Rejection Letters from the Heart

Lately everyone is too depressed to read news about financial matters, so the Wall Street Journal is reinventing itself as the ultimate source of information about college admissions.  Their latest piece is about rejection letters...both really mean and really nice.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB124096471555766239-lMyQjAxMDI5NDIwOTkyNjk0Wj.html

1.THE CRUELEST - BATES

Surprising, the cruelest rejection comes from sweet little Bates in Maine:

"The deans were obliged to select from among candidates who clearly could do sound work at Bates."

2.  THE MOST FINAL - STANFORD

The Stanford deans were afraid that kids would try to beg for a second chance, the way you can for the UC's.

"We are humbled by your talents and achievements...and although you are...a fine student...we are not able to consider appeals."

3. THE MOST HUMANE - DUKE

Duke hired a team of Buddhists to pen their rejection letter:

"I know you will find an institution at which you will be happy; I know, too, that the school you choose will benefit from your presence."

4. THE MOST EXISTENTIAL - HARVARD

Of all places, Harvard lets the rejectees know the truth - After you've wasted your youth on AP's and SAT IIs, it turns out that it really doesn't matter where you go to college.

"Past experience suggests that the particular college a student attends is far less important than what the student does to develop his or her strengths and talents over the next four years."

And...not in the WSJ, here's a quote from The Neurotic Parent's favorite rejection letter.  It arrived in the mail of a friend on April 1st:

5.  THE MOST SHOCKING - POMONA

"As you know, your daughter Olivia was denied admission to Pomona College.  We feel compelled to inform you that this was due to information that her guidance counselor provided to our admissions department.  We are concerned about Olivia's recent vandalism spree in a place of worship, and therefore cannot offer her a place in the class of 2013."

This turned out to be April Fools joke written by Olivia herself on "Pomona" stationery which she had created by scanning the font from her real rejection letter.  After her poor parents recovered, they framed the letter and came to the realization that the kind Harvard admissions guy was right: Their daughter will go on to be a superstar, even though she didn't get into Pomona.

Comments

[karine]

oh, pomona rejected me last year. it's still my dream school, though my parents would kick me in the shins if I tried to transfer at this point (I'm currently tied to my current school by a full scholarship)