I don't know everything that goes on in the minds of college admissions officers, but I don't think alumni recommendation letters matter very much to them. For me what worked I assume (and this was 35+ years ago, mind you) is having great test scores, starting college four years late, and having what perhaps looked like an entrepreneurial spirit. So I had elements of my background that seemed unusual / interesting and that may have caught their eye. I can only speculate. I got offers from other colleges where I had no alumni connection so I don't think it's about that. As for the Porsche 924, meh. It was a regrettable money-pit, a hand-me-down from my father and, as I was constantly reminded by car enthusiasts, "basically a Volkswagen".