I am planning to apply REA to a T5 school. I have done research with one of the professors there have gotten a letter of recommendation letter from them. How much weight will this carry in admissions?
Simply by virtue if being a professor there? Little to none.
A well-written rec can help regardless of where they teach.
I just wrote this to another poster…
I had the good fortune of speaking with the oldest serving member of Yale’s Admissions committee a few years ago. She generously shared that the recommendation letters are often the most underappreciated component of the application. At least one exceptionally strong recommendation is essential for admission into most highly selective schools. With so many exceptional candidates, a powerful recommendation is what sets an applicant apart. If the professor can indicate that you are an outlier amongst your peers, truly exceptional, then it works! If not, find someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, impact, noteworthy academic or leadership promise, and/or sincere desire to serve others.
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