If you are admitted please do not do this....

Question

Remember Alexsey Vayner or the guy who broke into his undergrad to change his grades? He may have just been outdone, although I don't know if its real or fake.

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From: Eakman, Jonathan x Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 1:00 PM To: Murdoch, Holly M. Subject: Ivy software

Holly,

Having too much fun this summer. Need a little extra time on the ivy software. Got the worst out of the way with the accounting, and the business math shouldn't be a problem (econ degree), but the I have a hitch in my step with the corp finance. Have patience with me.

Thanks. Jonathan

From: Murdoch, Holly Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 1:18 PM To: Eakman, Jonathan Subject: RE: Ivy software

Jon - You can have an extension until August 5. Please have them complete by then.

Thanks, Holly Murdoch MBA Admissions

From: Eakman, Jonathan   Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 9:17 AM To: Murdoch, Holly M. Subject: RE: Ivy software

Holly,

Had some family issues and haven't been able to get the last Corp Finance study prep test done. Be cool on this. In my last job, I dodged having to take responsibility for a billion dollar budget, so I know what I'm doing. Thanks for your help/understanding.

Jonathan

From: Murdoch, Holly Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 3:46 PM To: Eakman, Jonathan Subject: RE: Ivy software

Jonathan - Please have them complete by the end of the weekend. Thanks,

Holly Murdoch MBA Admissions

From: Eakman, Jonathan   Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 11:11 AM To: Murdoch, Holly M. Subject: RE: Ivy software

Holly,

I hate excuses, but I find myself using them. A car wreck, computer problems, stupid family issues and a kidney stone scare have made my three weeks less than productive. I suggest maybe an oral examination to prove my competency or, since bootcamp is already in progress, we forget about it. The downside risk for me is that my grades might suffer, and I am OK with that. Looking forward to a great year in school!

Jonathan

From: Cudney, Patricia Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 11:40 AM To: Eakman, Jonathan Subject: RE: Ivy software

Jonathan - I am sorry to hear of your recent troubles. However, successful completion of the 3 online tests is required of all students for full enrollment in the MBA program this fall. Please let me know when you'll be able to complete them.

Regards, Patti Patti Cudney Director, MBA Admissions Cox School of Business at SMU

From: Eakman, Jonathan   Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:17 PM To: Cudney, Patti Subject: RE: Ivy software Patti,

The legal education received next door has made me a cynic. Not once has there been an exception made? Never? Not once? Would you admit me if I actually believed that? I'll get it done. Just don't feed me the *** story.

Jonathan

From: Cudney, Patricia Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:26 PM To: Eakman, Jonathan Subject: RE: Ivy software

Jonathan - I can only speak definitively to the last 6 entering classes since I have worked here, but there has not been an exception made.

Patti Cudney Director, MBA Admissions Cox School of Business at SMU

From: Eakman, Jonathan   Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:43 PM To: Cudney, Patti Subject: RE: Ivy software

Patti,

So you would admit me if I believed that.

Jonathan

From: Cudney, Patti Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:44 PM To: 'Eakman, Jonathan' Subject: RE: Ivy software

Since I have been here, no one has been allowed to start the program without completing the test requirements.

Patti Cudney Director, MBA Admissions Cox School of Business at SMU

From: marci   Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 2:35 PM To: Eakman, Jonathan Subject: Re: JDMBAs

Dear Mr. Eakman,

Your e-mail messages regarding your failure to complete the prerequisites for entering the MBA program have been forwarded to me. First, no one has ever asked for an exception for completing work required to enter the MBA program, nor, obviously, has an exception ever been granted. You were, however, granted several extensions of time to meet the requirements. Frankly, if you are having problems meeting these requirements, whatever the reason, you may well find the program expectations to be very challenging. In addition, the tone you have taken in communicating with Cox staff about the matter is inappropriate. I cannot imagine that you would communicate this way with faculty and staff at the Dedman School and it won’t be tolerated here. If you would like the opportunity to enter the MBA program, I am available this week for a face-to-face meeting to discuss your sincere interest in the program and in meeting all requirements of the program. I strongly suggest that prior to such a meeting, you complete all the requirements if you haven’t done so already. Absent completion of all requirements and a meeting to discuss your seriousness about the MBA program by Friday this week, your admission to the Cox School of Business MBA program will be revoked.

