College sends mistaken acceptance letters

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Vassar College in New York state said an error led to all 254 early decision applicants receiving acceptance letters from its Web site.

Officials said the admissions Web site went live Friday and all 254 accounts set up for early decision applicants mistakenly received acceptance letters in the early morning -- and 122 students had logged in by the time the error was corrected a half-hour later, YNN.com, Albany, N.Y., reported Monday.

The officials said 76 of the students who checked their accounts in time to see the erroneous acceptance letters were sent apologies and denial letters a few hours later.

"That was a placeholder that was supposed to be replaced when the site went live by individualized letters," said Jeffrey Kosmacher, director of media relations at Vassar. "It was a human error working with technology that caused this; we take full responsibility."

The New York Times reported some parents of students who received the false acceptance letter are seeking refunds of their application fees. However, Kosmacher said the school has no plans for the students beyond apologizing and correcting the mistake.