University acceptance granted to a high school student, attributed to an innovative culinary creation.
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Morgane managed to snag a spot in both a psychology degree and a sports faculty through Parcoursup, all thanks to a rather cheeky—and surprisingly effective—letter of motivation. "So I'm applying to college, right? I'm chatting with a buddy, thinking, why not toss psychology into the mix? I google a brownie recipe, copy-paste it into the motivation letter, and voila!" she laughs, recalling the unusual scenario. The video of her hilarious prank went viral in no time, racking up a whopping 1 million views in just a few days.
The Rectorate's Response
Unsurprisingly, some disgruntled applicants view this as yet another example of the seemingly random nature and lack of transparency in Parcoursup. "They claim the motivation letter means something, that it supports your application... But in the end, they only look at the grades. (...)" Morgane sarcastically remarks.
The Rectorate of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) didn't appreciate the joke much either. Morgane found herself in the principal's office for a stern talk. The Rectorate maintained that the selection criteria were always respected, announcing that in psychology specifically, "roughly 6% of the decision is based on the motivation letter."
Catch the full scoop in the video above
Notes:
The Parcoursup platform serves as the centralized hub for most post-baccalaureate higher education applications in France, encompassing applications to psychology degree programs in public universities.
Within this system, the motivation letter is a mandatory component of each application, playing a vital role in distinguishing candidates, particularly for competitive programs like psychology.
The motivation letter is evaluated alongside academic records, extracurricular activities, and other elements of the application, with the exact weight given to the motivation letter varying by institution and program.
For psychology programs specifically, the motivation letter is crucial in assessing the applicant’s genuine interest in the subject and verifying that they understand the demands and realities of psychology studies.
Generic or copied letters are discouraged, as they can negatively impact the applicant’s chances.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the randomness and lack of transparency in Parcoursup, Morgane's unconventional approach of incorporating a brownie recipe in her motivation letter managed to impress the psychology department in Toulouse, showcasing an innovative and intriguing French lifestyle perspective.
- In her pursuit of a psychology degree and sports faculty education, Morgane emphasized the importance of the motivation letter in her applications, as it not only reflects an individual's interest in self-development but also plays a significant role in distinguishing candidates, dictating roughly 6% of the decision for psychology programs within the Parcoursup system in France.
