How much good can a recommendation do for you?

[nnnm4]

I'm curious, I'm receiving a recommendation letter for grad school from a professor whose lab I worked in. I don't want to name names for various reasons, but he's one of the most highly respected condensed matter physicist in the world and works on projects that are important in fundamental condensed matter physics.

How much can a recommendation do in this case?

 

[Phyisab****]

I'm not qualified to comment, but you might want to mention how well he knows you in order to better inform a response.

 

[nnnm4]

I've worked with him and closely with his graduate students and post docs for over a year and a half. I'm working on a main project as well as a side project in which I consult directly with him. Simply, he seems to like me. He respects the work I've done and the talks I've given for him, and I expect a positive recommendation. I guess my question is how much a "big name" weighs in the admission process?

 

[twofish-quant]

Simply, he seems to like me. He respects the work I've done and the talks I've given for him, and I expect a positive recommendation. I guess my question is how much a "big name" weighs in the admission process?

If someone the admission respects says that you are good, then it matters a lot.