<p>As an alum, I'm a bit distressed that they aren't doing more to at least give you all a ballpark.</p>
<p>In NU's defense, however, I don't know that any staff can be completely prepared for a 22% increase in applications from one year to the next, so I know that they're doing the best they can, and the delay is only the result of an attempt to be thorough and to make sure that the notification process is glitch-free. </p>
<p>At this point, it's just a matter of getting everything uploaded into the system and making sure that the bugs are "exterminated".</p>
<p>As somebody who has been through this process multiple times (undergrad, master's, and PhD), I would urge you not to rule out one school simply because its notification date falls a day or two after that of its peers.</p>
<p>The complaint, however, is that they are not telling anybody a date - even if it is later next week, it is a date one can plan around. Part of the issue is that alot of people will be going on vaction next week, and would like to have this settled before then....</p>
<p>Next week reinforces my hypothesis that they're waiting to hear "no thanks" from happy Ivy- bound, VU, etc. kids. Coupled with Wild Lion's sage observation that they were probably unprepared for the massive surge in applicants, I think they're trying to make the best possible effort and decisions.</p>
<p>i love northwestern, i visited and everything. i know Chicago because its my 2nd home im there every summer but
1. removing the phone number from undergrad admissions site so now we have to call the northwestern operator is unacceptable
2. turning the phone to a busy signal is wrong also</p>
<p>why dont they just release a message online or put a voice mail on stating about the situation.</p>
<p>and a alum said that we should really hold out...but some of us cant. we need to make the decision.</p>
<p>i understand that they are up to their heads with apps prob. and no im not cursing them out and no i dont think they are a bunch of stupid people. im just saying if we were treated with a little more civility and respect, it would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>I'm fairly positive that they aren't waiting for students to turn down their offer before they make their last few decisions. The process doesn't work that way. </p>
<p>Remember, there is a lead time between the day of the last decision and the release of that final information, because a large database file must be created, IT has to upload and thoroughly test it, final letters must be sent to the mail room, a bulk e-mail message has to be drafted, tested, and approved, and all of this has to be carefully coordinated so that e-mails don't go out embarrassingly later than letters, and vice versa. </p>
<p>My fairly educated guess is that the sharp increase in apps--not games being played by the adcom--is the culprit for the slightly late notification date.</p>
<p>Also, the busy signal is probably a result of high call volume, not the admission office turning off their phones.</p>
<p>Due to the unprecedented 19% increase in applications for the Fall 2007 freshman class, Northwestern University has just finished making all of its admission decisions. Letters will be mailed today, March 30, and an email that will instruct the student how to access his/her admission decision will be sent to the applicant's email address tomorrow, March 31, in the late afternoon.</p>
<p>so online some time tomorrow afternoon? is there any chance it will be earlier? why is nu like the last school to notify when they were one of the first for ED?</p>
<p>kdl8813 as laura stated they had 19% more applicants. they must have not have calculated this into their normal time allocation.</p>
<p>she also did not say that tomorrow their will be an online decision. she said well get an email with instructions on how to do so. i would assume since they are going out tom. the email should allow us to access the decision tom also. </p>
<p>i pray to god i got in to northwestern...i know i belong there and every person says i should have gone there from the start.</p>