Is this an informal rejection?

[student8530]

This is what I got back when I emailed asking about the status of my application for a PhD program. Is it safe to say that this means I am being rejected, or possibly waitlisted...? I'll go ahead and accept an offer to my other top choice is the former...

"We have already held interviews with selected applicants.  We expect to release final decisions by the end of this week/beginning of next week."

[bandinterwebs]

I personally would interpret this as a rejection. I am a pessimist at heart, but typically I would think that if they felt you were a strong fit, they would have interviewed you as well. I would absolutely wait to hear back before I made any decisions, but it sounds like you've got another good option in the case this school doesn't work out.

Best of luck!

[MathCat]

It sounds like a rejection, but there is no harm in waiting until the official decisions are released.

[otherss]

It's not necessarily a rejection. You could've very well have been waitlisted (which is by no means a rejection).

[TakeruK]

It sounds like a rejection but since the decisions are coming out in a matter of days, just wait for the official decision before you make your own official decision with the other school.