How are rejections sent out?

[vikinggrad]

I've applied to Ph.D. programs at six different schools, most of them top schools in my field so I'm not terribly optimistic, and I got the first two rejections last week. So naturally I am obsessing about the remaining four. A friend of mine has applied to some of the same programs as me, but he has already been rejected by two of them while I've not heard anything. The first school sent him a rejection over a week ago, while the second sent him the rejection four days ago. Does this mean anything for my chances? Do schools usually send out rejections in stages? FYI, he lives in the U.S. while I live in Europe, but that shouldn't really matter since rejections are sent out via email.

[FingersCrossedX]

I'm no expert, but from what I can tell one school's time line can be completely different than all of the others. I heard from one program in January, then one about a week ago. Of the two I have yet to hear from, it looks like one has told everyone else but me and the other has contacted no one.

The results board shows that people are still getting accepted to programs so I don't think all is lost for you.

Waiting sucks but it will all be over in April I guess.

Edited February 28, 2011 by FingersCrossedX