This discussion was created from comments split from: What if I Got A Recommendation Letter from an Alumni??.
In my sophomore year I took an engineering class from a Columbia graduate. She also did science classes in my elementary school and I’m friendly with her daughter, so she knows me relatively well and will have great things to say about me. Do you think the fact that she’s a Columbia alumni will help, or should I rather get a rec letter from a junior year teacher who will have equally good things to say about me?
It’s helpful if the alumni has pledged $20M and has only donated $10M of that amount . . . . and holds the other $10M hostage until you’re accepted.
Alumnus. It is important to know that the singular form of this word is “alumnus.” If your recommender is female, the word is “alumna.”