Rejected By Harvard, Teen Rejects Them Right Back in 1981

Getting rejected from your dream college stings, but one teenager in 1981 turned that pain into comedy gold that's still making people smile over 40 years later.

Paul Devlin was a high school senior when Harvard sent him a rejection letter. Instead of feeling defeated, he noticed something that made him grin: the prestigious university had made a grammatical error in their letter.

So Devlin did what any creative teenager would do. He wrote back to Harvard, formally rejecting their rejection.

"Having now reviewed the many rejection letters received in the last few weeks, it is with great regret that I must inform you that I am unable to accept your rejection at this time," Devlin wrote. He explained that while he received many rejection letters that year, he could only accept a limited number.

The letter went on to thank Harvard for their interest in rejecting him. "I appreciate your having enough interest in me to reject me," he wrote, closing with "See you all in the fall."

Devlin sent versions of the letter to every college that had rejected him. His mother, clearly proud of her son's wit, sent a copy to The New York Times, which published it in May 1981.

The letter became an instant classic. In 2022, British actor Himesh Patel gave a dramatic reading of it at the Royal Albert Hall's Letters Live event, proving its timeless appeal.

Why This Inspires

Devlin's response shows how humor and creativity can transform rejection into something powerful. Instead of letting disappointment define him, he chose to laugh and fight back with kindness and wit.

His story also reminds us that rejection doesn't determine success. Devlin went on to win nine Emmy Awards as a documentary producer and director. He earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination and continues creating compelling work today.

Harvard rejected a future Emmy winner. That grammatical error wasn't the only mistake they made that year.

Devlin's letter resonates because we've all faced rejection. His playful rebellion gave thousands of young people permission to smile during their own tough moments. Sometimes the best response to a closed door isn't despair but a well-crafted joke.

The letter lives on as proof that setbacks can become springboards if you keep your sense of humor intact.