Is a distant relative a hook?

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Hi all!</p>

<p>I will be applying next year and I was curious about an aspect of my application. I have a distant relative whom I have never met unfortunately, because he passed away shortly before I was born. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He is a very notable attorney, and he started a fellowship at Harvard that has been in existence for over 30 years. Should I mention this despite not being a close relative to him?</p>

2

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<p>Although you can certainly mention this fact in the “Additional Information” section of the Common App, it’s not considered a hook and will probably not help your chances.</p>

3

<p>I wonder how far back people actually went with mentioning relatives attending Harvard. We have a cousin that went here that wasn’t mentioned because I just can’t see how having a relative that has gone to the college reflects on a prospective student’s chances. Doesn’t make sense and should NOT play a role, including parents, we are all our own person.</p>

4

<p>I meant as interesting story to tell on an application. Obviously having a relative doesn’t have any bearings on acceptance. I meant do you think this would make for an interesting essay?</p>

5

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<p>No. Your essay is supposed to be about YOU – it’s supposed to allow Admissions to get to know you better. That’s true even if you write about someone else in your essay. So, I’m not sure how you could write about YOU and bring up the relative (now deceased) who went to Harvard that you never met.</p>

6

<p>Your situation might be akin to another applicant, who is a relative of Eleanor Elkins Widener, now deceased, whom they never met. What could that applicant possibly say besides “I’m related to her.” See: [Widener</a> Library rises from Titanic tragedy | Harvard Gazette](<a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/04/as-result-of-titanics-sinking-widener-library-rose/]Widener”>Widener Library rises from Titanic tragedy – Harvard Gazette)</p>

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<p>Hilarious. Just hilarious.</p>

8

<p>Does the fellowship fund lots of people with lots and LOTS of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$? Do you have the same last name???</p>

9

<p>Short answer: No</p>

10

<p>Ugh, we finally got at least the person we Attn: an email to at <a href=“mailto:college@fas”>college@fas</a>…
But after all that to get it, not really much to say to the admission officer other than still interested :/. How trivial I wonder do they want one to be if it even matters or if it is really even read. Seems like they wouldn’t have time to bother with the defers with all the fresh applicants pouring in…Anybody know?</p>