<p>Hello!</p>
<p>My uncle went to Duke for graduate school, ~20 years ago. He wrote me a letter of recommendation. I was wondering -- how much weight, if any, do you think that this will carry? He's my mother's brother, if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>I know that it isn't the same as having a parent or grandparent who attended Duke -- I'm just curious as to what you all think about this. And mega nervous about decision time. 6 days! (counting today) </p>
<p>Thanks in advance. :-)</p>
<p>I don't think it'll help that much, mainly because he's family, and thus can't give a objective assessment of you.</p>
<p>I don't think it will count for much, unless your uncle donates a ton of money to Duke, in that case his word would be very strong or your uncle is very famous and has power to influence the admissions committee. Otherwise I think you will get a little bit of legacy status.</p>
<p>It depends what he said. My S attends and the admissions director poke with his class and actually said that a really well reasoned and thought out letter form a parent in one case made the committee decide in favor of admission. I would not have beleived it but thats true.</p>