Top U.S. University Apologizes for Acceptance Email Gaffe

A major U.S. university is apologizing to 800 applicants after it erroneously sent them emails offering them places in its elite computer studies program.

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania blamed "serious mistakes in our process for generating acceptance letters" for the gaffe.

"You are one of the select few, less than nine percent of the more than 1,200 applicants, that we are inviting," read the email, sent on Monday.

"We're convinced this is the right place for you. Welcome to Carnegie Mellon!"

Several hours later, however, the university followed up with "correction of prior email/revocation of offer of admission" notices.

Those emails told recipients that they had not, in fact, won admission to Carnegie Mellon's Master of Science program in computer studies after all.

"We are sorry for our miscommunication earlier today and we apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this has caused," it said.

In a press release, the university said it was "currently reviewing our notification process to help ensure this does not happen in the future." 

"We understand the disappointment created by this mistake, and deeply apologize to the applicants for this miscommunication," it said.

Carnegie Mellon ranks alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University in California as one of America's top schools for computer engineering.

More than 1,800 students are enrolled in its computer sciences faculty, including 757 students in 14 different graduate programs, a spokesman told Agence France Presse.

But it's not alone when it comes to sending out erroneous letters of acceptance.

Others have included MIT; Johns Hopkins University in Maryland; Fordham University in New York; and the University of California in San Diego which in 2009 sent acceptance letters to all 46,000 of its applicants that year.

On TheGradCafe.com, an online forum for American graduate students, reaction to the Carnegie Mellon snafu ranged from outrage to deadpan sarcasm.

"Accepted this morning and rejected a few hours later. Completely unacceptable," wrote one disappointed applicant.

"Thanks CMU," wrote another rejected applicant. 

"This was a really invaluable, incomparable experience. How can I ever thank you for your kindness?"