Year after year, some college or another sends the wrong list of applicants the news that they have been admitted. And the college then offers up an apology (but no admissions slot). Sometimes the applicants are subsequently admitted, but sometimes those who received the misleading emails are rejected. Many times the errors originate in the admissions office, where these lists are typically generated.
This year, Tulane University's technology department seems to be responsible for an email message that incorrectly informed about 130 applicants -- all anxiously awaiting their early-decision notifications -- of their new email accounts and passwords. While the emails didn't come from admissions, the introduction -- "I am pleased to welcome you to Tulane" -- led most applicants to think they were receiving good news.
The new email addresses and passwords even worked, so these happy applicants could send and receive email from what they thought would be their new institution. Then the email accounts stopped working. Then came the bad news.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/12/16/about-130-tulane-applicants-receive-message-suggesting-they-were-admitted-they