Recommended by a tenured professor of Columbia?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

Hello everyone.

I am a rising senior thus it’s time for me to start applying to colleges. Columbia has always been in my deep interest (even went all the way to the US to visit Columbia last summer) but sort of gave up when I felt that it was too much of a reach school for my stats. My GPA seems to be on the 50% percentile and my new SAT score is around there too. My essay and ECs are I think above average though.

But I recently got in touch w/ a family member that is a tenured professor in Columbia and he strongly encouraged me to apply there and that he will try his best to inform the admissions team how nice it will be to have be there due to my unique and very international background.

I am aware that it will not guarantee admission. I just wonder what sort of influence him talking w/ the ad. team will have? Will it be negative? Will it be better off if I just don’t apply to Columbia or apply w/out his assistance?

Thanks

2

It could have no effect, or it could have a positive impact. There’s no negative to having a professor vouch for you.

3

That contact (not even a recommendation) Means nothing.

4

It probably won’t help or hurt your application.

5

@MurphyBrown chill, that’s a small mistake and I am British for god’s sake. And FYI, *it’s , not its

6

i would recommend like working with him/her either through an intern, or get an official letter of rec from him otherwise it has very little weight

7

@ayudameporfavor OP is a rising senior – your suggestion to suddenly become the Prof’s intern in order to get a LOR isn’t a tenable option I’d imagine.

8

@T26E4 maybe if he was local he could go there after schools or every weekend to work i guess better than nothing and it would be one of his strongest things towards columbia

9

It appears the OP doesn’t live in the USA @ayudameporfavor

10

@T26E4 ah my bad missing that part. rip