<p>When applying to a school, how much of a difference do you think it makes to have recommendations from professors who teach there?</p>
<p>definitely a bigger difference than a regular app. that said, it can't do too much for you if you don't have the stats. my friend had a 3.5 gpa, applied ED to columbia with a rec that ended with, "if [name] were to apply to columbia, i'd strongly urge the committee to accept him." he was rejected.</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>Not much at top schools, they can't even get their own kids in according to my profs.</p>
<p>I'd think it would depend on whether or not the professor's recommendation seems to come from the POV of a person who truly knows your strengths and believes you to be a talented person. There are too many kids who get a prof's rec just for the sake of having a nice name at the top of some fluffy writing about them.</p>