<p>I wouldn't base too much off of the email size. The accepted email basically says, "congratulations, you're accepted" then goes into a speech about how competitive the class was this year, then tells you to keep an eye on the mail for more information.</p>
<p>I would imagine that the rejected email would be roughly the same length, just with "we're sorry we cannot offer you admission" followed by speech about competitive year, followed by best wishes for the future.</p>
<p>Moral: don't read too far into it accessory details, just open the damn thing.</p>
<p>Subject:Your application to Harvard College </p>
<p>March 29, 2007</p>
<p>Dear ____________ ,</p>
<p>I am very sorry to inform you that it is not possible to offer you admission to the Class of 2011. I wish I were writing to report a different decision, but the competition was so rigorous this year that there were many outstanding young men and women to whom we could not offer places in the class.</p>
<p>Nearly twenty-three thousand students, a record number, applied to the entering class. The great majority of the applicants could certainly have been successful here academically, and most candidates presented strong personal and extracurricular credentials as well. The Committee was, therefore, faced with the necessity of choosing a class from a great many more talented and highly qualified students than it had room to admit.</p>
<p>We wish it were possible for us to admit more of our fine applicants, and we understand how difficult the college application process can be for students and their families. While the Committee conducted its deliberations with the utmost care, we know that no one can predict with certainty what an individual will accomplish during college or beyond. Past experience suggests that the particular college a student attends is far less important than what the student does to develop his or her strengths and talents over the next four years.</p>
<p>We very much appreciate the interest you have shown in Harvard College. We hope that you will accept the best wishes of the Committee for success in all your future endeavors.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>William R. Fitzsimmons
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Harvard College</p>
<p>I don't know how to see e-mail size in gmail..</p>
<p>That's a very nice, humble rejection letter (or email, really): "Past experience suggests that the particular college a student attends is far less important than what the student does to develop his or her strengths and talents over the next four years."</p>
<p>And I'm sure that Fitzsimmons' comments are very accurate. If you took the top 6-7% of the H applicant pool that will be accepted and compared it to the middle 6-7% of the pool that didn't make the cut, I'd bet the differences would be minor.</p>