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- AllLitUp, on 10/12/2007, -6/+367This site is about to go down so here:
Gentlemen:
Given your recent reading of the college application essay and your ties to that other (lesser) institution in Cambridge, I thought you might enjoy this.
Yours sincerely,
Stan McGee.
MIT certainly has a reputation to be proud of, but its admissions department went a little over-board, I think. The first letter is an honest-to-goodness mailing from MIT, the second is one prospective student's reply:
Mr. John T. Mongan
123 Main Street
Smalltown, California 94123-4567
Dear John:
You've got the grades. You've certainly got the PSAT scores. And now you've got a letter from MIT. Maybe you're surprised. Most students would be.
But you're not most students. And that's exactly why I urge you to consider carefully one of the most selective universities in America.
The level of potential reflected in your performance is a powerful indicator that you might well be an excellent candidate for MIT. It certainly got my attention!
Engineering's not for you? No problem. It may surprise you to learn we offer more than 40 major fields of study, from architecture to brain and cognitive sciences, from economics (perhaps the best program in the country) to writing.
What? Of course, you don't want to be bored. Who does? Life here *is* tough *and* demanding, but it's also *fun*. MIT students are imaginative and creative - inside and outside the classroom.
You're interested in athletics? Great! MIT has more varsity teams - 39 - than almost any other university, and a tremendous intramural program so everybody can participate.
You think we're too expensive? Don't be too sure. We've got surprises for you there, too.
Why not send the enclosed Information Request to find out more about this unique institution? Why not do it right now?
Sincerely,
Michael C. Benhke
Director of Admissions
P.S. If you'd like a copy of a fun-filled, fact-filled brochure, "Insight," just check the appropriate box on the form.
May 5, 1994
Michael C. Behnke
MIT Director of Admissions
Office of Admissions, Room 3-108
Cambridge MA 02139-4307
Dear Michael:
You've got the reputation. You've certainly got the pomposity. And now you've got a letter from John Mongan. Maybe you're surprised. Most universities would be.
But you're not most universities. And that's exactly why I urge you to carefully consider one of the most selective students in America, so selective that he will choose only *one* of the thousands of accredited universities in the country.
The level of pomposity and lack of tact reflected in your letter is a powerful indicator that your august institution might well be a possibility for John Mongan's future education. It certainly got my attention!
Don't want Bio-Chem students? No problem. It may surprise you to learn that my interests cover over 400 fields of study, from semantics to limnology, from object-oriented programming (perhaps one of the youngest professionals in the country) to classical piano.
What? Of course you don't want egotistical jerks. Who does? I *am* self-indulgent *and* over confident, but I'm also amusing. John Mongan is funny and amusing - whether you're laughing with him or at him.
You're interested in athletes? Great! John Mongan has played more sports - 47 - than almost any other student, including oddball favorites such as Orienteering.
You think I can pay for your school? Don't be too sure. I've got surprises for you there, too.
Why not send a guaranteed admission and full scholarship to increase your chance of being selected by John Mongan? Why not do it right now?
Sincerely,
John Mongan
P.S. If you'd like a copy of a fun-filled, fact-filled brochure, "John Mongan: What a Guy!" just ask. - biffnix, on 10/12/2007, -20/+250Just because SOMEONE has to mention it - the word is spelled, "pompOus," not "pompus." If only someone would put all of the ways to properly spell words, alongside their definitions, in some easy-to-reference collection; perhaps in a book of some kind... (hey, both sarcastic, AND pompous!)
Joe G. - Roger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+177I got one from Clown College.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -53/+214I don't get it. What's so pompous about the letter from MIT? The sarcasm from the applicant was outright rude.
- Maxpower2912, on 12/03/2008, -21/+156ZING!
- kahlessreborn, on 10/12/2007, -5/+138Who needs Denial of Service attacks when you have Digg
- alexonix, on 10/12/2007, -29/+156What's wrong with presenting the pros of your university to a potential student?
- hiPpymIck, on 10/12/2007, -1/+113i take it he'd already chosen somewhere else
- RyeBrye, on 10/12/2007, -7/+104"Come to MIT as an undergrad and pay over $50,000 a year! Rest assured your money will go towards making sure that our graduate students have some of the best education available."
- S1L3NTC, on 10/12/2007, -5/+99***** HELLO?
DIDN'T YOU READ THE PAMPHLET???
It's John ***** Mongan, you clueless prick!!! - stupidverizon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+94I only got such letters from ***** schools :(
- Wonderkind, on 10/12/2007, -3/+87So big deal.
I got almost the same letter from New Jersey City University.
Except they said "So ya better *****' answer right *****' now, 'cause we ain't got all *****' day!" - tomokatsu, on 10/12/2007, -19/+101Personally, i agree with alexonix and imperium. I have received the exact same letter, but I thought nothing of it, simply because it is so similar to any of the multitude of other letters from various universities. They have the right to speak that way, simply because the DO have a reputation, whether you agree with it or not. They probably sent out the letter based on results from a standardized test (thats how i got mine, at least), hence the reference to the test scores; so they are simply stating that "you" have the grades and test scores, and now a letter from MIT. Simply put, it is true that MIT is one of the most selective universities in the country, so receiving a letter from them is a significant sign. Anyhow, most college/university letters fall into a similar style.
-matt jacobson - trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -12/+94Digg me up if people that ask to be dugg up annoy you.
- falcyn, on 10/12/2007, -16/+86Um, I don't see how that's really that pompous at all. MIT is one of the best schools in the nation. Reads like just another "Come to our school we're the best for x and y reasons" letter they all send, only this school has a reason to say they're the best.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+64Yes, that is the link. Good work posting it again, though.
