<p>I would guess that it is an acceptance if it is a phone number. However, it could also be the school letting you know that you still have stuff missing or some such. I don't bet on acceptance or rejection until I actually hear, 'You have been accepted/rejected." This guessing stuff is just silly. If you really want to go that route, take up astrology or tea leaf reading or something. It will be more time-consuming to learn and may help you get through the next few months.</p>
<p>While the e-mail is loading -- those five seconds it takes one's computer to look, connect, and upload -- what should one contemplate vis-a-vis the message? "What form of salutation should I use in the rejoinder?" "What materials might be missing from one's file?" </p>
<p>How can applicants use their time effectively during this interlude?</p>
<p>What I don't understand is why the OP's e-mail is drawing such suspicion from some people on this forum. Of course, it doesn't take long to open the message and read it. Of course, there is nothing that you can do in the meantime that would be more productive. </p>
<p>BUT, I can understand the OP's dread at seeing an e-mail in his or her mailbox and wondering what's inside. It might a little nerve-wracking to click it and read it. Perhaps it's a little ridiculous to try to alleviate that, perhaps not. How many of us are really sane, right now? I, for one, am posting on a board about grad school admissions when I should be showering and getting ready for work.</p>
<p>I see this question as the technological equivalent of asking whether an admission envelope is going to be thick or thin. Does it take that long to open it and read it? No. Do people ask the question anyway? Yes.</p>
<p>@ al 15:
Thanks for the support. Your analogy regarding the thick or thin envelope is exactly right.</p>
<p>al15: That's exactly what I was thinking. You said it perfectly. :)</p>
<p>Ookla,</p>
<p>No. It is possible the department needs additional materials, or additional information.</p>
<p>I should add that rejections most often (for legal reasons) come directly from the Graduate School of the university, not from the department to which one is applying.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I see this question as the technological equivalent of asking whether an admission envelope is going to be thick or thin. Does it take that long to open it and read it? No. Do people ask the question anyway? Yes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Is it still a silly question? Yes. The point here is that it's not good to obsess to quite this level. If you are, you need to take a deep breath, step back, and involve yourself in some healthier pursuits while you wait.</p>
<p>LOL I agree with DeepSeekPhD. First of all I think we should all admit that each one of us is obsessive enough already just by coming to this forum regularly and checking to see who schools have sent out invitations/acceptances. The healthy thing to do would be just to sit and wait and let your fate fall upon you as it will. But if we're going to submit to this weakness, at least admit and see it for what it is. </p>
<p>And second, I didn't exactly go as far as to go on a forum and ask other people the question of "what's the first line". I think that yes, that is a little bit too desperate and maybe you should give yourself a reality check (and to realize that no one but the person writing the email could POSSIBLY know the answer to that question!) But I understand the anxiety of the 5 seconds from the moment you see the email to the moment your browser opens it up and you read it. In fact I get my emails via Gmail and I actually set up a filter a while ago to label emails with the word "rejected" when it detects words such as "unfortunately", "regret", and other such words that admissions people use to sugarcoat a rejection. I thought it would help me brace myself before I open up whatever disappointment was in store for me.</p>
<p>But alas, after all that's been said, I think this thread is pretty funny. Not that I'm laughing AT anyone, but it's just funny how crazy we can get during these times.</p>
<p>I think it may be time to let this thread die....</p>
<p>al15, not without a response to my query.</p>
<p>Homestar, I personally am planning on sacrificing a chicken (or the fowl of your religion's choice) during that 5 seconds, hoping my last-minute offering to the gods will transubstantiate my rejection into an acceptance. Ordinarily, I would use a goat. But have you ever tried to sacrifice a goat in 5 seconds? The risk of not completing the ritual was too great. Hence, poultry.</p>
<p>Homestar - I shall imagine Angelina Jolie rising slowly from her watery lair to offer me the drinking-horn of power!</p>
<p>Knowing you, she will be holding cheese in her other hand. If so, grab it and the drinking horn and bring it over. The cheese and wine will go well with the fresh poultry. We'll potluck.</p>
<p>HEY OP!!!!</p>
<p>I got an acceptance email today! I have offers to a PhD program! (Yippee!)</p>
<p>It said the school (UT Austin), the department (Astronomy) and Congratulations in the subject line.</p>
<p>I don't remember what happened in those five seconds. I was sort of in shock.</p>
<p>This is rather early. 2 of my 10 apps have deadlines that have not yet passed.</p>
<p>DeepSeekPhd -</p>
<p>You have obviously never killed or sacrificed a chicken. As someone who grew up on a farm and had neighbors with a chicken farm, let me tell you that you that the chicken will still be running around long after the page has loaded. Personally, I would go with a cow. They are much slower and docile than a chicken.</p>
<p>al15 - The grad school gods prefer the extra entertainment of watching me chase a bleeding, headless chicken. Once you are in grad school, you will understand this well.</p>
<p>Umm... I already have my master's degree.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Umm... I already have my master's degree.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I doubt it was accredited if you didn't have to sacrifice a chicken.</p>
<p>I doubt it was accredited if you didn't have to sacrifice a chicken.</p>
<p>LOL This whole chicken and cow conversation is making me hungry.</p>
<p>Ah, I spoke to the grad adviser for my program and she said acceptance/rejection letters can be expected as early as mid February. I know I'll be glued to my computer then. I'm already feeling anxious about it!</p>
<p>al15 - Then you understand. Grad school is, in many ways, like chasing around a headless chicken.</p>