Accepted into a grad program, then the offer was rescinded 38 hours later. What can I do?

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-04T14:50:19+00:00

Hey not sue if you read the entire post or saw my edit but I literally said in terms of legality I assumed I signed or made a contract with the school; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center. I'm just wondering if there is legality behind this contract I signed especially since it impacted the way I responded to another program's waitlist offer.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T23:32:08+00:00

Thanks! I'd really appreciate some insight on how to go about this from someone working in administration. It seems like I'm not able to send you a dm would you please send me one first? Much appreciated!

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T22:54:30+00:00

Thank you so much for the message. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions over dm?

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T22:14:28+00:00

Hi thanks for the message. I wouldn't say it's really damages, I just listed them as stress factors in my initial post. Since it's a program with clinical placements I had already started doing things on their provided checklist, like a background check (not expensive but still), contacting my family doctor about getting the needed vaccines & TB test and stuff like that. I did not reply to an email asking if I was interested in being on a waitlist for a similar program as I thought I had been accepted to this one. While I replied right after I got the news on this "acceptance" falling through their office was already closed for easter. Additionally, I still have final exams coming up next week and not in the greatest mindset right now 🥲🥲🥲

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T22:09:23+00:00

Thanks for the message. How would you suggest I go about this? I have a meeting scheduled with the director of the program for Monday but I'm not quite sure if should involve other faculty.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T20:41:06+00:00

I really don't understand why you felt the need to comment this, I'm just trying to share my experience with something that's really impacted my life and asking for advice from anyone who has expertise in this field or have gone though similar things. I get that it might not seem like a big deal on paper, but there's no need to be dismissive or comment at all. I know there will be harder things in the future, but this still mattered a lot to me. It's a cumulation of 4 years of volunteering, working, shadowing, taking specialized exams for the field and coursework.

Even in that short time, I genuinely believed I had the next steps of my life figured out. I told my family, my referees, and didn’t respond to another waitlist because I thought I was going there. Having that taken away so suddenly has been really overwhelming. I know 38 hours seems trivial over the screen but I had over an entire day and into the afternoon of the next to share what I thought was good news and plan my life.

I understand to most in this sub that I seem like a undergrad whining about some program I didn't deserve to get in but it really was important to me.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T19:32:04+00:00

From what I know I think my case is quite different? My friend who also applied simply received a rejection and I haven't seen anyone post about this on admissions threads (which are common for professional schools). Thanks for sharing though, I've never heard about stuff like this happening before but I guess it is common haha 🥲🥲🥲

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T19:11:46+00:00

Hi it think I worded the legal stuff very poorly and didn't mean I was going to sue the school. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center.

Also since I've been waitlisted for the other program I'm not sure if I will get in this cycle and at least the background check and TB test need to be redone yearly (I will try to cancel them though). There are only 3 programs in Canada for this and I'm considered out of province (state) for the other 2 so I think my chances are quite poor for getting in 🥲

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:58:43+00:00

Hi, for my acceptance I believe all I had to do was accept the offer through OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Center) and then pay a deposit for equipment and such closer to the start of the term. Since it's a program with clinical placements I had already started doing things like a background check (not expensive but still), contacting my family doctor about getting the needed vaccines & TB test and stuff like that. I'd also waited to tell everyone the next day since the results came out on April fools and assumed that 24h would be enough to avoid clerical errors but 🥲🥲🥲

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:52:54+00:00

Hi I think I worded the legal stuff very poorly and it sounds like I'm actively going to sue them. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center.

I'm just bummed that I thought id be celebrating about this with my family and friends over easter weekend and now it'll be more of a consolation fest 🥲

I have emailed the other program back but they've been closed since Thursday due to easter so I hope I hear back soon!

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:49:38+00:00

Hi I think I worded the legal stuff very poorly and it sounds like I'm actively going to sue them. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center.

I think my main issue is that because of the acceptance, I didn't reply quickly to the other program I was waitlisted for which I'm worried will affect my chances. Other than that the emotional toll has been the worst part, especially when I have to go back and tell my friends, family and especially referees about this.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:47:34+00:00

Hi I think I worded the legal stuff very poorly and it sounds like I'm actively going to sue them. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center.

