US Postal Service: Messenger of doom or glee?

[books]

It's Valentines Day and I long not for candy hearts or roses but for letters of acceptance. The mail should come pretty soon and waiting for it got me wondering: if I see a letter from a school and I haven't previously heard anything online from them, should I brace myself for bad news? It seems like most acceptances come through email or a phone calls these days. Do schools ever send out acceptance letters through snail mail without first giving you a heads up?

For those of you who have already been accepted, how did you find out?

Edited February 14, 2011 by books

[was1984]

The school I'm still very hopeful about (UW) sends out its acceptances via snail mail and its rejections via email most years. This is the opposite of how most schools seem to be.

My one acceptance so far has been via email/website. I suspect one of my rejections (MIT) will be website only, with no heads-up email, based on previous years.

[anonthropology]

My first word of acceptance from my current (masters) program was by snail mail (international snail mail at that--it was not a fun wait for me). I've only heard back from one (of 11) programs so far this round (for PhD) and it was through a phone call. And it seems like email is the most common form. So I am jumpy every time I check my mail box, go online, or hear my phone ring. Gaaaah. I can't wait until the waiting is over. The suspense is hopefully not actually KILLING me, but it may be shaving a few years of my lifespan.

It's Valentines Day and I long not for candy hearts or roses but for letters of acceptance. The mail should come pretty soon and waiting for it got me wondering: if I see a letter from a school and I haven't previously heard anything online from them, should I brace myself for bad news? It seems like most acceptances come through email or a phone calls these days. Do schools ever send out acceptance letters through snail mail without first giving you a heads up?

For those of you who have already been accepted, how did you find out?

[anonthropology]

I just wanted to add, it makes me feel better than over half of people have not heard anything yet. It makes me less anxious about the total silence from 10 programs...

[SimilarlyDifferent]

Both of my acceptances were posted online (website), and then a few days later I got confirmations via post. I haven't received an email yet from either program.

[Brandi88]

Although I haven't heard anything yet, I would love an email first. It would suck if it were a rejection notice.. especially if I find out when I'm at work. I'll be sad. LOL.

[kyjin]

Everything I've heard thus far has been through email. (One acceptance, one reject, and two downgrades from PhD to MA consideration.) A hard copy acceptance letter is on it's way, though I can't thank the US Postal service for it's delivery; letter is from Canada and will be delivered by the Japanese Postal Service. (Living abroad while you're applying to graduate school is an interesting experience. )