To add on, acceptance to year 2013 can be done through the RD cycle, just that instead of matriculating in fall this year, it would be fall next year. Through the RD cycle, we can be accessed once again through the selection process that they want to protect badly, albeit this time include this issue as a component not unlike that of affirmative action. Then, their selection process (as mentioned by President Hill in her apology email, this is the major reason why they decided not to accept the 76) will not be undermined, the only difference being in the change in criteria. Finally, should we decide to accept this plan, we will have to pay the $500 deposit to the school. In this way, most objections would be considered and this may turn out to be a suitable outcome.
That wouldn't really solve anything, as it would merely be eliminating 76 spots from the class of 2017 rather than the class of 2016. One year is not enough for the school to "expand resources" to accomodate a larger class. The fact of the matter is that it was a computer glitch. It was a disappointment, yes, but it would be enormously unfair to offer admission to rejected students merely because of a disappointment, whether it is this year or not.
If a person is denied admission they can always reapply for the following year, especially if they have new information/test scores etc to submit that will strengthen their application.
"Not unlike affirmative action?" What? Actually, actually, what? Being disappointed somehow should grant you privileges normally only granted to those eligible for affirmative action?
I actually cannot quantify how presumptuous and ridiculous that is. You are free to reapply next year or for transfer, but I really don't think that you are in any position to suggest to our president and administration what the solution should be. They have come up with a solution, and sometimes one just has to accept that.
Also, this idea of being allowed to get special privileges (supposedly akin to affirmative action, too!) over regular class of 2017 members because of this disappointment is selfish and unbecoming. Sometimes one needs to accept that life is going a certain direction. You are going to end up at the school where you belong. Vassar just might not be that school and it's time to accept that. You know, I wanted to go to Dartmouth, but I ended up at Vassar, and I'm GLAD that I was rejected at Dartmouth. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. These comments seem to me that perhaps you would not have been a good fit at Vassar even if you had been accepted and may have ended up like the various depressed freshmen who feel they didn't fit in and ended up transferring regardless.
Also agree with averagesnarker. Vassar's admissions office, like many schools, works hard to put together a class based on a variety of variables. If admissions did not feel they were appropriate for the incoming freshman class, for wahtever reason, then why shoudl they reverse their decision because of a computer/IT error? It simply doesn't make sense. This is not to say that these students could suceed and thrive at Vassar. They probably could. Any highly selective school turns down many applicants that could do well in their institution. But part of the beauty of the small LACs is the constellation of classmates that are selected to be in attendance. Lets respect that. Vassar is truly sorry for their error. But it was an error.
Last edited by jym626; 01-31-2012 at 11:46 AM.
Reason: typo
To averagesnarker, with regards to the affirmative action remark, that was not what I intended. I would like to clarify on that. What I meant was, 'affirmative action' is an example of the criteria that I think this issue can be included in. I will never and do not intend to disparage against / undermine 'affirmative action' and this issue indeed pales in comparison.
Last edited by FrancoisDeLAir; 01-31-2012 at 11:51 AM.
Well to be honest, even if Vassar would re-accept me, I wouldn't want to go - I would rather have some dignity and enter based on my merits and strengths. I guess what we all should do is to have faith that we possess a competitive profile and that we will do well regardless of which college we attend.
In fact, I've already gotten an e-mail from the director of admissions of an American university in Qatar to complete my application so that they can consider me for a scholarship. That has helped me a great deal in moving on, and I believe each of the 75 of you will have a similar "invitation". Just keep the faith and be grateful that we were told 30 minutes after the announcement, not 3 days or 30 days.
CrystalJ--we have a friend who is part of the 76--initially accepted under the "glitch", then actually deferred. I assume there are many in that same boat, which seems to me a significantly different situation than those whom Vassar intended to decline.
First of all let me thank the many of you who have responded to my earlier message regarding the 76 Early Decision applicants who saw an erroneous acceptance letter when they accessed an admissions website last Friday. Let me say again how much we regret having put these students in that difficult position. I can assure you that we have analyzed and revised our online notification system and have instituted additional measures to ensure that this will not happen again.
Some of your calls and emails expressed great disappointment, others understanding and appreciation for the communication. Many suggested responses the College might make. I am taking this opportunity to address some of those suggestions, and what we feel we can and cannot do regarding them.
