I'd love to see if they replied to that!

I would have loved to write such a letter and actually send it. Especially if I wasn't actually planning on going to MIT, I'd so send it just to see what their reaction is.

Wonderful though.

That was hilarious!

Was the first letter real? It seemed so unprofessional and very personal. Either way, I got a good laugh out of it.

And he used the word 'limnology'. That also made my day.

I'm gettingn a broken link :(

me too :(

Reminds of this letter which I think is even a little better.

Oh yes, been awhile since I read this.

Cartalk is great. Click & Clack are quite funny.

Having been through the application process three times myself, I find Mongan's letter to be snotty and childish. MIT's letter was a form letter sent out to students with high test scores and was not unlike letters you would receive from any university. It was written in a fashion that would quickly answer the most obvious misconceptions about the university, which is necessary when you have to plow through hundreds of brochures in the post-PSAT period. Mongan's letter was written with derision and disrespect. I sincerely hope he gets his dream job at McDonald's.

/boring scholar with no patience for immature morons

It may have been a form letter, but it doesn't sound like a professional letter. It doesn't sound like something that McDonalds would send out, let alone a college of MIT's standing and reputation

The letter sounds like one of those old commericals for K-Tel, Ronco, and various other companies.

"What would you pay for all of this? But wait there's more" type of thing.

Also as stated above, who knows if he really sent it or not. Could be just a joke.

Linked on Digg - this is MIT's response.

MIT Response

link no longer works

I got a similar letter from MIT while continuing my application procedure to go to MIT for graduate school. It wasn't the same letter, but it had the same "hey buddy dig this!" type of writing style.

Oh goody! My first downvote! My sincerest apologies for offending you, but realize that this is a place for discussion. I have a right to my opinion, just as you have a right to yours.

Sure.. everybody's got one. :)


Lighten up... it was a funny well played response. You'll find we don't take kindly to crabby people here, unless youare really sardonic (and wear your underwear outside your pants.. or shoes on opposite feet or something...)


Come on every body! GET HAPPY!!!!