- Hipple, on 10/12/2007, -18/+81I fail to see how MIT's letter is pompous. It's just the university casting itself in a good light. I got letters like that from several colleges, and I never thought they were pompous at all. The only thing that strikes me as significant is how much of an ass that guy is...
- Roger, on 10/12/2007, -6/+65*Like* like him?
- akatherder, on 10/12/2007, -4/+54Wow, he sure tore that form letter a new orifice. If only we could all be so clever as to mock a college admission letter and show them what's what.
- DaB0mb0, on 10/12/2007, -1/+45@rendereduseless
did you just spell-check a penis? - uptown, on 10/12/2007, -4/+45"You think I can pay for your school? Don't be too sure. I've got surprises for you there, too."
Line of the letter right there.... - Tetragrammaton, on 10/12/2007, -4/+41I think the case can be made that this guy's MIT acceptance letter was a little bit pompous.
My MIT rejection letter, on the other hand, was pretty subdued. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -11/+46It might be pompous if it weren't for the fact that the letter accurately represented MIT, a school I doubt anyone would seriously disparage the quality of, with the expected tone of confidence universities always use in recruiting students.
- biffnix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36"Pompous" - adjective
too grand in manner or speech
Example: "The headmaster is inclined to be a bit pompous."
"PomPUS" - noun
A thick, gooey excretion, generally formed in the presence of a bacterial infection, which is excreted from injured pom-poms. - atf487, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31It's Bovine University. Someone needs to brush up on their Simpsons quotes.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+31He went to Stanford. I'm sure he fit right in!
- hootpie, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31"You think I can pay for your school? Don't be too sure. I've got surprises for you there, too."
I lost it there. - Roger, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31The MIT letter was a bit pompous. And he probably didn't even want to go, so why not have some fun?
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if this was fake. - benitojuarez, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29im going to laugh when MIT says no and this guy find out his letter has been forwarded to every "ivy league" college and they all reject him on the basis of this joke.
- TriggerB, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27Wow,only $42,000? What a ***** deal.
- incabulos, on 10/12/2007, -13/+38I'm really not sure how anyone can call the response any more arrogant than "acceptance" letter. It's distaste can only be as bad as the original letter because he just mirrored their prose back at them. Take that, MIT!
- NanoStuff, on 10/12/2007, -6/+29I don't get it. Does this guy somehow think he "stuck it to MIT" ?
They sent a friendly admission letter, he sent a stupid reply. Probably better they find out he's a pompous ***** now than after they admit him. He's more of a Stanford guy. - jonnyboy88, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21@modernhumorist
It's funny how you said "only" $42,000 - dezmo, on 10/12/2007, -17/+33anyone else feel like punching this kid in the face? Many people would kill to be noticed by MIT
- greenlight2001, on 10/12/2007, -6/+22@nat3r: A swing and a miss! :)
- modernhumorist, on 10/12/2007, -9/+24Eff that. MIT gives awesome financial aid and mad scholarships. I come from a pretty low-income family, and they met our needs and then some. And honestly, the money doesn't all go to the grad school. The undergrad professors are amazing and along with all the opportunities we're given? It's worth every penny (that we get from scholarships.)
P.S. It's only about $42,000 for tuition and board. :-P - ByteGuerilla, on 10/12/2007, -9/+24Indeed. MIT's letter isn't pompous, it's just bad. I like his reponse though.
- omn3s, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19Having just gone through the college application process, this is not an uncommon letter. I got letters like this from prestigious schools such as NC State University and Tulane University (sarcasm). They were very similar in nature. I even got a call from a Navy recruiter that went something like that.
- Vision2098, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14*places hands in air*
*waves them with nary a care* - tahoebyker, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@trogdoor
that's somewhat paradoxical, so rather than digging you up I'll just comment. - tanner4105, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Yea they sounded real full of themselves, stating facts and talking good about their own school.
What kind of letter was he hoping for.
"MIT is a pretty OK school I guess, if you're into that kinda thing. Well, hope to hear from you soon... I guess... or whatever... " - Lewisham, on 10/12/2007, -12/+24For reals.
MIT has reason to blow it's own horn. - hains, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16If I were the admissions officer, I would have written back and requested
"John Mongan: What a Guy!"
Just for fun, mostly. I'd be interested to see what the kid would send back.
Unfortunately, his response shown here so closely apes the original letter that it displays very little creativity, so I wouldn't expect much. But if the kid put in some effort, "John Mongan: What a Guy!" could be pretty funny. And incidentally a pretty good college admission essay. - junkalam, on 10/12/2007, -8/+20Lighten up will you
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Sigh.... MIT.... my dream.... but I'm an idiot :(
- tomokatsu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Exactly, colleges are very competetive in this day and age, it's not particularly worse than any other letter.
- Nudar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11"im going to laugh when MIT says no and this guy find out his letter has been forwarded to every "ivy league" college and they all reject him on the basis of this joke."
Seeing as how this exchange took place 13 years ago, I would hope he's already graduated from college. - iFrank, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Turd Ferguson?
- john2kx, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13Just to play devil's advocate for a bit, MIT has at least earned the right to be slightly pompous, as they've proven over the years with groundbreaking research in dozens of fields..
John Mongan? Not so much. - istatic, on 10/24/2007, -3/+13Umm, that wasn't all that pompous.
Most university letters look like that.
I currently have a couple hundred in my spam box. -
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