<p>Do any of you guys think a reference from a celebrity (say, a Nobel laureate rather than an actor - except for drama/theatre students of course) helps at all for elite institutions such as HYPS? I read about something like that in a book and am curious.</p>
<p>Only if you know them personally. If you just pay a dude to write you a rec letter, then they will see through that, especially if you dont mention any ECs associated with said celebrity. If you've met him a couple of times, I still wouldnt do it. It would either help you a bunch or hurt you a bunch, depending on your relation/lack thereof with the celeb.</p>