<p>A teacher I am getting a letter of recommendation from has “big connections” with Yale through his wife. He told me he is going to have the connections contact the office of undergraduate admissions. I have heard that Yale adcoms hate this sort of thing. Is this true and if it is will it hurt me that much if they did get a call/e-mail?</p>
<p>I would politely decline for two reasons. 1) the only viable “big connections” that merit favors are development cases – whereby a multi million dollar stream of donations might merit an admit for a child or grandchild. I highly doubt this “connection” would cash in his/her chit by advocating for you, a stranger.</p>
<p>Can you imagine this telephone conversation? big influential guy says: Hi Jeff Brenzel (yale admissions dean), I’m sure you’ve heard of me. Well I need a favor from you old boy. You see, my friend’s husband is a teacher. And he’s got this great kid who wants to be an Eli. I want you to give him the “treatment”. Is he related to me? No. Just the student of the husband of a friend. What are his stats? I dunno. I’ve never met him. But I’m sure he’d be a great Yalie. Get back with me when you’ve admitted him OK? I’ll make sure you get a case of Scotch from me.</p>
<p>You see how ridiculous that would seem?</p>
<p>2) Since the pursuit of this favor won’t likely amount to anything positive, it may have the opposite effect as you’ve surmised.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice and the way you put it! It gave me some much needed laughs after some <em>fun</em> physics homework this late at night!</p>