Does a LOR from an alumni or current faculty help win favor?

[Charles_Darwin]

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I have both and am curious as to which, if either, are valuable

 

[doktorinprogres]

Well it certainly won't hurt. I think the alumni one is only valuable if the alumni is still connected with organized dentistry/the school/was some sort of dental student rockstar recently. Current faculty probably does have some weight.

 

[gsquared]

Last minute, I asked the previous chair of a dental department for a letter of recommendation. Since this individual could speak to my personal attributes and interest in dentistry, I feel it was a strong letter. I received my first acceptance from this school on Dec 1. I'm not sure if it was the connection or the strength of the letter, but I definitely feel like this was a factor.

 

[giepfuo]

Since this individual could speak to my personal attributes and interest in dentistry, I feel it was a strong letter.

 

[Queen Beach]

Does it help if one of their own writes you a strong LOR? Yes, but it's not necessary.

 

[doc toothache]

It depends on how well liked/disliked alumnus/faculty is.

 

[Incis0r]

One of my friends did research with a faculty member at a private school; this faculty member went to bat for him with the admissions committee, and even got him a $30K/yr scholarship. So it can't hurt, and it could help A LOT.