Himesh Patel reads the most hilarious response to a university rejection letter

When Paul Devlin was in high school applying for a university place, he noticed a grammatical error in a rejection letter sent to him by Harvard. Hehad no choice but to reject their rejection. The event was so therapeutic that Paul then decided to respond to all universities’ rejections with the following letter, which soon became so popular that it was reprinted in the New York Times in 1981.

Himesh Patel joined us at Letters Live at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2022 to read this letter.

Letter © Paul Devlin

[NeilMalthus]

"I wish you all the best in your future rejection attempts..."

[rossmeldrum]

What I find brilliant is how they used so much of the boilerplate terminology and wording found in rejection letters and threw it back in their face.

[famprima]

I can only hope they understood what genius they rejected and in hindside, made him the honorary recipient of a scholarship.

[CeciliaKronvall]

Excellent, and so well read!😂

Reminds me of a girl at my college, she didn't get in but she just wouldn't leave.
She did the course work and handed in all the assignements and did well. After a semester the collage just gave up and let her stay!😂🤷‍♀️

[jamespatrick]

I applied to Stanford. They told me they appreciate my great sense of humor.

[snedshill]

As a retired professor I feel this is brilliant. I have been there.

[AmandaJYoungs]

Surely someone would have given him a second chance on receipt of that letter? It shows such spirit and wit!

[alias]

Decades ago when I was in grad school, there was a story about Oberlin that said they always rejected all applicants and started the year with those that showed up anyway. It was intended as an explanation of why Oberlin grads were so obnoxious.

[learnever]

One of the best letters I've heard yet. Excellently read.

[mariacuachon]

Tongue in cheek, deadpan delivery works, hilariously witty😂

[annasahlstrom]

I wish I had had the chutzpah to have done this. I was rejected from the college that I had planned to attend from the age of 12 and it shattered my world.

[MetalMalc]

I once received a rejection letter that contained the phrase: 'Due to the large number of applicants we have had to create a shortlist of candidates. We regret that on this occasion you have been shortlisted.'
I replied 'If you regret shortlisting me then you would absolutely hate offering me the job!'

[The-KP]

Himesh puts on the American accent really well! I love his work.

[UtahDelaCruz]

Can we all just acknowledge that this Brit just did this in a FLAWLESS American accent?

[badweetabix]

The universities that rejected Paul Devlin, rejected a man who went on to become a 5 time Emmy winner, director, editor, and documentarian. I wonder what awards or accomplishments had those who rejected his college application achieved?

[sarahjones]

That is brilliant! So cleverly written.

[daddymuggle]

Speaking as someone who is still waiting on an indication of acceptance or rejection from over 20 years ago, from a certain summer scholarship programme, I too appreciate the effort which it takes to reach a decision and communicate it to the applicant.

[StimParavane]

I spent nearly two years recently applying for corporate security jobs. I only received one personalised rejection letter. Appalling.

[grumpyboomer]

That letter of rejection, rejecting their rejection letter, became the basis for that university's reconsideration of their rejection, and subsequent acceptance of Paul's application.

[Bgrosz]

Game on.

I'm sorry to inform you, after much deliberation on our part, that we must reject your rejection of our rejection of your application. It turns out that yours is the only rejection of our rejection of an application, so that did give us extra time to deliberate on your rejection of our rejection of your application. Unfortunately, we have determined that rejecting your rejection of our rejection of your application is the proper decision at this time. We wish you luck in finding a suitable institution which will accept your rejection of their rejection of your application.