<p>Is it generally true that graduate schools send out rejection notices before sending out acceptance notices? I have been told that by several professors that graduate schools send out rejections first before sending out letters to those who have been accepted into the program.</p>
<p>Also, has anyone received an admission letter from the University of Chicago for history or know if acceptance notices have been sent out? I do know that they stated final decisions would be mailed during the first week of March. I was told by a graduate coordinator that they would begin sending letters mid-February, so I am just curious as to what letters have gone out first.</p>
<p>There is no "generally true," it seems, in grad admissions. Often they send acceptances first, then rejections. However, sometimes a department does rejections first. Sometimes some rejections come out, then acceptances, then more rejections. And sometimes a department that has always done it one way seems to reverse it later.</p>
<p>If you want to check stats, I recommend the Grad Cafe results board.</p>
<p>DespSeek is quite right; there is no "generally true." </p>
<p>However, oftentimes departments send out rejection letters to those who did not make the first cut, and then, soon afterwards, send acceptance letters to those who are at the top of the list. In this typical case, those "on the bubble," who will not be admitted until some top folks decline, will usually hear last. </p>
<p>But again, heed what DespSeek has written. Many departments do not follow the pattern I outlined above.</p>
<p>According to thegradcafe.com, 3 people received acceptances from the University of Chicago yesterday. People voluntarily submit their results to the website, so it's not comrpehensive. No rejections have been posted yet.</p>
<p>al15, I did see those postings on thegradcafe. But I have not heard anyone note any rejections from the University of Chicago, which leads me to believe that rejections will be sent out this week and I will unfortunately be included in that number. I guess, as Barack Obama might say, "there's still hope!"</p>