It was personal. Or, at least they addressed the email directly to him and there were no "cc" on it.
I'm waiting for news from UCSC and am also biting my nails. Good luck!
Anyone else waiting for an email from them? I read on here that someone received a phone call from a professor on February 13th telling her of her admission. I applied last year and was rejected by February 19th...wondering if not hearing from them yet this year is good or bad. Anyone out there in the same boat?