April 22, 2009, - 11:21 am

So sad, Too Bad, Crimson Edition: Harvard Students Learn to Face Rejection; Turned Down @ Starbucks

By Debbie Schlussel
**** SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE ****
While I’m against the politics of envy and class warfare, I have no problem turning up my nose and looking down at elitism. I can’t help but laugh at the fact that Harvard students are facing increasing rejection of their inflated self-worth (and inflated grades). And they can’t handle it.
Therefore, as any group of liberals–especially elitist, self-important Ivy League liberals–the school is holding seminars on how to deal with rejection. The story would be even sweeter, if they invited Tony Robbins as the keynote speaker. But it sounds like they came close enough.

To help students cope, Harvard’s Office of Career Services hosted a new seminar last week on handling rejection, a fear job-seekers are feeling acutely in the plummeting economy. The advice from panelists could have come from a caring, patient parent. No rejection is the end of the world, they said, even though it might feel that way at the time.

harvardlogo.jpgrejected.jpg

Participants, who wore snappy buttons with the word rejected stamped in red, also received a road map of sorts on handling failure, a pink booklet of rejection letters and personal stories from Harvard faculty, students, and staff members.

This is the best part:

Among the tales of woe: the 2004 alumnus and aspiring actor rejected for a barista gig at a Los Angeles Starbucks for being overqualified and the medical school professor who was wait-listed at every medical school he applied to.

Welcome to the real world.

Senior Olga Tymejczyk arrived at the seminar early. With just a month and a half until graduation, Tymejczyk has applied for 10 jobs, but has no offers.
“Rejection is inevitable sometimes, even if you go to Harvard,” said Tymejczyk, a Latin American studies major who wants to work in higher-education administration or healthcare research. She has two more interviews this week, and she is hoping for the best but bracing for more bad news.
Panelist Pat Hernandez knows a thing or two about setbacks. The 2004 Harvard graduate was rejected by all three graduate schools she applied to two years ago, after losing out on numerous consulting jobs.
“It’s something many people are ashamed or reluctant to talk about,” said Hernandez, who serves as a resident tutor for Harvard undergraduates.

Wait, they have tutors at Harvard? I thought everyone there was supposed to be magically brilliant. Their parents told them they were.

Hard as it is for some to believe, there are candidates more worthy than Harvard students, [Harvard statistics] Professor [Xiao-Li] Meng quipped, in language befitting his field. “Statistically you are rejected, and probablistically it is fair.”

So sad, too bad. Welcome to reality, Harvard grads. Despite what you’ve been told for four years plus, you’re no better than the rest of us, and in some cases, less better.
Remember, the Harvard logo is “Veritas.” Truth. Deal with it. We’re just not that into you.
Oh, and don’t forget: This is the same school that instituted special “women only” hours at its gym in capitulation to the whines of Muslims.
**** UPDATE: Fred Taub of Boycott Watch created this cute Photoshop:

harvardreject.jpg

Artwork by Fred Taub of Boycott Watch






6 Responses

Remember Debbie! Certified welders are still in high demand.

There is NO Santa Claus on April 22, 2009 at 11:42 am

Hi Debbie,
To what colleges would you encourage a very bright high school student apply?
[P: WHEREVER THEY GET A FREE RIDE. IF HARVARD WILL GIVE A FULL SCHOLARSHIP, THEN BY ALL MEANS . . . . DS]

Perpetua on April 22, 2009 at 1:53 pm

Welcome to the real world-not very pretty

mindy1 on April 22, 2009 at 3:23 pm

C’mon Debbie, even Harvard grads need to eat. It is very discouraging when you are trying to pay your bills and you show yourself willing to do “menial” jobs that you are condescended to about being “overqualified” and asked why YOU even want this (lousy) job. There’s obviously no winning answer for that. I’ve been hearing it for almost 40 years and I don’t have a degree from anywhere. (Is being a smart but unguided missile an over qualification? lol) I just say “thank you for your time” and walk out.
I grew up believing that hones work is no shame and if you are willing to do the job you can find one. Wrong! The World has turned upside down and it’s no better anywhere else. My husband, who does have a degree, keeps getting turned down for work here in Israel either cause they want post army “kids” or women both of which can be paid less.
Well in a couple of months NO one will have a job if they are depending on someone else to provide it. Time to get creative and roll up our sleeves.

jessiesma on April 23, 2009 at 7:32 am

make that Honest work

jessiesma on April 23, 2009 at 7:34 am

Sometimes people also have to consider the degree they’re getting and if it’s marketable in the outside world. I noticed one student said she had her degree in Latin American Studies, doesn’t sound like that would be of much use. I myself got a degree in Political Science. When I was getting ready to graduate, I considered all of my options. With no experience, I knew I would not find a job in my field and would end up taking a boring office job.
So I took the plunge and went in the Army. I gained the experience I needed to break into the Beltway while serving my country. Now I make good money and have an awesome job. Sometimes people have to get their hands dirty before they can “make it.” If these graduates don’t figure that out, well they’ve just wasted at least $100k of probably their parents money.

Minnie Mouse on April 25, 2009 at 7:21 pm

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