A Different Twist on the Anniversary of the JFK Assassination

For someone so inspirational, JFK missed the boat on his college application essay! Not that it mattered—for him!

The prompt was simple: “Why do you wish to come to Harvard?” JFK responded with this short message, citing Harvard’s prestigious status, superior academics, and the legacy of his father attending the university in his answer.

“The reasons that I have for wishing to go to Harvard are several. I feel that Harvard can give me a better background and a better liberal education than any other university. I have always wanted to go there, as I have felt that it is not just another college, but is a university with something definite to offer. Then too, I would like to go to the same college as my father. To be a ‘Harvard man’ is an enviable distinction, and one that I sincerely hope I shall attain.”

April 23, 1935
John F. Kennedy

Obviously, much has changed since 1935. First of all, the schools want to know more about their potential students. Kennedy’s essay says little other than his father went there. I’m not saying that schools turn away legacies with Joseph P. Kennedy’s means, but simply being a legacy is no guarantee of acceptance anymore. Also, what is a “Harvard man?” How does JFK interpret that? Why is that important to him? Quite frankly, he missed a great opportunity to show his values to the admissions officers. Another obvious change is the minimum word count. With fewer than 100 words, Kennedy’s essay couldn’t be submitted today! I could go on and on, but what’s the point? It’s a different world. For instance, look at the date Kennedy applied. By that time in today’s world, students will have already received the outcomes of their applications.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not cutting Kennedy down. We all know how he inspired the nation to explore space, how he tried to curtail the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and how he inspired countless others to go into public service. But even Harvard wasn’t impressed with his academic credentials at first. According to the university’s website, JFK was “not particularly devoted to academics.” However, he really came along by the time he was an upperclassman. By his junior year he had made the Dean’s List, and his senior thesis, written about Great Britain’s lack of preparation for World War II, became a bestselling book (Why England Slept) after he graduated in 1940.

If his college career could be equated with his presidency, perhaps Kennedy was just finding his stride before his life was cut short. We will never know. What do you think?

About Nancy Frieder

Nancy Frieder hopes her passion for assisting students with their college and post graduate application essays shines through in her blogs. She created The Write Stuff Help to reduce the stress for the applicants and their parents by helping the student pinpoint an essay topic and write it in a way to attract admissions officers. Those who work with Nancy not only improve their writing, but also learn to target an audience with a unique reflection of themselves in a way that their test scores and GPA cannot. Nancy has lived in Montgomery County for more than 27 years. She has held reporting and editing positions for both local and national publications, and enjoys substitute teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools. Nancy and her husband just became empty-nesters, as both of their children now attend college. Their dog, Fez, is getting more attention than ever! Catch up with Nancy on Facebook and at her website The Write Stuff Help.

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