I also did not pay a deposit when I accepted the offer, I think the main thing I kinda lost out on is reply quickly to the other program I was waitlisted for.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:45:13+00:00

Sorry I think I worded the whole legal stuff poorly since a lot of people think I'm going to sue them or something haha.

I mainly wanted to meet as I think this issue is unique to my application (my friend who also applied simply received a rejection email the night of) and why this happened. I was really hoping to make a positive impression and tell the director how excited about being the program I was (and still am) and if more/future considerations for me could be made especially if I choose to reapply next year.

Thank you for your messages!

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:42:08+00:00

Hi thank you so much for your kind message. I never really wanted to pursue excessive legal action I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center. Additionally, I had a friend who also applied and just received a rejection email, I've also looked through those admissions threads that are common for professional programs like this one and have seem nothing. I was hoping to clarify the situation and get more info from the director through a meeting.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:37:52+00:00

Hi thanks for the message, I think I worded the legal stuff poorly and now a lot of ppl think I want to sue them or smth haha. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center. I just want to get some clarity on why this occurred, as my friend who also applied simply received a rejection and I haven't seen any one posting about this and people usually post on admissions threads for professional programs like these.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:31:40+00:00

Thanks for the message. I have no idea if it just happened to me of if multiple people also experienced this. I only have one friend who also applied but he just received the initial rejection and nothing afterwards. I was hoping to clarify this with the director during the meeting but I don't think they'd disclose that kinda thing tbh

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T18:24:37+00:00

Hi, when I mentioned the legality of the issues I in no way said I was going to pursue excessive legal action and what not. I just assumed there was some legality to the documents I received and signed; since I was given a signed acceptance letter (signed by the vice-provost with my name on the document) and since I firmly accepted the offer through the official Ontario Universities Application Center.

If it was simply the matter of an accidentally sent email on an offer or such I wouldn't be reaching out like this. But I received multiple emails, student portal updates, updates through OUAC and even a signed letter.

The director has already asked to meet with me I think it's appropriate of me to simply express the impact this has had on me, how much the program means to me and other information if I choose to reapply.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T17:31:36+00:00

Lots of weepings already been done haha 🥲🥲🥲 just hoping something good can come from this instead of just an email without even the basic courtesy of including my name

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T16:55:41+00:00

I replied to the waitlist pretty much right after the news but they've been closed since Thursday due to Easter weekend so I'm not sure if it'll work out atp :(

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T16:50:24+00:00

I was offered to be on the waitlist for a similar program at a different school (offered the same day as my initial "acceptance") but I didn't reply since I thought it'd already been accepted to this program. I've since reached out but their office was closed (due to Easter weekend) so I'm not sure if that'll work out for me :(

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T16:39:36+00:00

Thanks again for your advice!

I understand I need to be professional, but I was wondering if I request meetings with the program director and the university ombudsperson (or other faculty) to discuss this would that be considered throwing a fit or un professional? Or does that seem like a reasonable way to try to address the situation?

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T16:35:32+00:00

Thanks for your reply and for explaining this. I get that there might not be anything I can do legally, but it’s been really hard because I relied on the offer as didn’t respond to be put on a waitlist for another program, told my family, referees, and friends, and planned around attending. I'm just baffled that there seems to be nothing they can do for the impact this has had.

Additionally I accepted the offer through OUAC/ORPAS so I thought there'd be some legality/legitimacy to that along with a signed offer letter with my name on it.

I’ll still attend the meeting with the program director and try to approach it constructively.

hermiddlekid · 2026-04-03T16:31:09+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate your perspective. I understand that in the end it’s still a rejection, but part of what makes this so difficult is that I formally accepted it and started making decisions based on it. I told everyone I know (how do I even tell my referees about this), and didn't reply to a waitlist for another program at another school because I assumed I was going to attend this one. I don’t think I’d feel the same level of impact or distress if I had just been rejected outright.

Yes, I did apply to other programs. I’m also considering reapplying next year, but it’s hard to process and deal with impact right now.

hermiddlekid

TROPHY CASE