<p>I know many schools, and Vandy is one, still love the idea of having decisions sent in writing... and I understand this to a point, but Vandy you need to go on the web with your admission decisions!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It's GREAT to get a Yes in writing, OK to get a maybe (wait list) and pretty depressing to get a no. Back when the acceptance rate was over 40% with a wait list was another 15%, most people were happy. Now with the admit rate hovering around 20% with a few more perentage on the wait list, most aren't thrilled when they open their mail.</p></li>
<li><p>It seems every year the bar gets raised and people that thought they were going to get into Vanderbilt don't. Isn't it better to make the decisions quick and easy? People who have a slightly outdated copy of US News and World report college edition who thought they are in range a year out aren't. Furthermore there is the inevitable blog post "the most highly talented group of applicants"... then the scores have jumped another 50 points from the median SAT scores of the 25% to 75% percentile group, and the school you loved and thought you had a shot at is now probably a no/maybe. Online decisions lessen the pain, and then it's on to the next one.</p></li>
<li><p>You are a national school... read the posts: Oregon, Hawaii and every other state plus many foreign students. It's simply more efficient to use the web and frankly a little bit fairer for those who live somewhere outside of Davidson county.</p></li>
<li><p>Isn't it better to have posts comparing the pros and cons of different college curriculums, dorms or whatever matters in the decision making process instead of endless posts about the weaknesses of the local postal systems and the possibility of whether the first letters of our last name is playing a role in when different decisions arrive or even what they might be?</p></li>
<li><p>Finally: Is the Vanderbilt department of admissions phone system going to be ready for the deluge of calls from anxious class of 2014 applicants, wondering what their status of their decisions, and the local representative getting to tell the vast majority that they need to look elsewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>There is always the possibility that some of these maybes and nos (and maybe yeses who pick another school but reconsider after a term) might want to consider transferring in a year or so... online decisions shorten the pain and improve the process might leave them with the desire to go get great grades and reapply...</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry... but I really do hope that you all figure this one out, as it really will be better for everyone. Maybe I am a slightly hostile applicant with an empty mail box, but I think I'm right on this one. Next year, please go online!</p>