Elly Nowellhas written an article in the Guardian:
I certainly did not expect the email to spread as far as it has. Varying between offers of TV interviews and hundreds of enthusiastic Facebook messages (including, rather bizarrely, dozens from Peru), it has certainly been far-reaching. I find this hard to explain – but perhaps it's because there is little light-hearted mockery of Oxbridge around.
There is lots of both inverted snobbery and light-hearted mockery of Oxford around. All the complaints you make in your letter (aside from the one about no glass of water)have been made before. You make it sound like criticism of Oxford is a taboo.
To me, withdrawing my application to an institution that is a symbol of unfairness in both our education and the legal system (which is so dominated by Oxbridge graduates) makes perfect sense, and I am reluctant to be part of a system so heavily dominated by such a narrow group of self-selecting elites. It seems tragic that people often seem to believe that individuals should compromise their beliefs in favour of improving their ambiguous "future prospects".
If you really cared about standing up for your beliefs, Elly Nowell, you would have either not applied in the first place or gone there and challenged the perceptions of those there who have an elitist outlook.
So, why did I apply in the first place? If you're achieving high grades at A-level (or equivalent) you can feel quite a lot of pressure to "prove yourself" by getting an Oxbridge offer.
Coupled with the fact that I grew up on benefits in council estates throughout Bristol – not a type of heritage often associated with Oxbridge interview – I decided to give it a try.
Clearly, if Elly mainly applied to Oxford as you felt you should prove yourself, she didn't have much of a reason to go there. It's hardly standing up for belief s if you decide to apply somewhere as you think it is the done thing
Her second reason seems to be that you felt you would provide some diversity - and then Elly Nowell shat all over this laudable idea when you sent you unfunny little letter.
It was only at interview that I started to question what exactly I was trying to prove. I was well aware that fantastic candidates are often turned down, and I did not believe that this was a true reflection of their academic potential. It no longer made any sense to me to subject myself to their judgment, and so I withdrew my application.
Elly doesn't say why she "did not believe that this was a true reflection of their academic potential", or why she only questioned what she was "trying to prove" at interview. This sounds like it was more about Elly herself than how she felt about Oxford.
I am proud of the so-called "chip on my shoulder" and I do not believe anyone's opinion should be invalidated simply because they did not attend Oxbridge.
It should be less valid if the subject is Oxford or Cambridge.
Ultimately, I am not harming Oxford by laughing at it, and it is an amazing feeling to realise that so many people are enjoying my email.
You're not harming Oxford at all. Just yourself. You might have a bright future in PR, but law firms are mostly steeped in tradition.
Even ones that correspond to your sense of justice might think twice about calling you for interview.
What happens if you write a spoof rejection letter to them and put it online?
I hope that at a time when youth unemployment has hit an astounding 22.3%, my inconsequential mockery of this venerable institution provides a little light-hearted humour.
Apples and oranges.
Much to my surprise, it has become a bit of an internet hit, and has provoked reactions of both horror and amusement.
No-one was horrified, just contemptous. And most of those who are amused haven't explained why.
Why didn't you do your research properly, Elly Nowell? Why didn't you contact a single Oxford student beforehand?
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