“It worked for me, @T26E4.”
Actually, it would be more accurate to say, “I was accepted, so my use of an alumni recommendation letter didn’t keep me out.”
I doubt that you have direct knowledge about the effect of the letter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was little more than a distraction in your application, not a valuable addition.
Let’s not confuse issues, though. If one is applying to Harvard, and one is fortunate enough to have a significant academic- or work-based connection with a Harvard alumnus who might credibly write about the applicant, then the existing Harvard association probably isn’t going to hurt, and could possibly provide a small assist to the applicant. If an applicant has a teacher who is an alumnus, or a boss, or a research director who is an alumnus, it certainly doesn’t hurt.
But that’s not what’s described by the original poster. The original poster is talking about getting a letter from someone who is not really connected to her life academically or by work. This was someone who is best described as a friend of a friend. The clear intention of the letter, if written, is to invoke the Harvard association without regard to the quality of the relationship between the letter writer and the applicant. I don’t think that’s going to go anywhere. Such a letter is not going to have the desired effect.
Lots of folks get into Harvard without recommendation letters of alumni or other notable persons (at least, not notable as you seem to use the word). Both my sons, white, upper middle class males without sports or significant musical ability, entirely unhooked non-legacies, managed to get admitted to Harvard without such letters.
Their recommendation letters came from their teachers and their school’s principal. Their guidance counselor, of course, filled out their secondary school report. Not a Harvard alum in the group. And not any particularly well-known public figures, either.