<p>Yup, I think you are right JHS. The phillymag appears to have concocted an especially inflamatory by-line.</p>
<p>I found a Chronicle of Higher Ed blog where I believe the Furda quote originated. Doesn’t say any more than phillymag quoted, note especially the last line about the value of essays:
[We’d</a> Like to Know a Little Bit About You for Our Files - Head Count - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/wed-like-to-know-a-little-bit-about-you-for-our-files/33783]We’d”>http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/wed-like-to-know-a-little-bit-about-you-for-our-files/33783)</p>
<p>I could not access the main article the blog author wrote (to assess if anything else was said about Penn’s practice):
[Common</a> Application Adopts New Essay Prompts and a Longer Word Count - Students - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/Common-Application-Adopts-New/137017/]Common”>http://chronicle.com/article/Common-Application-Adopts-New/137017/)</p>