<p>I didn't open the big fat envelopes , but I admit I was excited to get them out of the mailbox.
There were two thin envelopes, one deferral and one rejection...Once my daughter was settled on her college, she gave me permission to open the other envelopes that came and I told her over the phone what was inside</p>
<p>My S' school is just an hour away from where we live. An admissions officer hand delivered his big envelope to his school the day before they got out for winter break. The others were emailed first.</p>
<p>My son checked his SCEA status on the Internet--I knew what he would see and hear if he was accepted (from reading CC), but I didn't tell him. I did tell him to turn on the speakers "in case" there was sound. Happily, there was.</p>
<p>Way back during Admission Dean Fred Hargadon's days at Princeton, his famous "Yes!" letters came in quite small, thin envelopes. Heart attack fodder for both applicants and parents. I speak from experience.</p>
<p>My Harvard acceptance was in a small envelope with a postcard inside. I felt it and assumed I was waitlisted.</p>
<p>I think the Harvard acceptance comes in a big envelope now, but you get the info first via e-mail which is pretty much the equivalent to that small envelope. It comes with a really pretentious "Certificate of Acceptance". They say it's an old tradition, but I don't remember getting one 30+ years ago.</p>
<p>I'm just waiting for the day that I get an envelope in the mail, but I won't find out about any schools until March 31st/April 1st except for my safety, which I should find out about in a couple of weeks (but it's online). Luckily, I'm usually the one to get the mail when I get home, but I don't think my parents would ever open an envelope addressed to me even if they knew there was good news inside :)</p>
<p>Coureur - I found that holding them up to one of those bathroom sink light bars with four or five high-intensity bulbs worked best :).</p>
<p>I openned all of them, D did not object. At least, I could say few prep. words for bad news and be very happy to call her right away with good ones.</p>
<p>As it happens, our mailbox was knocked down and buried in a snowbank during the acceptance period last year, so I had to go to the post office to pick up our mail every day! I did a lot of holding up to the light and tapping, but I never opened anything. :D</p>
<p>Two of son's acceptances this year came in thin envelopes that looked like bills. </p>
<p>(I was guilty of peering into the 'window' to try & read something...you could, actually, see the sentence that included the word 'acceptance'...but I didn't tell him).</p>
<p>While waiting for news from her ED school my daughter asked me not to get the mail. I admit I sneaked a look in the mail box on several occasions. I saw a very thin envelope from her school and spent the next several hours feeling very sad for her. When she got home I was shocked to hear her screams of joy upon opening her offer of admission. Not all thin envelopes are bad news and curiosity is not always rewarded.</p>
<p>The red YES on the lower front corner of the big envelope from UW-Madison was an expected and useful bit for mothers with sons who won't tell them anything (have access to your child's computer information??? no way). The later two rejections (he only applied to a safety and 2 elite schools, sigh) were staggered, the most wanted was a Saturday check your email event preceeding the mailed notice that sealed the deal as to which school he would go to- and loves.</p>
<p>Struggling right now with the 4pm online notification. Almost didn't tell him it would be posted online...but it's for him , not for me...so how come I'm the one with palpatations!!??</p>
<p>:: pulls out the buffet table ::</p>
<p>:: loads it with cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, almond sugar cookies, Mint Milanos, and Oreos for those looking for comfort commercial foods) ::</p>
<p>:: brews fresh coffee (leaded and unleaded) and boils water for tea; starts the cocoa ::</p>
<p>:: platters watercress sandwiches, pigs-in-a-blanket, and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon ::</p>
<p>:: puts out fresh fruit platter ::</p>
<p>:: readies cheese and crackers display ::</p>
<p>Okay, those of you who are waiting, eat well, and if the food doesn't take your mind off the waiting.... well, we have other ways to pass the time.</p>
<p>:: gets out the whack-a-mole mallets ::</p>
<p>Now leave the envelopes/emails to your students!!</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>owlice, you always feed everyone so well! I would love a virtual almond cookie. :)</p>
<p>I once had a struggle with my OWN fat envelope! When I left for spring break senior year, I had heard from every law school I applied to EXCEPT my first choice. I came home from break late at night, and there was a notice in my dorm mailbox that I had a package from Firstchoice Law School. But the mail room was closed until the next day!</p>
<p>I confess that I called the security officer and asked him to open the mail room so I could get it that night.</p>
<p>Of 6 schools last year, S got only one fat envelope(GA Tech and it did say Congratulations on the outside). All the other ones were just single sheet letters in legal envelopes. THOSE are the ones that should say Congrats on the outside! With fat envelopes, you already know it's good news!</p>
<p>:: hands BengalMom a dozen almond sugar cookies ::</p>
<p>History has demonstrated that no one can eat just one of these -- we don't call 'em "Crackies" in my house for nuttin'!</p>
<p>:: adds milk and dark chocolate to the table ::</p>
<p>:: checks the liquor cabinet and kegs ::</p>
<p>:: gets the on-call doctor to test her pens and script pads for the parents who will require sedation ::</p>
<p>Owl: as usual you have thought of simply EVERYTHING! Can I crack open a beer on EST instead of PST cuz I have some celebrating to do?</p>
<p>I didn't cheat, honest, but at the faculty meeting this morning it was announced that both history girls received B of A certificates. One in English and one in US History. I have been forbidden to tell them but did spill the beans to DH. It's a very nice award though there is no $$ there is a smidgen of prestige at least in CA admissions offices. Now I can't wait to tell them so they can forward the info to the admissions offices of their RD schools. I will wait but I need some cyber micro brews to make it easier.</p>