LOR From Big (Not Family) Donor??? Forum

[hendrix]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

[capitalacq]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

[hendrix]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

To whom? He's actually a (great?)/grandson of the now dead person, so he doesn't have any points of contact.

[JOThompson]

This could backfire. I personally wouldn't do it.

[birdlaw117]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

To whom? He's actually a son/grandson of the person, so he doesn't have any points of contact.

Wait, so you think having the grandson of a big donor write you a LOR will help you out? Yeah, don't do it.

[arism87]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

To whom? He's actually a (great?)/grandson of the now dead person, so he doesn't have any points of contact.

Pass.

[s0ph1e2007]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

Don't!
I have a friend whose Dad is on the board of the school and has his name on the business school wall, and she didn't get her dad to say anything to the school/his friends. Think it was a good call.
Do you really want to be that privileged jerk? There are only three people basically who make admissions decisions and unless your donor friend/father knows them, you'll just come off that way.

[BeachedBrit]

Depends on the connection. For instance if it were Vanderbilt and this guy who could write you a LOR is a Vanderbilt then it makes sense otherwise probably not.

[s0ph1e2007]

[sundance95]

Depends on the connection. For instance if it were Vanderbilt and this guy who could write you a LOR is a Vanderbilt then it makes sense otherwise probably not.

This sentence does not make sense, and is, thus, not helpful.

I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Shrimps]

Depends on the connection. For instance if it were Vanderbilt and this guy who could write you a LOR is a Vanderbilt then it makes sense otherwise probably not.

This sentence does not make sense, and is, thus, not helpful.

But it's still fun. Will Vanderbilt Law admissions people treat a letter from a Vanderbilt as a minus?

As for the thread starter, the problem is, if it's a person with no direct connection to the university (grandson of a late donor?) then it does come off a bit like over-privileged douchebaggery.

Add me to the list of people who think this could backfire. Unless they know you in a professional capacity. Have you ever worked with him? Can he present himself as your boss? Or he's purely a family friend with a great yachting story to tell to the adcoms?

[hendrix]

What if this school is known for its reliance on donors?

[Bildungsroman]

Ann Levine says NO FAMILY FRIENDS NO MATTER WUT, and I certainly don't want to come across as a douche, but if it would help me, then I'll do it. Any thoughts/stories?

have him make a call

To whom? He's actually a (great?)/grandson of the now dead person, so he doesn't have any points of contact.

Wait, are you asking whether you should have the (great?)grandson of a big donor write you a letter of recommendation?

I say yes, assuming that this LOR-writer is also a professor of yours who has had you for several classes and gave you good grades. Otherwise it sounds like it would be silly.