<p>Is it possible for my phD+MD uncle--an instructor at Baylor Med School--to pull some strings so that I can get into Rice? This may sound as an extremely strange question, but since Baylor Med and Rice are hand-in-hand somewhat, I was just wondering.</p>
<p>I asked him if he can recommend me, and he said yes, and I asked him if he had any connections with Rice, and he said that since Rice has a med program that is interdisciplinary with Baylor, that he should have an influence. He was pretty unsure though.</p>
<p>And if it won't get me in, will it at least help appreciably?</p>
<p>Haha, please don't be sarcastic, though I can completely understand it. I understand it is quite stupid for me to be asking this, but after I read that Baylor and Rice go hand-in-hand, I was just so excited since Rice is such a great school. You know how nervous us seniors are during these crucial times of college applications, and so I was just oh so excited when I finally thought of a potential advantage.</p>
<p>Are you applying to rice too? Do you think the "connections" will help me out? All my uncle is going to do is write me a letter of recommendation; actually, he told me to write whatever I want, and then he'll copy and paste it onto his letterhead, add the proper heading and signature stuff to formalize, and then off it goes to Rice. We will of course emphasize that he teaches Rice students in the field of cardiology. Also, do you think that I am being a bit unethical using my uncle's resources? I really don't want to lose integrity if it indeed is unethical.</p>
<p>I don't think you're being unethical by asking your uncle to recommend you, if he truly thinks you belong there. The one spot I do disagree with is you writing your own recommendation and him putting his signature on it. Then it's not really him, the cardiology professor of a major university, recommending you based on your good qualities, it's just your opinion of yourself.</p>
<p>@flybyzephyr:I know, but that's what he wanted me to do. And believe it or not, but a couple of the history teachers at my school I know for sure asked the students who wanted recs the same. So the students, a couple of whom are my friends, wrote their own stellar recs, and the history teachers just copied and pasted the recs onto the proper paper with the school heading and all, and then sent it to the schools. </p>
<p>As you might understand, the man is extremely busy. He is a cardiologist, and on top of that, he has to teach students from both Rice and Baylor. So rather than have to spend the time to think of what to write, he just asked me to write it for him. Is that really so bad? Should I ask him to write it himself, even though this may sound presumptuous of me, and he may decline? I mean, what would you honestly do? </p>
<p>And he really does think I truly belong there. He actually feels that I belong to even better schools, or schools that he feels are better than Rice, like Columbia or Harvard for instance. </p>
<p>@noobcake: Surely since my uncle teaches Rice students, Rice shouldn't be upset at me for having him recommend me, right?</p>
<p>i believe writing your own rec is somewhat unethical. isn't a rec supposed to show the admissions people what other people think of you? i really don't see how having a connection at bcm could help you get into rice.</p>
<p>I can understand your apprehensions about asking him to write the rec for you after he requested you to write your own, but if he thinks you belong at HYP/Rice etc, surely he'll do what he can to help you get in. Just give him ample time and ask nicely, and if he still would rather you write your own, I guess consider it more heavily. To answer your question, if I were in your place, I wouldn't. I don't think I could talk myself up as much as is needed in a rec.</p>
<p>@hpa10: Well, there is a program at Rice that causes my uncle to teach mostly Rice students. I'm starting to feel like this is a very bad idea in the first place though. I might just contact Rice though, and see if they have anything to say about it.</p>
<p>@flybyzephyr:You know what the problem is, with all the tension I've been having during past few weeks with college stuff, I just feel I'm starting to lose my mind. I'm starting to think irrationally. I told myself I wouldn't to this, but I guess I've been hit with some virus. I'm definitely not going to write the letter, I can't do it either. I would feel too weird playing myself up, and then having him read it, and sign it off as his own work. That's just plain weird, and I can't do it. Maybe I'm weak. But ultimately, that's just who I am.</p>
<p>You're not weak, that's a wise and mature decision in my eyes.</p>
<p>To alleviate some of the stress and tension in your life, be sure you're leaving some time in your schedule to relax and unwind every day. I, too, have a lot of that in my life so I set aside time every day to do yoga. Maybe something similar could help you keep your sanity in the height of application season. It really takes a toll on a person.</p>
<p>Yeah we understand. You'd go insane if you wrote it and then got rejected. Just ask him politely if he could write it, and remind him of somethings you have done. After all, you know yourself more than he does, especially since he is a busy doctor. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have this virus too. I talked to my counselor about it, it helps. Schedule an appointment with him/her if the irrational thoughts continue.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Writing a rec and "pulling strings" are two completely different things.</p></li>
<li><p>Baylor faculty members do not have an "in" at Rice; the schools do not go "hand in hand." They merely have a joint program.</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have any idea how many Houston students who apply to Rice are related to someone who is on the faculty of BCM?</p></li>
<li><p>I don't think having a recommendation from an uncle is necessarily a good idea. Of course he will have nice things to say about you; but admissions officers want to hear from unbiased individuals who have gotten to know you from school, work, ECs, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Even Rice professors I know don't think they have any "pull" with admissions.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>i get disgusted every time someone talks about those teachers who have you write your own rec. if your uncle is a busy man, write a letter to him telling him what you want in the rec, and he will at least put it in his own words and tone.
i agree with one of the posts above that a ffamily member rec is definitely not the most credible. I think the best (most ethical AND most effective) way to "use" your uncle is not to have him "pull strings" or write recs for you. The best way to turn your connection into an advantage is to have him create some opportutnities for you as far as research and volunteering and internship, but I realize it may be too late for that. However, that is assuming you are interested in medicine, which I guess you might not be, since you didn't mention interest in the Rice/Baylor program. In that case, if you're not interested in medicine, then a rec from you cardiologist uncle would seem out of place and it would seem like the only reasons you asked him for a rec would be becuase he is your uncle and he works at Baylor, not because he actually guided you in any type of medical passion you have.
^^^I also agree that Rice and Baylor are not that close. BCM in fact has programs with other colleges too besides Rice</p>
<p>I understand, thanks for all of your opinions. Since Rice wasn't really on top of my list anyhow, I have ultimately decided not to go on with this scheme. Thanks for helping me reach my senses. I'm usually not this cuckoo, but I guess the college admissions can get the best of us.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you on your applications.</p>
<p>Good luck to you as well :) Here's hoping you wind up someplace that makes you happy (and that you don't go irreversibly insane before you get there)</p>