<p>Unique expereience is the best “hook!”</p>
<p>“you know a very notable alumnus who writes a letter on your behalf”</p>
<p>Depends on the school. For top schools (i.e. Ivies), this naked “name-dropping” is irrelevant because of the many number of notable alumni. </p>
<p>For others where it might matter, they’re not that selective anyway.</p>