<p>It’s all about instant gratification for the younger generation.</p>
<p>Could not agree with flippyadump more. It takes nothing away from the joy those recieving the thick packet.
It is technology that our society has integrated and has come to expect.</p>
<p>Hi alamemom, I suppose it’s different for everyone! When I found out my acceptance to other universities online (as I’ve applied to a few in the UK as well) I jumped around my room and screamed with joy. I’m sure I would do the same (doubly more so, actually, because USC is my first choice) if I found out online. Just knowing that I got in would give me such happiness and excitement and relief…the knowledge that I got in would be enough for me, regardless of the method it was given to me.</p>
<p>Also…save the trees! Hahahahah. :)</p>
<p>maybe it’s just because only the schools that rejected me notified me online, but I much preferred getting the actual acceptance packages. Even for the first school to which I was admitted, from whom I found out online a few weeks prior that I had been admitted, it was still pretty awesome to get the package. </p>
<p>For my own USC admissions packet story, it came in the mail the day before I left for France for two weeks. I remember the whole links thing from last year was stressing me out a tad, but if I remember correctly, I had had the right combination of links in the right order or something, so I had an idea that I had been admitted, but nothing concrete. I opened up the envelope and opened the folder and literally started screaming and jumping up and down. It was the best start to spring break I could have asked for!</p>
<p>I will admit one advantage to the online notifications (for me, at least)–while I was in France, I was able to check whether or not I had been admitted online (though it didn’t really matter after being admitted to USC :D), instead of having my mom open my letters over the phone. 
but that’s not a normal situation, and if I had been in the country for the whole period, I would have rather had them all be letters. There’s just something a lot more personal about it. Plus, you’re not going to randomly be surprised by getting your decision on the Metro and have your reaction in front of tons of strangers… (definitely happened to me with Northwestern) I’m a theatre student, so I’m used to it, though. 
But I understand that other people may not be as comfortable with that. I don’t know, I just think letters are better, though the anxiety is killer. But that’s only my opinion. :)</p>