Imagine getting this email:
Subject: [SCS::44621] CMU Admissions Decision
Cc: applygrad@cs.cmu.edu
Dear: [REDACTED]
Congratulations on your acceptance into the Master of Science program in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. You are one of the select few, less than 9% of the more than 1200 applicants, that we are inviting. We’re convinced this is the right place for you. Welcome to Carnegie Mellon!
If you were applying to the Carnegie Mellon Computer Science program, that’d seem to be pretty awesome, right? What’s not to like? Well… imagine the thrill when you then get this email, a full seven hours later:
Subject: CORRECTION OF PRIOR EMAIL / REVOCATION OF OFFER OF ADMISSION TO MS IN CS PROGRAM
Dear [REDACTED]
Earlier this morning, we mistakenly sent you an offer of admission to Carnegie Mellon’s MS in CS program. This was an error on our part. While we certainly appreciate your interest in our program, we regret that we are unable to offer you admission this year. …..
Oh boy.
Seems the Carnegie Mellon Computer Science program had a computer that accidentally sent acceptance letters to a whole lot of students who *didn’t* get accepted, and then had to send revocation emails. As mentioned at the link, seven hours was time enough for “accepted” students to inform friends, family, and co-workers, and to start the process of leaving their current jobs. One “accepted” student is apparently now not only no longer accepted to CM, but his current employment is now imperiled.
Yay, lawsuits! Lawsuits all around!
Looking HERE, it seems a *lot* of post-acceptance rejection emails were sent. Apparently 1200 people applied, only 9% of whom got it… but it may be that all 1200 were accidentally “accepted.” You can bet that at least a few of them are going to be the vindictive and litigious types.