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Oakton Today
By the People, for the People
BYU Mistakenly Sends Acceptance Letters to Rejected Applicants
University apologizes and offers enrollment to all 9 students affected by admissions blunder.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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Brigham Young University mistakenly sent acceptance letters to 9 applicants who had already been rejected, causing confusion and disappointment for the students and their families. After facing backlash, BYU has now granted provisional admission to all 9 students and is working to ensure they meet the university's academic standards.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the significant impact that admissions mistakes can have on prospective students and their families, and the importance of having robust systems in place to avoid such errors. It also raises questions about BYU's admissions processes and transparency, as this is not the first time the university has made critical admissions errors.
The details
Nine high school seniors, including Owen Johansen from Oakton, Virginia, were mistakenly sent congratulatory acceptance letters from BYU, despite having already been rejected. When the students and their families began accepting the admission and making plans, the university later replaced the 'Welcome to BYU' message with a rejection notice. BYU's director of admissions, Chad Johnson, issued a public apology and said the university will grant provisional admission to the 9 students and work with them to ensure they meet the academic standards.
- On March 6, 2026, BYU mistakenly sent acceptance letters to 9 rejected applicants.
- In late March 2026, BYU issued a public apology and announced it would allow the 9 students to enroll.
The players
Owen Johansen
A high school senior from Oakton, Virginia who was one of the 9 students mistakenly sent an acceptance letter by BYU.
Talai Johansen
Owen Johansen's mother, who was 'completely heartbroken' by the admissions mistake and demanded that BYU honor her son's acceptance.
Chad Johnson
The director of admissions at Brigham Young University, who issued a public apology for the admissions error.
Brigham Young University
The private Utah-based university that mistakenly sent acceptance letters to 9 rejected applicants.
What they’re saying
“I was really mad”
— Owen Johansen (KSL)
“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.”
— Chad Johnson, Director of Admissions, Brigham Young University (KSL)
“admissions decisions are highly anticipated, and we recognize this mistake caused confusion and disappointment”
— Chad Johnson, Director of Admissions, Brigham Young University (KSL)
What’s next
BYU's admissions team is working to ensure this type of mistake does not occur in the future, and the university is granting provisional admission to the 9 affected students to ensure they can enroll.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the significant impact that admissions mistakes can have on prospective students and their families, and the importance of having robust systems in place to avoid such errors. It also raises questions about BYU's admissions processes and transparency, as this is not the first time the university has made critical admissions errors.
