You've Been Accepted to GWU! Just Kidding

George Washington University has apologized to about 200 applicants for sending them an erroneous e-mail telling them they had been accepted.

Several hours after the congratulatory e-mail went out on Feb. 10, the university sent a follow-up message, telling them it had been sent by mistake and they were actually rejected.

The university blamed the mix-up on a clerical error. The goof was first reported by the GW Hatchet, the school's student newspaper.

The mistake involved people who had applied to the university's second round of early decision. If accepted, such applicants agree to withdraw their applications from other schools. That means GW was likely their first choice.

The university says all applicants had been told Feb. 4 that they could view their application decisions online, and the correct information was posted there.