<p>Will a recommendation from a renowned professor (family friend) help/hinder an application?</p>
<p>Unless you actually worked with a professor and he/she can actually speak to who you are and your capabilities, it’s something colleges would see right through.</p>
<p>dblazer is right. Unless they can attest to research or something amazing you did outside of school with the professor like a publication, then it will seem like you’re trying to “fluff” your application.</p>
<p>What if the professor was last year’s commencement speaker and he (unelicited) offered to write a letter? Should we accept or decline?</p>
<p>The prof, while well-meaning, is not aware of the relative uselessness of his/her rec letter. As others have alluded to, the content of the rec letter and its ability to convey the essence of your son through anecdotes and familiarity is what is important. In this way, the enthusiastic first year teacher at your kid’s HS will be better able to contribute to colleges’ knowledge of him more than your professor friend.</p>
<p>How you handle the offer, w/o offending him/her if you choose to decline, is another discussion altogether.</p>