Top US University Apologizes For Acceptance Email Gaffe

Carnegie Mellon University (Photo: flickr)

A major US 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 masters of science in computer studies program after all.

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

Carnegie Mellon University is apologizing to 800 applicants after it erroneously sent them emails offering them places in its elite computer studies program ©Thomas Samson (AFP)

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

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.