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Local student says Wall Street Journal op-ed on college rejection was 'satirical'

PITTSBURGH — A local student is gaining national attention after she wrote an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal claiming diversity, not grades are what get students accepted into Ivy League schools.

Taylor Allderdice student Suzy Weiss said she poured endless hours into her college applications and even though she has a 4.5 GPA, an SAT score of 2120 and experience as U.S. Senate page, she was rejected from prestigious colleges.

In the self-proclaimed satirical piece, Weiss said she was rejected because she "offers about as much diversity as a saltine cracker."

"Diversity is a wonderful thing. I think it's great. I think all colleges should have a holistic approach to every college applicant.  I do, however, think in this day and age, we're being judged on things we cannot control, instead of things that we can," Weiss said on NBC's 'Today Show' Thursday.

In The Wall Street Journal piece, Weiss wrote "had I known two years ago what I know now, I would have gladly worn a headdress to school. Show me to any closet, and I would've happily come out of it."

"I should have done what I knew was best.  Go to Africa, scoop up some suffering child, take a few pictures, and write my essays about how spending that afternoon with Kinto changed my life."

While many are calling the high school student "bitter," Weiss said she has received support for "pointing out what she feels is the sarcastic, but honest truth."