ADMISSIONS COMMITS ‘A SERIOUS MISTAKE’ FOR 2016

On Jan. 28, the New York Times printed an article entitled "For Some Vassar Applicants, Joy Then Misery As College Corrects Mistake," which alerted many Vassar students to the effects of an error in the Vassar Admissions notification system. On Jan. 27, over 100 Vassar Early Decision II applicants received an online letter from the College congratulating them on their acceptance. Unfortunately, not all of that letter's recipients had actually been accepted.

According to Vice President for Computing and Information Services (CIS) Bret Ingerman, the mistake was caused by a programming error. "[Applicants] were mistakenly pointed to a test website which happened to be displaying an acceptance letter," explained Ingerman in an emailed statement, adding, "Instead, they should have been pointed to the production version of the site which was programmed to show each applicant an individualized letter that reflected their admission status." Ingerman acknowledged that CIS is responsible in contacting students, and that the error was his department's fault. In his emailed statement, he wrote that the error had been fixed and that CIS staff have been meeting to discuss the composition of future safeguards.

This year is only the second year that such an online notification system has been used.

Many of the high school students who received an acceptance letter and then a rejection letter complained vocally on an online college admissions forum, College Confidential. Although some of their comments criticized Vassar for the mistake, many others expressed disappointment in the College's response. "It just seemed abrupt. Not really rude, but just kind of cold-hearted," said Bianka Michalski, a high school senior from Alexandria, Va. in an interview with The Miscellany News. High school student Dylan Leggio agreed with Michalski, saying, "The first email I got, it was very rough."

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid David Borus says that time was too short for a thorough apology on the day of the accident. "Our main concern at that point was to get a message out quickly to alert students to what had happened and to make sure that they logged back in to the website to view the correct decisions," wrote Borus in an emailed statement. He acknowledged that the initial response was impersonal, and hopes that Admissions can use this experience to improve their responses in the future.

Since that Friday, Vassar representatives have reached out to affected students by phone and email to apologize. "We are full of regret," wrote Vassar President Catharine Bond Hill in an email to the entire Vassar community. She added in another email to the 76 students and their families, "I know that our communication error caused you considerable confusion and hurt. Vassar prides itself on providing a professional and personal relationship with everyone in our community. Obviously we have failed dramatically to do so in this instance. We are deeply sorry."

In addition to these emailed messages, Admissions officers have also reached out to many of the affected students by phone. According to Borus, these calls were made in order to offer a personal apology on the part of the Admissions Office, and also help with the students' college search process—particularly to those students who withdrew their applications from other colleges before they were alerted of the mistake.

Although many have called on Vassar to simply honor the first acceptance letter and admit all 76 students, their admissions status will not be changed as a result of the false notification. In her email to the affected students, Hill explained that their admission would damage the integrity of the application process. "There are many talented students who apply for each place in the class and to do anything but honor that process would, in effect, deny places in the class to other students who are counting on that fair assessment," wrote Hill.

Nevertheless, Vassar will reimburse the affected students and their families for their application fee.

Despite the College's several attempts at apology, some of the 76 students remain upset. "I definitely find the apology letter more sincere, but still lacking. What I also find ironic is the claim that ‘Vassar prides itself on providing a professional and personal relationship with everyone in our community.' I disagree with that statement," wrote Yap Zong Yao, one of the 76 students who received their rejection letter after reading an acceptance letter. However, other students have already moved on. "It's nice that they've understood what they've done," said Machalski after receiving her personal phone call from Admissions and Hill's letter.