Sincerely,

Marci Armstrong Marci Armstrong, Ph.D. Associate Dean, Graduate Programs Cox School of Business Southern Methodist University

From: Eakman, Jonathan Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:19 PM To: marci Subject: RE: JDMBAs

Marci,

Did you read the whole email? Don't use undergraduate threats with a graduate student. Its unbecoming. And hysterical. Furthermore, you granted me an exception on time, so how is an exception on completion any different? As for ability to complete the SMU MBA program, did you check my resume? Do you know I’m a law student next door? On academic scholarship? It is on my resume. It’s a pretty solid resume, you should look. I have real world corporate finance experience for the world’s largest airline. I did their sales strategy. I got there by programming metrics based web applications. I have an econ degree. Might make that corporate finance test seem unnecessary. Furthermore, you assume I have time for a face to face meeting. That is the problem with completing the requirements. I agree that the test is easy to complete. I passed the other two without opening the study materials. I just had a some bad luck and need time to deal with it. That is why I have been granted several extensions. Which I appreciate. But once I complete the requirements, which is one test, what do we have to talk about? My sincere interest in the program? I’m already admitted and my deposit has been paid. I’m enrolled in classes. That’s what I consider sincere interest. What’s your definition? As for my tone. Please define inappropriate. If there is any school bylaws I need to refer to please let me know. This is how the grownups over at the law school communicate. Do you not have a sense of humor? I've been at SMU for two years now and I am aware how people communicate. Does this work on people with work experience? Maybe its just hard to threaten (future) attorneys. As for the revoking my admission. I paid the deposit. That means I'm acccepted. Please send appropriate bylaws dealing with rejection of admitted students. You act like I'm a trouble maker, and I'm a law student. What caused the misperception?How many JD/MBA's do you have problems with? I'm unimpressed with your response. Is this how the business school is going to treat its best students?

Jonathan Ellison Eakman

From: "Eakman, Jonathan" Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:28:31 -0500 To: Armstrong, Marci x Subject: FW: JDMBAs

Marci,

The admissions department revoking my admission when I am already admitted?? Good try. As an admitted student there is a process for expulsion. Once you allowed me to pay the deposit, put me on the student email, enrolled me in classes, and caused me to spend $900 on textbooks I was admitted. Just because you call the tests prerequisites doesn't mean they aren't part of the school curriculum. This goes to the honor board. I am requesting they be brought into this. I am also re-requsting the appropriate bylaws you are acting under.You refunded my nonrefundable deposit. Glad I didn't get deposit insurance. I'll be there on monday, since I'm on the roll. It really was a good try.

Jonathan

asimov · Answer

Wow, that's pretty crazy. 
How did you get the e-mail chain?

2012dreams · Answer

i am hoping that was authored for pure entertainment, i can't believe someone would have so little tact in a situation like that.

dan2012 · Answer

what an embarrassment...

rhyme · Answer

From another website:

"We contacted Eakman for comment. It turns out that he was greeted by police officers on the first day of class.

Here’s what he told us via Facebook message:

Thanks for your interest. I really appreciate getting to tell my side of the story. I want to make a couple points right off the bat. First, several students did not set up their email and therefore did not take the prerequisite tests, and were still admitted. They faced no penalties that I know off. Secondly, you don’t kick out a student two days before school starts. I was admitted, the admissions department should have nothing to do with it. I was attending their seminars, and was (and still) on their email list. Thirdly, there is nothing in the bylaws about kicking out a student for being rude. Academic dishonesty, yes, rudeness no. When I showed up to the school I was met by police officers, who restrained me from talking to the admissions person. The law school on the other hand, had no problems with my behavior, and welcomed me back to the law school. I have decided that I don’t want to continue at SMU, but it was obviously too late to apply to other schools, so have taken some time off."

sm332 · Answer

this is fantastic comic relief!!!

formerlyknownas · Answer

Wow! what an ---hole!

