OK, I think we figured out the school’s motivation for sending out Holds. It keeps parents of kids who are still under consideration from calling to check status and ask questions about materials received or when decisions will be made. I’m sure they still get calls, but I bet it’s a lot less… I like these these Holds even if some (please Lord, not all) end up turning into no’s. It gives my kid Hope and fuels patience and good humor, at least for a few days.
yeah, it all makes sense now. I didn’t realize y’all were harassing the schools every few days for info. They issue Holds to deal with the onslaught off IMS. (impatient mother syndrome)
(that’s right… I went there! whadda ya gonna do about it?) 
Last year, a friend called holds a “not no”. Still kinda limbo-y but, hey, it’s not another no.
I saw this posted on another part of the board…did you hear that CMU a sent out 800 acceptance letters to people who weren’t accepted?! It was for a graduate computer science program ironically.
http://m.wpxi.com/news/ap/pennsylvania/carnegie-mellon-tells-800-rejected-applicants-they/nkCzF/
I’ll take the class action lawsuit for pain, suffering, heart failure, etc. should that happen in the MT section. 
I think (and I know some more veteran Otter parents can correct me if I’m wrong) that Otterbein traditionally did send the release-or-hold notification over the winter, and saw it as a way of letting students know if they should focus on other programs. My memory is that they “held” a certain number and then admitted a small number from that final pool. My son’s year (2013) was the first time they did prescreens, and he didn’t get any release/hold notification–and they didn’t do it last year either, right?–so I’m guessing they returned to it as a more practical and perhaps merciful way of letting students know whether or not they were still in the running so as to alleviate tension. It seems like a thoughtful approach to me! And I certainly find it better than admitting a few people early on before all of the auditions are complete. Obviously, there’s no perfect method; the dribbling-out-acceptances-in-waves thing seems like the MOST unkind of all, but I’m sure it serves a practical purpose for those schools that choose to do things that way!
Does anyone know of any Acceptances at Penn State or are they only issuing Rejections so far??
The only thing I am aware of is that they have issued some deferred decision letters and some people have gotten a no. Don’t know of any offers but it is certainly possible…
What does deferred decision mean in this instance? So confusing…is it wait list? “We’re not exactly sure about you?”
D has a friend with a Yes from Penn State.
@shopforpunky It’s not a waitlist. Best that can be said about it is a statement that you are not an outright “no”, that they are still considering you. Out of that can come a “no”, a “yes” or a “waitlist”.
There have been Penn State acceptances.
@wearecollege is this a boy? I believe Penn State had an early decision, and accepted maybe one or two?? Those kids were accepted in December. I think I’ve heard of one boy (surprise) but have not heard of girls. But that does not mean there are not any out there. For all I know they could’ve accepted half a dozen kids. But If they follow past practices, I don’t think they will take anyone now until “decision Sunday.” (The Sunday following the last audition they get together and select the remainder of the class). WHich I believe would be this Sunday or next. But the “deferred” letter says students will know “by the end of March.” So anyones guess when decisions will actually materialize. And I think they make phone calls.
@shopforpunky deferral letters are NOT waitlists. They are simply letters stating we’ve looked at you, and its not a no. You survived a cut. But we don’t have an admission decision, yes, no or waitlist, at this time.
Deferred is the same thing as a Hold, in my mind. We have one of those as well.
Other schools accepted some students in December. But this is a rejection/denial/disappointment thread, no?
Yes @vocal1046, I asked a question about rejection vs deferral. Perhaps it should have been asked on a different thread.
No big deal. I just saw myself highjacking the thread as I was about to say there were admissions in the Fall as well. I was talking to myself (or typing to myself, rather)
No from Shenandoah and University of Oklahoma. Oh well!
Shopforpunky was asking whether there were Yesses outstanding at Penn State so as to understand the import of her “deferral” letter. So it was relevant to the topic. I veered off topic somewhat when I inquired of someone who had heard of a kid admitted in the fall as an early decision, which really is in a whole different category than the RD “deferrals” which are coming now. Because if she knew a boy who was accepted within the last week or so, that would mean they were doing something different this year. Sorry for the Digression.
I’m responsible for part of the Penn State confusion because D’s friend ( a female) who was accepted this week had auditioned for the BA program. Sorry.