Helps some. I was also in a similar position with my advisor- I had always wanted to take of her classes anyway so it just happened that she offered it in the fall of my senior year, when I would be applying to graduate schools for history PhD. My advisor was certainly excited that I was applying to her alma mater (MA/PhD) and kept it high priority over her other LORs for other schools. I'm not kidding about this scenario... this woman flipped out when her LOR wouldn't go through the system and made the call herself... and I was standing there and staring at her and saying, "Okay... relax."
Ultimately I didn't get in for the PhD but I did for the MA in a different department. I'm not entirely sure how helpful her LOR was in terms of making that connection during admissions process.
However, I got much, much more out of her advising me on my senior thesis. She practically insisted that I sign her up to be my thesis advisor. In hindsight, I'm glad that she did because the semester gave her an opportunity to work with me very closely to prepare me for grad school. As soon I got in her alma mater for MA and decided to go there, she changed the game and amped up her demands in order to make sure I was prepared for my new school/her alma mater. She remembered her grad school years so well that I was pretty sure that I was working on my research at graduate level, not undergrad! It was a year totally worth it.
And let me tell you, my first semester was a piece of cake, all thanks to her. I can't wait for my second semester just to see if that was a fluke. :)
So take it from me, I would MOST definitely take at least one class with this professor and mention (at least after your first graded paper/exam back) that you're thinking of going to grad school and possibly this Ivy. Let him say "Oh I went there!" and give suggestions. If your interests align in some level, consider doing your senior thesis with him. It'll drive you crazy to be with this guy for more than 2 quarters but it's worth it at the end.
Ultimately I didn't get in for the PhD but I did for the MA in a different department. I'm not entirely sure how helpful her LOR was in terms of making that connection during admissions process.
However, I got much, much more out of her advising me on my senior thesis. She practically insisted that I sign her up to be my thesis advisor. In hindsight, I'm glad that she did because the semester gave her an opportunity to work with me very closely to prepare me for grad school. As soon I got in her alma mater for MA and decided to go there, she changed the game and amped up her demands in order to make sure I was prepared for my new school/her alma mater. She remembered her grad school years so well that I was pretty sure that I was working on my research at graduate level, not undergrad! It was a year totally worth it.
And let me tell you, my first semester was a piece of cake, all thanks to her. I can't wait for my second semester just to see if that was a fluke. :)
So take it from me, I would MOST definitely take at least one class with this professor and mention (at least after your first graded paper/exam back) that you're thinking of going to grad school and possibly this Ivy. Let him say "Oh I went there!" and give suggestions. If your interests align in some level, consider doing your senior thesis with him. It'll drive you crazy to be with this guy for more than 2 quarters but it's worth it at the end.
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