining admission?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!!!!</p>
<p>Can the senator shed any light on your application or personality? If he offers nothing new to the application, the recommendation can arguably look bad.</p>
<p>Have you done significant academic work with this senator? Has he supervised you in an internship? Does he know anything about your potential to succeed in college, besides the fact that you are a 'good kid'?</p>
<p>If you haven't done anything with this senator and have no connection to him besides him being a family friend, it's almost as bad as getting an uncle or cousin to write your recommendation letter. He knows nothing about everything that is really important to getting into school, and counselors are going to know that you simply got his recommendation for the impress factor. As a matter of fact, it could be a detriment to your application because lukewarm letters of recommendation are often viewed badly.</p>
<p>Stick to teachers, coaches, counselors, and others who are familiar with your academic or extracurricular life.</p>
<p>Word of the wise: names aren't important, people who know you are.</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters, unless you have done significant work with him and he can comment specifically on that experience, it could backfire on you. Remember, AOs see thousands of LORs each year, they are very adept at differentiating the genuine ones from those that are simply based on connections in high places.</p>
<p>Names are important. Senators aren't just willing to give up their credibility to recommend a student that is shizzle. If there weight and liability behind those who is giving it, the more credentials that person has, the more serious it will be taken.</p>
<p>BAD part is. How much new and special light can this recommendation shed on you? If its just the typical "hes a smart kid, very bright and intelligent, hardworker" then PLEEASE don't bother. Its just like another rec that is a waste of both the adcoms, your time, and senator's time.</p>
<p>We need recommendations that gies more than just fluff, it has to have weight, as in its best to get recommendations from people who knows you well. Well enough to portray you in a different light that admissions won't be able to get from your application.</p>
<p>If he knows you very well, then he might be a booster on your application. Because the recommendation letter is to introduce you to the admission offices of colleges. But if he couldn't write anything unique about you, then it could be nothing else but a harm.</p>
<p>I am aware of one person who made it off a WL into a top IVY because of
a Politician's recc.</p>
<p>The student was good to begin with but the recc would have been a
big differentiator.</p>
<p>I understand what you guys are saying, but it is a senator not Uncle Jim who is giving me the recommendation here. He is a senator, one of the most highly regarded positions in the government, so his word is going to mean something.</p>
<p>Not if it appears that he is writing the recommendation just because he's a senator. That's the point.</p>
<p>If you know him from being a family friend (a couple of dinner parties, etc.) then it's not worth as much as if you interned for him, worked for him, did something for a long period of time with him, etc. If you didn't have to work at all to develop this relationship, that will be taken into account. </p>
<p>Again, no one is saying that he doesn't know you or can't write a recommendation. Only you know that. Can he shed anything new on your personality? Can he explain something about you not shown elsewhere in the application? If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no, then it won't mean as much. At worst, you could appear to be using this person because of his position and nothing else (possibly as an attempt to compensate for problems, real or not, elsewhere). </p>
<p>Again, only you know how well this senator knows you. If he can add something BEYOND the fact that he's a senator, then it will be a boon to your application. Remember, you presumably haven't had to work as hard to have him be willing to write this rec as, say, some at the Page school or something. That's not your fault, but it means that the rec will definitely have to be interesting and enlightening.</p>
<p>"Names are important. Senators aren't just willing to give up their credibility to recommend a student that is shizzle"</p>
<p>Not true when it comes to family friends and prominent people like politicians. Public officials like politicians write many recommendations. It's an easy favor to do for someone who may cast a vote to help one keep one's office. </p>
<p>Writing a letter of recc for a mediocre student applying to college isn't the same as recommending a mediocre person for a Cabinet position.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>OP,
You asked for opinions, many posters were kind enough to give you theirs. It is completely up to you to take and act upon whichever advice you deem relevant. However, if you've already made up your mind and just want support for that decision, why even post the question??</p>
<p>Tell him to write it, but you should read it before including it as part of your aplication. If it seems genuine and wholehearted than I think it could be a very big boost for your application. I was thinking of having my governor write one O.o</p>
<p>Most of the posters are just basically saying no....UNLESS its a good. I mean , really good.</p>
<p>Thats your answer. Poisonous has it right, Read it and skim it before hand to see if it is right for you. Otherwise, do not bother.</p>
<p>In the face of teachers who basically recommends anyone who ask for their recommendation, a Senator's recommendationw ould be given more weight subconscious, because afterall, he is a senator. He must be legit.</p>
<p>Depends on the senator. If its someone who is both very respected and/or seen as a true intellectual then yes yes yes!!!</p>
<p>Some examples of some senators from both sides of the aisle that fits this description:</p>
<p>GOP- Hagel
Warner
Snowe
Lugar</p>
<p>DEM- Harkin
Inouye
kennedy
Dorgan/Conrad</p>
<p>I would say, not so much if it is like Jim "Global Warming Denier" Inhofe.</p>
<p>If you were to tell me who it was I could give a more definitive answer. </p>
<p>If you were not comfortable with that, you could give me a generalization such as "liberal midewestern male" or "old southern conservative'</p>
<p>entomom- i dont have made up i just wanted to emphasize that point because i believe some of the posters say have overlooked it</p>
<p>politicaljunkie- i would say he would best be described as a liberal midwestern male</p>
<p>OP: a NEGATIVE of having you "name-drop" a well known senator who doesn't know your academic qualities would be the obvious appearance of pandering to his celebrity in lieu of actual meat about you. Most adcoms are aware of the former "old boy" networks and most schools actively try to shy away from that. What's to prevent your file reader from saying: "Who does this pompous kid think he is?"</p>
<p>Like others have said, unless the Senator can comment on your academic potential and performance, you're risking more than you're potentially benefitting. It's into a COLLEGE, not the country-club you're hoping to be admitted.</p>
<p>Also, you're assuming that this Senator even KNOWS what a competitive college admissions group is looking for. Even good teachers at competitive High Schools often write recs that aren't worth much (despite their best intentions). This person who is used to tossing out his name is going to give your file readers some great insight on why to admit you to their academic institution? Very unlikely, IMHO</p>
<p>^Thank you, that is exactly what I meant to say.</p>
<p>To the OP: If your mind is made up, why bother posting this? We didn't overlook the fact that he was a senator. Just because he's a senator doesn't mean he's exempt from very standard guidelines for writing recs. It also doesn't mean that he's qualified to write a rec.</p>
<p>I notice that you still haven't said anything about what he can say about you. Adcoms will immediately know the capacity in which you have worked with the recommender. If he doesn't mention an internship, work, or other official connection (for which you had to work), the rec better be a darn good one otherwise you might come across as a pompous blowhard who feels that they can weasel their way in through parental connections.</p>
<p>Harsh, but worth considering.</p>
<p>Well, I certainly like all of the Midwestern Male Liberal Senators. Is it possible you may be considering a school that he/ a member of his family is an alumni. </p>
<p>I certainly would be happy to have a reccomendation from Brown, Levin, Harkin, Feingold, Durbin, etc.</p>
<p>oh! is it Feingold? is it? is it?</p>