Let me start by updating you on how we have communicated with the applicants. An email notification of the error was sent as soon as practical on Friday after the error was discovered, and was primarily intended to alert all applicants to the problem. On Sunday, as soon as we had determined our response, I sent an individual email to each applicant, copied to parental email addresses provided in the applicant's file. The Admissions Office is calling each of the affected applicants, offering whatever assistance we can provide for their college search process. We are not sure we will be able to reach all international students by phone, but in those cases, a member of the admissions staff will reach out in as personal a way as possible. We expect all applicants to have been contacted personally no later than today.
Since several of your suggestions were addressed in the email I sent to the applicants on Sunday, I am sharing that email here:
Dear _______,
I wanted to write to you personally with my apologies for the terribly upsetting event that took place Friday regarding your admission decision. 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.
Several people have urged us to admit all of those who viewed an erroneous acceptance notification on line. Since we are not able to do so, I feel I need to explain why we feel we must adhere to the decisions made by our admission committee.
The admissions process is a careful set of decisions made over a number of months, intended to give every student a fair assessment and full consideration for admission. 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. I only wish there were a way to right this situation to everyone's satisfaction.
I hope that you will accept my deepest apology. If there is anything we at Vassar can do to help as you move ahead with the college process, please let me know. I have asked staff from the Admission Office to reach out to the students involved within the next day, to see how we may be able to be helpful as you continue your process. We will be reimbursing your application fee to Vassar, which I completely understand is of very little consolation. We also stand ready to contact other schools to explain the situation in case you have already withdrawn an application and need assistance in having it reinstated.
I sincerely hope that your college search comes to a successful completion, and that Vassar's mistake will not have a lasting negative impact on a satisfying college experience.
Catharine Hill
President
Vassar College
The applicants' responses have been varied. Some are continuing to request to be admitted. Others have expressed appreciation and even said that they would not want to be admitted other than on their merits.
Please know that we carefully considered the appropriate way to go forward. We were concerned about these students, but also about all of the other students in our applicant pool. It seemed essential to take all applicants into account, including those who are hoping to be admitted in the regular decision round this spring.
Thank you again for your support of Vassar. More than anything, your outpouring of concern for the pain this has caused our applicants and their families is a tribute to our community, and a concern I deeply share.
Congrats to all who got in!
My deepest sympathies to those who were not admitted this round. Best of luck to those who were deferred! And for those who were rejected, I know you'll get in elsewhere!
Thanks so much to everyone who's been posting their stats despite the chaos. I'm an RD applicant, and it's really great just to see kind of how I stack up.
I agree with some of what you said about not admitting the students who were rejected. I agree that it would not be fair to the RD applicants. You also mention that Vassar is not the place for these rejected students and that they will find a place "suitable" for them. First, that is a ridiculous claim to make. It is very possible that these students may not like the institution they will attend and subsequently try to transfer to Vassar. They may get in the second time around and thrive at Vassar. Thus, your statement about belonging in a certain place is completely subjective and contingent. Vassar in all likelihood may be the right place for them. I've heard many stories of people being rejected the first time around but eventually getting in the second time around and doing very well, I might add. To conclude, things don't always happen for the best. You mention that being rejected from Dartmouth was essentially for the best. You are not in a position to make that statment. As much as you have enjoyed your time at Vassar, it is possible that you would have had a better time at Dartmouh. But, according to your reasoning, you did not belong at Dartmout because you were not qualified and you belong in the "right" place.
Actually, I didn't belong at Dartmouth because it is not a climate that is appropriate for my learning, and, had I gotten into Dartmouth, I would have attended because one does not turn down an Ivy League education in my house. So, being rejected from Dartmouth was a good thing; don't you dare try to say what is best for me. Dartmouth is a school big on frat life (and partying), while I am an introverted student who prefers a small school setting, and, upon reflection, not the place for me.
And, yes, I will stand by these students finding a place they belong; that place may be Vassar. I highly doubt it, in the case of the particular student I responded to, what with the presumptuousness they seem to possess. Yes, they may get into Vassar on transfer, and they may love it. Or, they may get into another school and love it. Ultimately, they are going to find a place that is right for them. I'll stand by that. Say what you will, these kids are going to figure it out.
I do belong in the 'right' place, and, for me, that place is Vassar. For these students, it's probably a different school. Such is life. If they are dead set on Vassar, they can always try to transfer. But, really, they're going to find a place that suits them, regardless of the outcome of this ridiculous situation.
I'll point it out again. NOT ALL OF THE STUDENTS WERE REJECTED. Some were merely Deferred, which does NOT mean that they weren't qualified, merely that Vassar wasn't ready (for any number of a million reasons, including saving spaces for various "tipped" categories) to accept them in the ED round. They may--or may not--be accepted in RD.
