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JFK’s Harvard Entrance Essay Resurfaced Online and People Are Underwhelmed

Clare Fitzgerald
Photo Credit: Universal History Archive / UniversalImagesGroup / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Universal History Archive / UniversalImagesGroup / Getty Images

John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. While many aspects of his short life have made news over the years, one thing we didn’t expect to be brought to our attention was his Harvard entrance essay. It resurfaced online some 87 years after it was written and people have a lot of thoughts about it.

John F. Kennedy sitting at a desk
John F. Kennedy while at Harvard, 1938. (Photo Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

The short essay was posted to Twitter by a user who shared it along with the caption, “YALL IM CRYING PLEASE LOOK AT THIS!!!!” The tweet has since gone on to be retweeted over 5,500 times and has received more than 68,000 “likes.”

The essay was written on April 23, 1935 as part of Kennedy’s college admission package and was prompted by a single question: “Why do you wish to come to Harvard?” As we’re used to hearing his spectacular speeches from his time in politics, the then-17-year-old Kennedy’s response is a little underwhelming.

He wrote:

“The reason 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.”

Kennedy was accepted to Harvard and graduated in 1940 cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in government.

The essay has received a lot of attention, with many Twitter users sharing their thoughts on the few-sentence piece. One user wrote that they’ll “never cringe or feel ashamed about my mission/research statements,” while another said it was “the worst college essay I’ve ever read.”

There’s also been discussion over how different standards were back then, due to the fact that college essays were largely handwritten and had a low word count, with others bringing up what they feel was Kennedy trying to use his father’s position in society to get accepted into the school.

Some even called the former President out for how similar this essay was to the one he wrote for Princeton.

Clipping from John F. Kennedy's Harvard yearbook
Photo and description of activities from John F. Kennedy’s Harvard yearbook. (Photo Credit: CORBIS / Getty Images)

More from us: How Did JFK Get So Rich? The Story Behind the Kennedy Fortune

Those wishing to view the physical document can do so by visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library in Boston, Massachusetts.

Clare Fitzgerald

Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime.

Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordan’s Seriously Mysterious podcast. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine.

In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. She’ll also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance.

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