<p>Do recs from cornell alumni improve your chances of getting in?</p>
<p>It depends on the alumnus or alumna but unless they are a significant person to Cornell (i.e., huge contributor or major faculty member or administrator) or independently important (U.S. government leader, universally-known celebrity), it doesn't help reallly at all. Example: Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Toni Morrison, yes. A doctor or lawyer in your town, no.</p>
<p>I had an alumni rec that was two pages long single spaced. </p>
<p>But, she was also a high school guidance counselor who I looked to very often for both college and high school information.</p>
<p>Here's my experience:</p>
<p>I'm an alum, and over the years I've written two letters supporting applicants; kids that I knew well. They were good, genuine and personal letters I thought, explaining why these particular individuals would be outstanding matches for Cornell, based on the school and the applicant.</p>
<p>Both of these two applicants, while in the ballpark to apply, were probably a little light stats-wise compared to the cream of the applicant pool. They each excelled personality and character-wise though, as I tried to bring out in my letters.</p>
<p>One was waitlisted at ILR, and never got off the waitlist.
The other was rejected from Arts & Sciences.</p>