<p>Let's say I'm applying to a certain school, and I get a letter of recommendation from a professor from that school. Does that improve my chances? If so by how much?</p>
<p>What if it were an admin of higher position? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>I’ll first assume that neither is a parent. If so, congrats – you’ve hit the lotto.</p>
<p>Otherwise: The rec letter is about you, and not whom you know or can persuade to write a few nice words. Unless this illustrious professor oversaw you in a classroom, research or employment capacity, it’d be next to worthless. Ditto with the admin.</p>
<p>Check that: it may be a negative because of your blatant name dropping versus giving something substantial about yourself.</p>
<p>How do you know if you have a valuable rec letter? Is it this?
[Writing</a> Recommendations | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs]Writing”>How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions)</p>