Brown Mass email (for humanities)

[mario]

Hi, I just received this email (I suppose its a mass email), but my heart almost stopped when I saw its title: Brown University Graduate School Admissions Process

Dear Mario,

Thank you for applying for admission to Brown University Graduate School. We are reviewing applications and will notify you via email once a decision has been rendered. Responses to offers of admission must be received by 4:00 p.m. EST on April 15, 2010.

If you applied to multiple programs, you will receive a decision for each program. Please note that you can only matriculate into one program. If you accept an offer, any and all remaining Brown Graduate School offers are withdrawn.

Thank you for your interest in the Brown University Graduate School.

With best wishes,

Dean Sheila Bonde and the Admissions Staff

Graduate School

Brown University

Someone else got it? Man I hate mass emails

[alfie08]

Hi, I just received this email (I suppose its a mass email), but my heart almost stopped when I saw its title: Brown University Graduate School Admissions Process

Dear Mario,

Thank you for applying for admission to Brown University Graduate School. We are reviewing applications and will notify you via email once a decision has been rendered. Responses to offers of admission must be received by 4:00 p.m. EST on April 15, 2010.

If you applied to multiple programs, you will receive a decision for each program. Please note that you can only matriculate into one program. If you accept an offer, any and all remaining Brown Graduate School offers are withdrawn.

Thank you for your interest in the Brown University Graduate School.

With best wishes,

Dean Sheila Bonde and the Admissions Staff

Graduate School

Brown University

Someone else got it? Man I hate mass emails

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this too--but at least it wasn't as bad as Yale's mass-email, which was entitled "Yale Graduate School Application Status."

[mario]

My heart skipped a beat when I saw this too--but at least it wasn't as bad as Yale's mass-email, which was entitled "Yale Graduate School Application Status."

yes, Yale email was the worst... at least Brown has some flavor with it, it gives us hope. I'm trying to deconstruct its meaning

[missesENG]

As soon as I saw the title I knew it was nothing to get excited about. I had almost forgotten about this app since I submitted it in November and have no way of obsessively checking its status online. Brown knows how to keep me sane, that is, until the next time I see an email from them in my inbox.

[mario]

Yes but the problem with not being able to check your status online is having to wait to recieve the rejection letter (or acceptation email)... that thing makes you go to gradcafe every single day, check the results and see if there is an update on your program, someone accepted, interviews, etc.

Yale is the opposite, you check, there is nothing, puf. No more urgent needs for the day.

[missesENG]

Yes but the problem with not being able to check your status online is having to wait to recieve the rejection letter (or acceptation email)... that thing makes you go to gradcafe every single day, check the results and see if there is an update on your program, someone accepted, interviews, etc.

Yale is the opposite, you check, there is nothing, puf. No more urgent needs for the day.

But checking or not checking doesn't move the process forward any faster. I've started to look at this application process like a dating experience. If someone wants you, they'll let you know, hopefully in the most efficient way possible. When I log off after being at work in front of a computer all day and go home or to hang out I'm not worrying about my email or checking the status. The truth is we anxious applicants rarely check anything once a day. This past weekend I received my first contact of the season and this school has an online status that is typically up to date but my email contact was much more informative than any status checker. Looking at the results pages has its benefit but keep in mind that you are an individual applicant. The results can be a guide but your personal interactions may or may not fall in line with it. Do what you can to live a little while you still can, maybe the days will seem to go by quicker.

[mario]

But checking or not checking doesn't move the process forward any faster. I've started to look at this application process like a dating experience. If someone wants you, they'll let you know, hopefully in the most efficient way possible. When I log off after being at work in front of a computer all day and go home or to hang out I'm not worrying about my email or checking the status. The truth is we anxious applicants rarely check anything once a day. This past weekend I received my first contact of the season and this school has an online status that is typically up to date but my email contact was much more informative than any status checker. Looking at the results pages has its benefit but keep in mind that you are an individual applicant. The results can be a guide but your personal interactions may or may not fall in line with it. Do what you can to live a little while you still can, maybe the days will seem to go by quicker.

Well, I take your point as valid but knowing a bit more enables me to be more in control (not a real control, but apparent), and some of us like that. Its a matter of perspective, some applicants like to talk about apps and be updated all the time (most of the guys on the forum actually, they wouldn't be here if not), some just like to see and wait (in my subfield there are several "guests" who from time to time post updates on the result page but don't interact in the forum.

I just believe this forum is the kind of place that makes this waiting time more endurable, you know you're not alone, get a sense of belonging that is usually good.