<p>Does anyone have a good idea as to why American sends out acceptances in “waves?” Any current/former students or parents know?</p>
<p>most universities do it. some universities (mostly public) send out notifications by major, like most of the sciences get it first, then business, etc. but privates such as AU and some other publics send out notifications in waves…first the people who are going to get in w/o a doubt get it first, and then as the admissions office does some last minute stuff everybody else starts receiving notifications. </p>
<p>its good that most colleges do the whole wave thing, or else EVERYONE would have to wait till the last date to find out.</p>
<p>It has been stated elsewhere, but I will put it again on this ‘thread’. I do not believe that the acceptances are based on how ‘strongly’ they want you. Other theories are that it is based on who is getting merit aid, or not getting merit aid.</p>
<p>I think the truth is that it is a combination of who your reader is (geographic), and/or what your major is. In some dark room the admission committee is still working hard to decide who gets in, and the process is confidential so no one knows except the adcom.</p>
<p>Dont give up hope until you get the letter that says “no”, and don’t feel any less loved if you have not heard yet. It may be that some states/majors are simply not done yet.</p>
<p>So being among the first to get the email… you think it’s related to getting merit aid? All these theories… I wish I’d just get the letter, which I was told by the FA office will be in the next week or two.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s a merit aid connection. D was accepted but her stats would not put her in merit aid contention for AU.</p>
<p>To add to what srco14 said, I was accepted but was given plenty of merit aid. I don’t think that’s it.</p>
<p>perhaps the decisions are done by which school you apply for? IDK, just a thought</p>
<p>you don’t apply to specific schools @ AU. If there’s a pattern to the “waves”, it’s not immediately evident.</p>