JCTplus3 · Answer

Nothing against SMU. I have a lot of good friends who attended both graduate and undergraduate programs there and are intelligent and have more tact than I do. However, I do believe this is real. I was the supervisor of an analyst who was an SMU undergrad that was promoted, got his promotion bonus, and left for Europe this next morning after sending an email out that he quit and we shouldn't bother trying to contact him. I fully understood his reasons for leaving, but he could have left on good terms and given some notice. If he had, I would give the guy a good reference if ever asked.

BTW: You should checkout this Mr. Eakman's facebook wall. Apparently he has a lot of bad luck.

BTW: You should checkout this Mr. Eakman's facebook wall. Apparently he has a lot of bad luck.

formerlyknownas · Answer

Yeah I think it is real...the guy is on Facebook...he is a law student..there will be some legal action if it was untrue by now...I think he just flushed his future employment opportunities down the drain. https://www.reddit.com/comments/9v4nj/ho ... efore_you/

aaudetat · Answer

Ha! I was just coming onto GMATClub to post this very story: https://abovethelaw.com/2009/10/jonathan_eakman_smu.php Good work, Rhyme.

lsmba · Answer

So it's real; he's hardly flushed opportunities down the drain. (disclaimer: I am not him, do not know him, do not care about him)

People make idiot mistakes. IMO he made just that. However, he's got some amount of talent and drive. While I view him as a 'dinged up' product, I'd certainly employ him if I thought his skills and motivations met the criteria.

Futhermore, a year from now I'd say this would make an *outstanding* essay for him about pivotal life events, if he learns from it. If not, someone with better people-smarts than him will employ him, and keep him out of trouble. That's business. You don't pass up on a solid producer unless his cons outweigh his pros.

aaudetat · Answer

I would definitely not hire this guy. A little google search and bang - the whole history is out there.

lsmba · Answer

I have to deal daily with bright people with worse people skills. I don't want him running any part of my company (at this point in his career) but he's not useless to me.

highhopes · Answer

I could never hire this guy...I could never let him talk to a client and then he wouldn't be of much use to me.

lsmba · Answer

A: Dealing in absolutes is not a luxury that I can afford.
B: Your argument doesn't hold up well if his role never has to interact with a client.

JCTplus3 · Answer

The part that would bother me as a potential employer is not that he did it. I can respect that maybe he was under a lot of stress and that caused him to fire off a few emails that he should regret.

I have a really hard time seeing why he made the decision to tell everyone about it. Note that he posted this email string on facebook and called it "The story of how I got kicked out of school." Nothing good could come of that, and I really wonder why he let everyone know about it. That really bothers me the most.

lsmba · Answer

I understand your viewpoint.

My long and short story, were I evaluating an application, would be rather simple:

#1) Does he have skills I need?
#2) Does he have clear motivation in a role I need pushed?
#3) Can he learn from this?

In my mind, there's no doubt he screwed up here. In this day and age of hyper-accountability/transparency, you need to take ownership of your mistakes. That said, being an idiot at one point in your life does not mean you're destined to be an idiot. Also, as quoted above, I've dealt with plenty of 'super successful' braniacs with crap for people skills. Its their upbringing.

In closing, and my last comments on this thread:
You (readers) want to be managers and leaders.  Think about how you can bring out the best in people.  Not how you can disqualify them for an idiot mistake.

srini123 · Answer

very interesting, he knew what he was doing.

may be he is smart and he wanted to get out of the commitment and get back his refund, so he acted rude ... could that be a possibility.
my thinking is prolly way out of the box..

Av · Answer

I love how everyone in the reddit thread started spamming his name to rank it in search results: https://i.imgur.com/kzA6I.png

formerlyknownas · Answer

Hello Jonathan,

Will you be reapplying to other business school programs? You say you are taking time off. Were you kicked out of /suspended from SMU law?

LOL j/k

I have to agree with everyone who has said they could never hire Jonathan Eakman...this guy has zero people skills...HE is so rude and obnoxious ..I sincerely think he has a mental or personality disorder. Makes no sense to me.

If you are admitted please do not do this....

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