I applied to history Ph.D. programs along with a few student personnel programs in order to weigh my options. I have a good offer to go to Kent State but I also have a potential assistantship at Ohio University. The GA at Kent is a much better package, though, so I think OU might be off the table.
Right now, I'm still in the wait-and-see mode because I'm not going to make a decision until I hear back from the history programs.
Form letters shouldn't contain apologies/words of consolation because the reader will never perceive those as being sincere. A simple "best wishes in all your endeavors" would suffice instead of "hopefully another program accepts you [because we sure didn't want to]."
Yeah, my letter was the same. I'm glad to know that UPenn believes that I, [applicant], have what it takes to succeed at [university of applicant's choice].