<p>[Vassar</a> College Applicants Given False Acceptance Letters](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost)</p>
<p>Wow. This is quite the screw-up. Over at the New York Times, some of the commenters seem to believe the onus is on those “victimized” (I don’t like that word, but it’s the best one available) rather than those who were responsible for mucking it up. </p>
<p>A mere apology email is insufficient. I don’t know about Vassar’s policies, but if they are like the University of California, which I attended for undergrad, then they have a “minimum qualifications” for admission. I say the university should accept all those inadvertent acceptees who meet at least the minimum qualifications, sit them down individually and be honest about their prospects for success, and let them choose whether or not to attend Vassar. </p>
<p>For those who would have gotten in anyway on the second round, let them know that’s the case. For those who would not have, offer to pay their first semester’s tuition at the other school they would have attended had they never received the errant acceptance letter (but with no such payout if they choose to go to Vassar).</p>
<p>It is an unfortunate and painful mistake for those involved, but mistakes happen. Calling for heads, different outcomes, $ back, etc. is the wrong reaction. Handling adversity with grace is a wonderful life lesson. The same thing happened to my D with a high school admissions decision (just as stressful and painful at the time, or so we thought) and we didn’t carry on. It helped. So she moved on very quickly, and guess what, she’s a happy healthy thriving kid/young adult and that day was just a blip in the memory banks.</p>
<p>Why would they take the time to ask you to resubmit the agreement if you were being rejected anyway. that makes absolutely no sense at all.</p>
<p>@kushibo, Okay, I’m a current Vassar student, and I feel completely terrible about what has happened. Everyone here is upset about this unfortunate situation and most feel that the apology was insufficient. However, the students who were rejected were rejected for a reason and it is not fair to current students or to other accepted students who got in on their own merits to allow rejected students in. Letting them in could take spots away from RD students who would have gotten in but weren’t because the school let some students in because of pity.</p>
<p>Also, expecting Vassar to pay for tuition to another school is ridiculous. What about the students who already go here? Our school should suffer monetary losses that would affect us because someone made a mistake? No. That is also not fair. That is essentially punishing the students for a mistake on the administration’s part.</p>
<p>I’m very confused about this idea that students would have ‘gotten in anyway on the second round.’ College admissions is very tricky and subjective, especially at a highly selective school. One student that looks very similar academically to another might not get in for any number of reasons. There is no guarantee that ANY student would get in.</p>
<p>President Hill sent an email to the alumnae entitled “A serious mistake” Since it is public information, I will post it below:
</p>
<p>Why do you build me up (build me up)
Buttercup baby just to let me down (let me down)
And mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all)
You never call baby</p>
<p>But seriously, best of luck to Admissions trying to solve this dilemna. I know the media outlets are going CRAZY, there’s an article on almost every major newspaper. I’ve gotten calls from CBS, FOX and News-12 Westchester asking to come to my house and interview me, all because my name was mentioned once! Out number isn’t even listed! I wouldn’t be surprised if I see news trucks come to my school tomorrow since that was mentioned as well. I honestly didn’t think this was that big of a deal, I moved on. But, apparently the media doesn’t.</p>
<p>@DLeggio: nice reference! :)</p>
<p>Thanks haha</p>
<p>UPDATE</p>
<p>I just received a much more sincere apologetic email from the president. </p>
<p>In a nutshell, Vassar admitted what they did was wrong, sincerely apologized, is refunding our application fee, and will help us with anything we need regarding the college process. However, they can’t offer admittances to us.</p>
<p>Honestly I’m okay with this, I wasn’t expecting anything more.</p>
<p>What do they mean by help in the college process?</p>
<p>1)They reapollogized
2)They are refunding the application fee
3)If we already withdrawn other applications they will help us explain to other colleges why we did so.
That’s what the mail says</p>
<p>I’m so glad that they sent you guys a more sincere apology. I’m sure that they felt terrible in the first place, but the first email was rushed because they were obviously flustered and needed to get it out. I wish you guys the best of luck with the rest of your colleges, and I’m sure you will end up where you will thrive and be happy!</p>
<p>I’d rather receive a personal phone call or e-mail than a refund of application fee - what does the latter got to do with their mishandling of the matter?</p>
<p>First - my sympathy to those of you in this situation. I experienced something similar a few years back with my older son and know how upsetting it is.</p>
<p>Did you see this article?</p>
<p>[The</a> Aftermath of Vassar’s Acceptance Letter Screwup: One Family Speaks Out | The New York Observer](<a href=“The Aftermath of Vassar’s Acceptance Letter Screwup: One Family Speaks Out | Observer”>The Aftermath of Vassar’s Acceptance Letter Screwup: One Family Speaks Out | Observer)</p>
<p>Quotes from CC extensively.</p>
<p>Dear all,</p>
<p>As one of the 76, I would like to tell my side of the story to everyone.
The moment when I realised that everything was not meant to be, I felt the world crumbling over me. It felt like I was waddling through the stormy seas, and just when I was about to reach a lighthouse, I was swallowed by the unforgiving waves. While I do not expect anyone to support us, I implore everyone to empathise with our situations. What would you have felt had you thought that you had reached safety and comfort, only to realise that it was a case of so close, yet so far?</p>
<p>I do not expect admissions to accept me now, but after having gone through a very insane weekend, I have since reaffirmed my early decision. People only treasure something when it has been taken away from them. Take for example, my grandfather who passed away just last Saturday. After several arduous years of studying, I have since realised that I had neglected someone whom I loved so much. Case in point, should I be offered acceptance, I would definitely consider the option, but nonetheless, I feel that admissions should at least reconsider our applications in the Regular Decision cycle. Not by any binding contract, but solely based on moral obligation.</p>
<p>In fact, I would like to suggest the possibility that this would be the best, if not only, chance for the college to improve its image and reputation. That will serve to show the world that not only is it willing to seriously attempt to rectify its mistake, it is also capable of forgetting, momentarily, about its pride in the admission process. I believe that every single school worldwide puts in a great deal of effort in the admission process. Should Vassar decide to do what is “outside the norm”, it would greatly stand out as a liberal arts school that strongly values personal relationships.</p>
<p>Ultimately, when all is said and done, regardless of whether we get into our dream school or not, the 76 of us can hopefully look back at this issue decades later, and laugh. Hopefully.</p>
<p>For the 76 of us, this is the acceptance letter that eluded us. (Yes, this was the screenshot which I took in a moment of pure elation.)
<a href=“http://www.tiikoni.com/tis/view/?id=098ebc8[/img]”>http://www.tiikoni.com/tis/view/?id=098ebc8
</a></p>
<p>I was in a similar situation too. I was having a really bad month. Everything just went wrong in my life. My initial acceptance was a real mood-lifter. I actually went out and partied. After that, I checked my emails and I realized I was not accepted. Actually…have you guys had any nightmares that the plot becomes so bad that you tell yourself “That can’t be happening! It’s too bad to be true?” Well, I asked myself the same question and I literally pinched myself in order to wake up. Too bad I was not dreaming.</p>
<p>I can identify to every single word you guys wrote!
This week end was a horrible nightmare, I still can not believe this happened to me ( to us )</p>
<p>It’s been a pretty rough experience for me too. Vassar just did too little too late for us.</p>
<p>I try not to take my opinion seriously, since I am seriously affected by what happened, but just tell me. Isn’t the right and ethical thing to do to offer us admission to the College even without any financial aid/dorms/etc guarantee? This will demonstrate that Vassar took all the responsibilities for what they did. It’s like saying “Yes, it was our mistake. It was not your fault, that’s why we are going to “pay” for it”</p>