If you submit for a transfer, they might not always be able to grant it due to many circumstance- such as too many students in that program for your year, a lot of requesting transfers, etc.
I think schools like to keep it more traditional and formal when admitting students, so they stick to mail. Personally I like that more, as with GW they told me by email to check their site? They should be willing to send letters overnight or next day with the price we end up paying them to go.