I’m planning to transfer from a UK institution to a US institution.
I’ve interned with this MP and he knows me very well. He happens to be knighted by the Queen for his dedication to serving his country. I’ve asked him to write me a strong letter of recommendation and I know he’ll state that I’ve contributed an extraordinary amount to my local area. He’ll also state that he rarely writes letters of recommendation. As a conclusion, he’ll state something like “I highly believe __ deserves to be one of the 20 successful transfer applicants” or something similar I hope.
My major would be something like Political Science so he’s a relatively relevant person. I will also be doing some research for him as he’s in a leadership position at a think tank.
Would it look good if someone with the title of Sir writes me a letter of recommendation? In the UK, a knighthood is a big deal but in the US, it’s probably looked down upon as being a relic of an elitist system.
It isn’t the institution that matters. Colleges want recommendations from teachers/professors in core academic subjects who know you well. Honestly, colleges generally don’t give a darn about letters from politicians or celebrities. If the person were an alum AND major donor AND knew you on a context where they could speak to some details of your work ethic, intelligence, etc — then it might be helpful as a supplemental letter if the college accepts those.
The idea that someone else’s accomplishment or fame somehow rubs off on you if they write you a letter is false.
I’m just getting him to write my supplemental essay, not my academic LoRs. And I’m doing some research for him which is why I feel he can testify further on my work ethic and I know the letter of recommendation will be fairly good. This is just a non-academic letter of recommendation. I’m not getting him to write it because he’s a “sir” but because he can express that I deeply love politics etc.
I’m getting academic letters of recommendation as well.
Pretty much what you wrote in your first post that he has first-hand knowledge of – what you have done/accomplished, personal traits you displayed in that work, what you can add to the college community etc.
As an aside, I would not use that conclusion – IMO it would be presumptuous of your LOR writer to let the school know that you should be one of 20 transfer students who should be admitted when he cannot see who else is applying. Keep the focus on your own strengths/accomplishments, not on comparing yourself to other applicants you know nothing about.
Actually, c) none of the above. No points for the “Sir” but no dings for ‘relics’ per se
Your LoRs should be 1st and foremost people who can speak to your academic qualifications. An ‘extra’ LoR should speak to something that adds materially to your application.
Lots of students “deeply love” something and have a “good work ethic” Neither is a reason to move an applicant from ‘maybe’ to ‘yes’.
IF the content of the letter and the direct experience of the letter writer would be the same if the title was ‘shift supervisor’ instead of MP then AND that content adds a dimension not found elsewhere in your application, then it might be worth adding.
But simply having a letter from a ‘high-status’ individual will not make you stand out more than a letter from somebody else, then be aware that most AdComms have seen a lot of that, and it might ding more than help.
Note also, that quite a few of the tippy-top schools (including HYPS) discourage extra LoRs unless they add substantially to the application. For example, Princeton only wants an extra letter if it “can provide new, detailed information” not found elsewhere in your application.
You’re probably right. I know it’s a gimmick and not a good idea to get a letter of recommendation just because he happens to be a Sir.
I mean I worked closely with him during the intern experience and he knows me very well (I’m presenting a petition that I got over 2000 signatures for to him). I’ve met him at academic events as well before etc.
I guess my thinking that it couldn’t hurt is probably wrong lol.
I don’t think you should be telling him what to say. And going to be honest… no one will care if he would be “deeply disappointed” if you don’t get in. That would be a weird thing to say on multiple levels. And yes., the 40 emails would be a bad thing for him to mention. But again - HE should write the letter. If he is too busy or doesn’t know you well enough, give him a pass and don’t ask for it.
Again IMO it is presumptuous to think anyone will care one iota if he is disappointed so I don’t like that wording. I also don’t think you should be feeding him any specific wording – he sounds like an accomplished man and I imagine he knows how to write a appropriate LOR.
And only you know what your relationship with this person is.
I don’t think you are getting the message:
For US schools, it’s not WHO you know, but WHAT you do that matters.
As a transfer student, your chances will be tough because if you try to use the “WHO” rather than the “WHAT”, they’ll see right through that.
Oh, and just for curiosity’s sake. What do you purport to do with that Policy Sci degree?
Returning to the UK to implement the American viewpoint?
You can’t get a job/visa in the US with a poli-sci degree.
Where are you transferring from? Where are you hoping to transfer to?
I’m a UK to US transfer and can help you out a bit. The information for us is limited online.
Also, definitely don’t agree with what @“aunt bea” says. You can most certainly work towards getting a visa with whatever degree you do in the US if that’s what you decide you’d like to do after college. There’s many many options for that.
…between @“aunt bea” one of the star posters on CC- known for generally being knowledgable & helpful- not to mention an adult US citizen & resident, and a fellow international student who has not yet navigated the process, I know whose advice I would bank on.
The visa problem for a newly-minted undergraduate, especially in a field that is as over-populated as poli-sci / IR is real. There are few visa options.
@england2022, the immigration rules in this country have changed.
US employers would have to be willing to sponsor a non-citizen, wait for paperwork and pay sponsorship fees. There is an over-abundance of poli-sci grads in the US. Whom do you think will be employed? Plus US employers are required to employ US citizens first, for any open positions, before opening the category to non-residents.
Employment is generally conducted via website applications. Many websites will state on their intro pages: “This company does not offer sponsorships to non-US citizens.”
Several of my eldest daughter’s international CS grads were not able to find US employment and returned to their countries and one went to Canada.
You’re completely right that I probably wouldn’t be hired in the US as a political science major.
I’d probably aim to multiple major or major-minor in something. I have no problem with not being able to find US employment.
And this is going to sound very arrogant so I apologise in advance, but my parents can afford to pay $70k a year for me to go to a US school so getting a job/money is the least of my concerns.