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Old 11-24-2002, 10:31 PM   #1
Charean
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From "Car Talk" on NPR: http://cartalk.cars.com/Mail/Favorites/mit-letter.html

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:

April 18, 1994

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.

[ 11-24-2002, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: Charean ]
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Old 11-24-2002, 10:39 PM   #2
The Hierophant
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*cough cough* *"John Mongan: What an asshole!"* *cough cough*
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Old 11-24-2002, 10:58 PM   #3
antryg
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Great post Charean. I think it is safe to say that John wasn't interested in MIT. That is exactly the kind of letter that many schools need to receive. I would have loved to have seen the admissions person as they read such an inspiring reply.
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Old 11-25-2002, 02:55 AM   #4
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What is John Mongan?
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Old 11-25-2002, 10:46 AM   #5
Charean
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I thought MIT was a bit pompous, myself. The letter read like a Car Ad.

John was simply responding! LOL

[ 11-25-2002, 10:47 AM: Message edited by: Charean ]
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Old 11-25-2002, 11:04 AM   #6
Timber Loftis
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I loved this. This kid's got chutzpah. Did he get in? If I were in the admissions office, I'd consider him. Surely all those Ivory-Tower types at MIT realize their own ego - and surely some of them are bright enough to laugh about it.

[edit]: I went to a small southern pompous liberal arts college that has graduated two Supreme Court justices, more statesmen that Princeton, yadda yadda, flur snur, and yakkety. School's name was Centre. My fav econ professor once commented, In explaining why he called the school "Centre with the R-E," that if you wanted to overcharge for something, you simply gave it the European spelling.

[ 11-25-2002, 11:07 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]
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Old 11-25-2002, 11:06 AM   #7
Redblueflare
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Roflmao! I can only *imagine* the looks on the guy's face reading this. That letter *did* sound more like an ad didn't it?
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Old 11-25-2002, 01:20 PM   #8
Blade
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lol, you meen there is a problem with sending collages a prefab letter like they send you? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
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Old 11-25-2002, 01:36 PM   #9
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Would have been a great reply, but like all of these great come back stories, Im skeptical that it actually was sent to MIT. If it did make it to MIT they probably just trashed it. In any event, I laughed my ass off.

Now could someone please hand my ass back to me?
 
Old 11-25-2002, 02:21 PM   #10
/)eathKiller
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Man... Why didn't i do something like that to get into my uni...?
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