Brigham Young University has apologized after nine prospective students received acceptance letters by mistake, a systems error that turned celebration into confusion and, for some families, heartbreak, according to reporting by KSL’s Daniel Woodruff.
The university acknowledged that an error in its admissions decision notification system triggered the problem. In a statement shared with KSL, BYU admissions director Chad Johnson said, “We are truly sorry that an unfortunate error in our admissions decision notification system resulted in nine prospective students mistakenly receiving congratulatory messages of acceptance.”
He added that the Admissions Department contacted those affected “to express our regret and our sincere apologies.”
Johnson emphasized how much these decisions matter to students and families. “We know that admissions decisions are highly anticipated, and we recognize this mistake caused confusion and disappointment,” he said in the statement to KSL. “Our BYU admissions team is working to ensure this mistake does not occur in the future.”
For Owen Johansen, an 18-year-old high school senior from Oakton, Virginia, the mistake hit hard. He received his acceptance two weeks ago and felt a rush of excitement when he opened it.
“At first when I was accepted, I was really excited,” Owen told KSL.
His parents shared that joy. His mother, Talai Johansen, told KSL their family felt “thrilled” and celebrated his admission to the same university where she and her husband once studied.
The celebration did not last. As Owen began the next steps—accepting his admission and searching for a roommate—he logged into his portal and noticed something strange.
The “Welcome to BYU” message had disappeared, and a rejection letter had taken its place.
The family tried to get answers. They struggled to connect with university officials before finally learning that the original acceptance had gone out in error.
“I was really mad,” Owen told KSL. “They could have done it way better.”
He described the emotional fallout in simple terms, telling KSL the experience left him “pretty sad.”
His mother expressed frustration as well. The university apologized to her and her husband but did not reach out directly to Owen, and she wants more than an apology.
“I don’t want them to just do it for Owen. I want them to do it for these eight other students. I want all of these nine students to be admitted into BYU,” Talai Johansen told KSL. “It is the right thing to do.”
The experience shook her deeply. “I have been completely heartbroken by this entire process,” she told KSL.
The Johansens now ask the university to reverse course and honor the mistaken acceptances. They argue that once students receive official congratulations and begin enrollment steps, the university should stand behind that decision.
BYU has not indicated that it plans to admit the nine students. Instead, officials have focused on apology and prevention, pledging to correct the system failure that triggered the error.
This incident does not stand alone. In 2024, BYU’s College of Nursing sent both acceptance and rejection letters to hundreds of prospective students, KSL noted in its report. University officials at the time attributed that confusion to “an error in a new system.”
For families who invest years of effort into applications, the stakes feel high. Students prepare transcripts, essays, recommendations, and test scores with hope that the process will reflect care and accuracy.
Johnson’s statement underscored that the admissions team recognizes the emotional weight involved. He told KSL the team understands how “highly anticipated” these decisions are and acknowledged the “confusion and disappointment” the mistake caused.
For Owen, the damage already lingers. He moved from celebration to rejection in a matter of days, without any change in his qualifications or effort, and his family now weighs next steps while urging the university to reconsider.
Talai Johansen framed her plea in moral terms. She told KSL she does not see this as a technical glitch but as a test of institutional integrity, repeating, “It is the right thing to do,” as she called for all nine students to receive admission.
As BYU reviews its systems and promises safeguards, nine students and their families wait. They celebrated once. Now they navigate disappointment and uncertainty, hoping that an apology might turn into action.
If you were one of these nine students, would an apology be enough—or should the university honor the acceptance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
I was taught if I made a mistake, I owned it and made it right. BYU made a mistake, they need to own it and make it right. The students were accepted and need to stay accepted. Do the right thing BYU
I agree with your statement.
Given the reader is unaware of why these candidates were not accepted, consider accepting them on a probationary status. This can soften the effects of the errors made. It also shows good faith for focusing on a compassionate solution.
My suggestion comes from a similar though not exact personal experience.
Great assessment, I fully support.
Agree 100%
BYU needs to honor the acceptance letters. Especially, if there are only nine students affected.
No excuse for the “glitch” in the system. You send an acceptance letter, you accept the student. Period.
BYU will never know the difference whether 9 more students are accepted or not. If they were not accepted because of academic qualifications then they won’t last long. I say accept your mistake and accept the 9 students
The nine students should be admitted and WITHOUT ANY FURTHER HESITATION BY THE UNIVERSITY!!!!!
Five exclamation points makes your point that much more forceful. Well done.
I agree with most of the comments. Having been a student myself 65 years ago, and then having been a faculty member for 19 years, I don’t see it as a problem to accept these 9 students and find out how they “fit in”. If they do adequately and feel comfortable being part of BYU and do their best to honor their commitment, then they should become part of the BYU family. If they don’t, then their own inadequacies will determine their status to continue. Give them a chance.
BYU needs to honor the acceptance letter and admit the students! Loyal, Strong, and True!!
Yes honor the letters. If you expect your applicants to be honorable, smart and organized you should measure up as well.
It’s nine students–certainly there is room. BYU should do the right thing and honor their acceptance. How absolutely crushing and humiliating for those kids. An apology does not feel adequate. You need to make restitution.
Also, can we hire better computer programmers? This wasn’t a “glitch”–this is programmers not doing a good enough job. Since rolling out their new computer system across Church schools, there have been so many problems affecting students’ ability to register, take classes, and graduate. It’s been unbelievable frustrating.
I agree. How hard is it to accept nine more students? Surely that many students will change their minds anyway. This mistake is unacceptable, and I’ll really think less of BYU if they don’t make this right.
In consideration of the total number of students who are accepted to BYU, letting these 9 attend won’t overload their system. LET the students into BYU. This shouldn’t even have been an issue.
BYU should definitely admit those students who were mistakenly told they were admitted to BYU. Having 2 children graduate from BYU, these matters are serious and heart wrenching. BYU, do the right thing.
I’m torn on this one.
On the one hand, they made a mistake and that’s on them and it isn’t exactly fair to rescind it without at least giving each one a valid reason more than ‘oopsie daisy, computer glitch’ as to why they were being rejected.
Was their essay not what they are looking for?
Did their Bishops send word about conflicts between what they told the school and the past conducts that might make honoring the school’s Honor Code a problem?
Were their grades and references not what where or what they needed to be?
Was there not enough spots in their desired programs?
Why?
Why were they going to be rejected in the first place and were the reasons big enough to continue to not allow admission, given that the fault was NOT on those prospective students, but rather on the school itself?
All things considered, that isn’t fair to them to pull the rug out from underneath them like that.
Admit them, without any further delay. The only exception should be that there is a glaring reason that would disqualify them otherwise.