<p>I have a feeling that if you could manage to dig up the old letter, you would see a discrepancy between your current memory, based on your subjective response at the time, compared to the actual words used. </p>
<p>I mean – the OP was upset about these words from Barnard:
“Please understand that all admissions decisions are final and we cannot accept requests for re-consideration or appeals.”</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if 7 years down the line, she and her daughter “remember” those words as, “Don’t bother to call, we’ve made up our mind and we don’t want you here.”</p>
<p>I mean, that’s the emotional impact that caused mother & daughter to feel so upset in the first place, so that is probably the idea that will resonate most in their memories. </p>
<p>Interestingly enough, I remember the Brown rejection letter to my daughter as being quite nasty, and you seem to remember a Brown rejection letter as being rather nice. I am thinking that perhaps my daughter and I were put off by a message that seemed terse or impersonal … but I really don’t remember beyond that, and I am not even sure now whether we are remembering a printed letter or an online message. </p>
<p>It’s easy to read sentiments into the words of a letter that aren’t there – certainly that happens all the times with personal communications, it’s even more likely to happen with a form letter coming from strangers.</p>
<p>I’d also note that the William & Mary threads on CC go back to December 2004. There are no complaints about the tone of the rejection letter back in spring of 2005 – so I think notakid’s observation makes some sense. I’m sure they sent an inartfully worded letter – just not quite so sure it is as disdainful as you remember it to be.</p>