<p>Please be aware that decision emails start at about 5PM but go on for hours into the evening. They DO NOT all come at one time. Last year, as the emails came in and people posted on CC, there was a lot of speculating ... do the acceptances come first? Last? </p>
<p>My child's email did not come until about 7:30 that evening. It was a LONG wait at the computer. You cannot determine the decision from the subject line.</p>
<p>There is no rhyme or reason as to when each email is sent. It is not alphabetical. </p>
<p>So ... that evening ... be patient ... have someone you love keep you company as you open it (to rejoice with you or to give you a hug) and don't jump to any conclusions.</p>
<p>We had a happy ending that evening in our household ... but life does goes on either way. </p>
<p>Try to get your other apps done before SCEA decision night. Those who are deferred (which will be most of you) will not feel like doing more apps that week. Best case scenerio, you won't have to send them out!</p>
<p>thank you so much!!! my parents will be out of town for my mom's job interview. i'm sort of frightened... i think i'll go over to a friend's house or something.</p>
<p>On December 15, I'll be on winter vacation, scouring the country for an internet cafe. With the time difference, I would get my decision at midnight, earliest (likely later, from what twinmom says). So I'll probably just check my mail on December 16 (morning, of course!). Meanwhile, I'll try to adopt a somewhat pessimistic outlook on my Harvard decision. So if I don't get in, I won't be that disappointed. If I get deferred, I'll be content. If I'm accepted, I'll be ecstatic.</p>
<p>Expect the worst, hope for the best.
Cheers.</p>
<p>yeah, my recommendation is to open the email with someone. also, be patient. I waited really nervously for 35 minutes for the email after 5pm. I still get chills thinking about that day. out of 4K early applicants, a little less than 3K are usually deferred, so that is a viable option to expect.</p>
<p>Here's another alert. With the acceptance came some sort of new log-in ID (I don't remember exactly what it was for) to get into an Admitted Students web page. My kid could not get in ... tried over and over - and concluded that the acceptance was a mistake! Apparently, the page was not really "up until the next day ... and then all was right with the world.</p>
<p>hmm. did the log-in ID come in a separate email? I deferred my admission a year and am wondering if we 2011ers admitted in 05/06 will get PINs too to meet our classmates and are sent any confirmation when the EA admits receive notification.</p>
<p>also, along that line, is the Admitted Students Pin the same number as the pin you use to log into the application status page that tells you if you are missing anything?</p>
<p>Great question, thefishofsorts. I would call the admissions office to ask that. The night that regular decisions went out from all the Ivies, Harvard did email the admitted EA students too ... it was like being accepted all over again! :) </p>
<p>They do have an admitted students board (as you know) ... and it would likely be fun for you to participate as those will indeed be your future classmates. I'm fairly certain it is not the same PIN ... Actually, that might have been part of the problem - trying to use the one that was previously given. It definitely comes in the mail later on; I don't recall if it was emailed also. The new one allows you to access secure Harvard web sites.</p>