<p>Like many of you regulars must know by now due to my plethora of threads, Im applying to Columbia as an international transfer (Canadian) for Fall 08. I recently came upon knowledge that the editor for who I temped last summer is a Columbia alumni. No, We didn't become BBFs but we left on good professional terms. I ran into him and his family at a museum and he remembered me.</p>
<p>My question is would a good recommendation letter be a + in my application (taking into account that the guidelines only mention a letter from a professor) or would it be a near non-factor?</p>
<p>First, the fact that he's a CU alumni won't matter. A letter is helpful if it says great things about you, not if it's from someone important.</p>
<p>Plenty of people send in an "extra" letter of recommendation from someone besides a teacher, such as an employer / sports coach / music instructor / volunteer organization supervisor. That kind a letter is helpful if it adds a different dimension to your application. Ask yourself what this guy is going to say about you and what Columbia will think of you upon their reading the letter.</p>
<p>Well in terms of glowing review of my old self he is definitely not at the top of my list. I volunteered at a blossoming marketing firm (saw their ad in the newspaper and went up to the office which was only a box and pleaded to help them for the sake of getting some experience. Spent a year there) and the chief there really, really likes me- offering me a position right out of school if I wanted. If they take those real-world recs into account that would definitely help me. Do they?</p>
<p>I was just wondering if perhaps a CC alumni letter would have more pull....</p>
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If they take those real-world recs into account that would definitely help me. Do they?</p>
<p>I was just wondering if perhaps a CC alumni letter would have more pull....
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<p>you should ALWAYS choose content in this case. who cares if he's a CC alum.....unless we're talking about barak obama here then it certainly doesnt matter...they wouldnt even know that he's an alum. definitely go for the rec from the marketing firm.</p>
<p>Ive been digging old threads around here and it came up as advice from a poster. 'Get a great recommendation letter from an alumni.' Oh well, i'll go with the firm. =)</p>
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----As an alumni of Columbia, I know what it takes to thrive at Columbia and I am pleased to recommend blah blah blah to Columbia.
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<p>This is really saying nothing. You know how you learn in English class that you should "show, not tell"? The same applies to letters of recommendation. The statement gives the adcoms absolutely no basis on which to determine for themselves whether the person has what it takes to thrive at Columbia.</p>
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Undisclosed, as far as I'm concerned, If the Columbia Alumni adds something in the reccomendation like this, then you're in good hands
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<p>Aren't you in high school? Why should we be concerned with what you're concerned with?</p>
<p>"Aren't you in high school? Why should we be concerned with what you're concerned with?"</p>
<p>Its called "Bequeathing" Any information that I get, I would be happy to pass it to somebody else. Thats what CC is for. .....& no, not Columbia College...College Confidential genius!</p>
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---As an alumni of Columbia, I know what it takes to thrive at Columbia and I am pleased to recommend blah blah blah to Columbia.</p>
<p>^^ yah, a saying like that is a plus
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<p>I completely disagree with this</p>
<p>So Authentic, since you value the opinion of columbia alums so much.....it's now two columbia alums vs. one high school kid......who should OP believe?</p>
<p>"So Authentic, since you value the opinion of columbia alums so much"</p>
<p>Where on Earth did I assert that I value alumnis so much? Lets not jump to conclusion. You exaggerated one small comment. And no, having a CU almuni relaly isn't a big deal but for them to recommend their alma mater to the student and go in great lengths as to they should take he or she can make portray a bright light on the candidate</p>
<p>So who should the OP believe? the alumni that jumps to conclusion or the Logical reasoning?</p>
<p>I think the long story short is, unless the alum can ADD something to the applicant's application that a teacher or a counselor can't, then by all means, GO FOR IT. But if the alum is going to rehash the same info as a teacher or counselor (or worse, add nothing at all), then it's just a waste of a postage stamp and envelope. Savvy?</p>
<p>"the chief there really, really likes me" -- The chief guy is more likely to give you a glowing rec than the Columbia alum, so why don't you go for that?</p>