pcc123

For those still waiting on rejections/decisions from schools that have already seen accepted students, there a few important things to keep in mind throughout this process:
1) Some schools have priority deadlines for schools to submit nominations for university wide fellowships (that alleviate the burden of cost on the department). As a result, at some schools (I don't know for all schools where this is the case, but there are a few I know this is the case) leading to a small number of students to be accepted earlier then the rest of the group, hence the appearance of acceptances coming in "batches".
2) Remember admissions committees are composed to faculty from the department who make admissions decisions. In most cases, the admissions committee then forwards on decisions to the graduate school for an official decision. In some cases (public schools in seems in many cases), the process to release admissions decisions takes a while. Schools know that to recruit the best students, it is better to be early to tell students they are accepted. This is why many people will be accepted through an email from faculty and then receive an official acceptance around the same time rejections go out. 
All of this is to say don't stress too much if some students were accepted to somewhere that was your dream school, and don't be frustrated waiting for a rejection. In time, you will have an answer from all of the schools, so try not to read into everything too much to make these two months the least stressful possible. Further, remember most people on here only know what has been posted on the forum in the past. Be hesitant of their word (including mine, I can only speak to the experience of my current school and others I was accepted at)! 

Current grad student here - I used gradcafe when I was applying and found it to be beneficial (yes this is a new profile to protect my identity and what school I attend). I wanted to put forth some advice that does not get said often on here - no matter what you are asking on here, take people's advice with a grain of salt. At the end of the day, you are getting advice from people on here who could be profs, grad students, or those with even less experience then you have.  You do not know how good someone's advice could be. You don't know if someone else knows what they are talking about or not. Ask questions, take advice, but just like wikipedia make sure gradcafe is not your only source of information. Reach out to current grad students you know, your professors, and crowd source questions you have on things that are beneficial for you in this process. 
In my few years of grad school, if I learned anything it is the fact that every program is so different. For admissions, some want different things than others, some will be ok with a bad grade or a bad GRE score while others will not. Often on here, I see things posted by perspective students that they claim are facts which I know to be true at some programs but are not at others. Just because it happened once at one school does not mean that is why or how it is happening at another school. Use gradcafe but do your due diligence when you have questions or are looking information. Your professors are your best source of information.
 
Good luck with application season, don't stress out too much once you submit apps, and have a great holidays.

Claiming Emory acceptance. Came via email with funding letter in portal 

Also accepted in UNC this morning. Honestly was really surprised but can't be happier. Seems like this is going to be a big week of hearing from places

Also accepted in UNC this morning. Honestly was really surprised but can't be happier. Seems like this is going to be a big week of hearing from places

Someone on another thread mentioned yesterday they had been recommended to the graduate school for admission so I would presume its them (although it sounds unofficial at this point)