Ivy League Reject Lashes Out In Open Letter, Some Call It Borderline Racist, Homophobic

by | Apr 9, 2013 | News | 1 comment

Getting rejected from college can bring out the worst in anyone, but in some cases perhaps the worst was already on the surface. Suzy Lee Weiss’ frustration was hardly different from anyone else’s when it comes to getting into a good school, however Weiss’ public reaction potentially exposes her as racist, entitled and a poor sport.

suzie-leeDiscounting what could be perceived as the racist and self-indulgent undertones of her piece, Weiss is nothing short of a smart girl. She earned a 4.5 GPA and a 2120 on her SATs. On top of that her resume even includes work experience with the U.S. Senate, but still Weiss did not get accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale or even Vanderbilt. This Pittsburg teen’s open letter to all of the colleges that rejected her gives insight into some of the darker and more offensive sides of her personality.

Weiss says, “What could I have done differently over the past years? For starters, had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would’ve happily come out of it.” While many are criticizing the teen, others are in support of what she has written, claiming that it is an accurate portrayal of the difficulties surrounding college admissions.

In an interview with the Today show Weiss claims that her letter was satirical. Since releasing it, she has been offered jobs and internships. The one inarguable and  true thing that Weiss has claimed is that nowadays people are being graded on things that are out of their control instead of on what they do have control over. Well White America, welcome to our side of the street!

The letter is below:

Like me, millions of high-school seniors with sour grapes are asking themselves this week how they failed to get into the colleges of their dreams. It’s simple: For years, they—we—were lied to.

Colleges tell you, “Just be yourself.” That is great advice, as long as yourself has nine extracurriculars, six leadership positions, three varsity sports, killer SAT scores and two moms.

Then by all means, be yourself! If you work at a local pizza shop and are the slowest person on the cross-country team, consider taking your business elsewhere.

What could I have done differently over the past years?

For starters, had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would’ve happily come out of it. “Diversity!” I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker. If it were up to me, I would’ve been any of the diversities: Navajo, Pacific Islander, anything. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, I salute you and your 1/32 Cherokee heritage.

I also probably should have started a fake charity. Providing veterinary services for homeless people’s pets. Collecting donations for the underprivileged chimpanzees of the Congo. Raising awareness for Chapped-Lips-in-the-Winter Syndrome. Fun-runs, dance-a-thons, bake sales—as long as you’re using someone else’s misfortunes to try to propel yourself into the Ivy League, you’re golden.

Having a tiger mom helps, too. As the youngest of four daughters, I noticed long ago that my parents gave up on parenting me.

It has been great in certain ways: Instead of “Be home by 11,” it’s “Don’t wake us up when you come through the door, we’re trying to sleep.” But my parents also left me with a dearth of hobbies that make admissions committees salivate. I’ve never sat down at a piano, never plucked a violin. Karate lasted about a week and the swim team didn’t last past the first lap. Why couldn’t Amy Chua have adopted me as one of her cubs?

Then there was summer camp. I should’ve done what I knew was best—go to Africa, scoop up some suffering child, take a few pictures, and write my essays about how spending that afternoon with Kinto changed my life. Because everyone knows that if you don’t have anything difficult going on in your own life, you should just hop on a plane so you’re able to talk about what other people have to deal with.

Or at least hop to an internship. Get a precocious-sounding title to put on your resume.

“Assistant Director of Mail Services.” “Chairwoman of Coffee Logistics.” I could have been a gopher in the office of someone I was related to. Work experience!

To those kids who by age 14 got their doctorate, cured a disease, or discovered a guilt-free brownie recipe: My parents make me watch your “60 Minutes” segments, and they’ve clipped your newspaper articles for me to read before bed. You make us mere mortals look bad. (Also, I am desperately jealous and willing to pay a lot to learn your secrets.)

To those claiming that I am bitter—you bet I am! An underachieving selfish teenager making excuses for her own failures? That too! To those of you disgusted by this, shocked that I take for granted the wonderful gifts I have been afforded, I say shhhh—”The Real Housewives” is on.

Source: http://www.techyville.com/2013/04/social-media/ivy-league-reject-lashes-out-in-open-letter-some-call-it-borderline-racist-homophobic/

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1 Comment

  1. Michael Carter

    I’m not so sure if “not cutting the mustard” is the real reason why she didn’t get into the school of her choice. As entitled a this girl may sound and believe herself to be, everyone who applied to those schools “cut the mustard.” I know nothing about admissions policies, and I won’t get into Affirmative Action and Legacy quandaries; but universities cannot accept everyone who apply. Each have their own cap. She just so happened to not accepted to the four or five top schools she dreamed of going to. That does kind of suck if one thinks about it. However, if someone would help her get over herself for a moment, maybe she could have realized that applying to those same schools in the following year may prove worth while (while gaining other skills and training in the meantime). Yet, she (and many of us) have our own timelines and agenda because in a consumer culture everything and everyone should cater to my needs with disregard for the other. This may be more than simply racism exposed as the article suggests, but individualism run amok in our fast food, my way, my individual rights post-modern entitlement culture.

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