What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course on Making Your Place in the World

by Tina Seelig

My old buddy John Stiggelbout used the notion of turning a good idea on its head when applying to graduate school. He did something any normal person would think was a terribly bad idea, and it turned out to be inspired. He decided at the last minute that he wanted to go to business school. Having missed all the deadlines, he chose to make his application stand out among the others in an unconventional way. Instead of touting his impressive accomplishments, he asked a former professor of his to write a humorous letter, claiming to be John’s best friend and cellmate in prison. The letter described John in the most colorful terms that any admissions committee had ever seen, including his ability to open a mason jar with his belch. Instead of knocking John out of the running, those in the admissions office were incredibly curious to meet this audacious candidate and invited John to visit the school. John was nice enough to dig up the letter so you can see it, too.