Early Decision Questions

I applied to Northwestern (McCormick, specifically) Early Decision this year as an incoming freshman in the 2016-17 school year. I’m a bit confused about a couple things regarding the admission process; specifically, how and when I’ll receive my admission decision.

On the Northwestern Early Decision website here http://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/ it says "December 15- Early Decision Admission decision. Now, besides being a mouthful to actually say out loud, that’s pretty vague; I’m not sure if it means decisions will be sent on the 15th to everyone, or the 15th is the deadline for decisions. So which is it- a deadline or a solid date? If it’s a date, is it on that day that decisions are sent out? Or is that the day they’re received?

The second question I have is very similar to the first- how are admission decisions sent out? I figured that they’re probably sent by mail, but if they are, how are admission decisions sent on the 15th? Are they received on the 15th? If they’re sent by mail, is that something that could be made into a 1 day thing?

I know these are petty, weird questions, but as the 15th approaches I’m getting more and more nervous to hear back from my #1 school, and I can’t find anything online about it. Can anyone help out?

From what I have gathered, the fifteenth is the absolute latest, and they may come back anywhere from the seventh to the fifteenth. I also believe they are sent first by email, and if you are accepted a package will later arrive in the mail. Good luck, and we’re all nervous together!

But they are all sent at once, then?

I believe all the acceptances are sent simultaneously, and the rejections are sent slightly (a few minutes) later