I was talking about how I planned on applying to Notre Dame with a teacher at my school. She informed me that a teacher at another high school within my district graduated from Notre Dame, and that she could reach out to him and see if he would be interested in writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf. I’ve never met this teacher and I don’t know anything about him. I was told that I could give my information to him so that he has some context to go off of, but I’m still a little unsure. Could having a letter of recommendation from an alumni member boost my application? I know how strong the alumni community is at Notre Dame, so I want to seek out this opportunity but the fact that we have no relationship concerns me.
No, it will not help. In fact I think it will make you look a bit desperate – like you are grasping at straws. Recommendations should be from people who know you.
However, if you can speak with that teacher and get some insight into what makes ND special and/or a good fit for you perhaps you can incorporate some of that into your “Why ND” essay.
NO. Do not get a LOR from someone who 1) does not know you well, and 2) can add nothing significant that is new and unknown from the rest of your app. It will not help, and it might be adverse.