Maybe I do have a strange definition of bragging. I admit that my comments about the baby example were not so articulate (it was 1:30 am after a few beers, a little slack would be nice). The point that I was trying to make is that a parent's updates about baby's first steps would never strike me as conceit, merely excitement. Similarly, while a status update regarding one's success in graduate admissions might purely reflect that individual's excitement over justifiably exciting news, it seems like it also opens the door for other interpretations... including bragging. Then again, I do not at all want a baby at this point in my life, but I do desperately want to get into graduate school. So perhaps my distinction in this regard reflects my own priorities (and what might arouse a pang of jealousy in me!) more than anything else.
RE:
I'm only FB friends with friends and family that I'm close with - it's a great way for me to let people know.
I already acknowledged the merit of this tactic in my above post. Facebook is less of a close-knit network for me, personally. If you are close with your entire facebook community of friends, sharing this news via facebook "makes complete sense" (I am quoting myself here).
Regarding sharing news on GradCafe, I think this is an entirely different matter. I'm more of a private person, so I probably won't divulge specifics (unless people ask privately), but I love hearing people's success stories here! That's because this site is DEVOTED to this topic, so it is of course entirely appropriate for such results to be posted. So, go modernity! I hope you get in everywhere and I will be excited to hear when you do! Coya, I was honestly thrilled to learn of your Emory interview! And waylance, I hope your success posts are every bit as entertaining as your pseudo-status updates!
I'll try to reiterate my biggest point here: All of what I have written regards only ME, and my fears of being misconstrued as a conceited a-hole by my online "friends".