<p>As i'm about to start my applications for my schools, I was wondering if having a recommendation from a university professor ( who is a close family friend ) of the school i am applying to will hurt me in any way. Though the area of study may not be relevant to what I want to pursue in, would it be a good idea? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Recommendations like that are usually not very personal and don’t reveal anything about your character and particular achievements. The fact that the professor’s field of work doesn’t correspond to your interests might be a red flag for the adcoms. It might be a good recommendation but somehow artificial.</p>
<p>Basically, it’s not wrong or against the rules. It’s simply not useful</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Unless you’ve done academic work for the prof, what can he/she say that would be advantageous for you? That you have “strong character”. OK, then what?</p>
<p>Have you done any research with this professor? What will his recommendation reveal about you that isn’t revealed in teacher/GC recs or your essay? Will it be specific?</p>
<p>Generally, the rank of the person writing the rec doesn’t matter. So asking a family friend who happens to be the governor, or a professor, or even just your English teacher who has a few books published but never enough time to thoroughly grade your papers–that’s foolish. Recs should revea something about the applicant, and supplementary recs are generally only useful if they present new information that teachers may not be aware of (your debate accomplishments, prowess as a poet, that kind of thing).</p>