Live Blogging on RD Notification Day (2008)

Good morning all. I've been up for about 15 minutes and I am refreshed. I didn't think I would be able to write that after the mayhem of the last two weeks, but I actually got 8 hours of sleep last night. I don't think my bed has ever felt more comfortable.

This is the start of my live blogging of the Regular Decision notification release day. There is a lot of tasks on my "to do" list today, but I will try to update frequently throughout the day to let you know how everything is going. I need to go SHAVE (!!!), shower, and then head in to the office. For the mean time, I recommend you go back and read (or re-read) my post from yesterday detailing the entire process for the release of decisions (I've added photos):

Breaking News: Decisions to be Released March 28

Be back later!

Posted at 6:30am, March 28, 2008

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Quick update time. I got in to the office at around 7:30am and I must say I was suprised by one thing -- the sun was out! If you have read previous decision release "live blogging" entries, it seems each morning has always been a bit gloomy and a bit foggy. Today, though it is partially cloudy (or partially sunny) and a bit chilly, there was still spring sunshine and buds on the trees.

I dropped my stuff at my desk and then headed up to the third floor in Mason Hall where the other "early birds" were finishing stuffing folders. For the next three hours we have been busy stuffing the final financial aid packets, pulling international decisions so that we can affix special mailing information, and STAMPING. Yes it takes close to three hours with about 10 people to stamp everything.

With that being said, I need to get back to work. I thought I would leave you all with something that always makes me smile. Enjoy:

Posted at 10:35am, March 28, 2008

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Hey all ... I am not neglecting the updates. I have just been busy the last few hours ... O.K., honestly I have been procrastinating and chatting with two amazing freshmen students, JHU_Jessica and JHU_Lauren. I will be updating in a while, I promise. Enjoy the pictures for now.

Posted at 5:35pm, March 28, 2008

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So I know that the live blogging wasn't as frequent as in the past, but I needed to take some time off this afternoon after we mailed all the decisions. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and my brain and body needed to relax for a while. I have returned home and have gotten confirmation that the emails are being sent. Before I provide a re-cap of the days events, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO RE-READ MY POST FROM YESTERDAY REGARDING THE RELEASE OF REGULAR DECISION NOTIFICATIONS:

Breaking News: Decisions to be Released March 28

Answers to the majority of your questions are posted there, including details about what happens if you do not receive a decision email.

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So beginning after my last significant update (10:35 am this morning), here is what transpired -- and yes I will reference the photos above.

10:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - After updating I decided to step outside for a fresh breathe of air and I had the camera so I took a nice shot of Mason Hall (pic1). It has been a much easier process this year in the new building ... much more space leads to a better flow to the process. After some air it was back to stamping (pic2). It costs more than $4 per priority mail envelope.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - The sealing commences. Everything is stuffed, everything is stamped, and Dean of Admissions Dr. John Latting (background of pic5) confirms that all decisions are final. The sealing of the envelopes (pics 4 & 5) will take about an hour. As the sealing moves along all the packets are stuffed into mail bins (pic 6). Time to load the cars!!!

1:00 - 1:15 p.m. - I head to my office to get my car keys and look out my window to see 7 tours of prospective students (pic 3). The circle of Admissions ... high school juniors beginning the process as high school seniors are finishing up.

It takes four SUVs (including my brand new Chevy Trailblazer (pic7)) to hold all 16,001 decisions. It is a tight squeeze (pics 8 & 9 & 11). Uh oh, don't forget one (pic 10).

1:15 - 1:25 p.m. - The drive down I-83 to the main Baltimore postal center. Nice artistic side mirror photos thanks to Shannon (pics 12 & 13).

1:25 - 1:35 p.m. - The unloading of tons of bins of mail at the Baltimore postal center. It is a work-out but we get it done quickly, and turn everything over to the U.S. Postal Service. At 1:35 p.m. ... WE ARE DONE. The decisions are out of our hands.

1:37 p.m. - Uh oh!!! The caravan of three SUVs are pulled over by the U.S. Postal Service police (pic 14). We are a bit nervous, but it turns out that we were just using the wrong exit. Whew ... that was a close one.

1:50 p.m. - Back in the office. The majority of the staff heads home to rest and enjoy the rest of the day off. I bunker down with Jessica and Lauren working on updating the Hopkins Forums and our Facebook groups. We procrastinate a bit (the three of us need it). Thanks to both of them for keeping me going today.

5:35 p.m. - I update the blog quickly ... end the procrastinating ... confirm that the Admitted Student Web site is launched ... and confirm that the email process will begin sometime in the 6 to 7 o'clock hour. I pack up and head home for the evening.

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Comments

[Nisa]

Yay!!Im the first to comment.I obviously dont know what the future holds for me, but im deliriously excited and tempted to stay up till 4 in the morning.(bangladesh-its night here)...And irrespective of how giddy i am and what the decision will be,I would like to thank Daniel for helping us through this process.I have never seen anyone like you, on any admissions team..infact i dont think i know anyone the way I know you.It would be great to meet you someday...Thank you again for making this easier and more entertaining for all of us!

[Cameron]

Wow. As juvenile as it may be, the muppets seem to be a great stress reliever on a day like this. Haha thanks for that.

[mark]

Admissions Daniel, are you sure that financial aid information is going to be released with the admissions information?

I just called the Financial Aid Office and the woman on the line told me that it was still going to be around April 1st.

Just wondering.

And also, when will ISIS be updated?

[Matt]

Nisa, I'm with you on staying up late, though I only have to wait until 2a.m. Ugandan time! I second the props to the whole team. None of the other colleges I have applied to have put so much effort into keeping the prospective students involved. Thanks again!

[Abduhu]

@ Nisa

I'm Bengali too, but since I live in the UAE, I only have to wait till 2am! :P

Good luck to all of us.

[yitsen]

wow, seems like there are a lot of internationals? i think im going to sleep first since i'll find out around 6 am.

[FM]

Thanks for the update!

I don't know whether to be surprised or not but I'm Bengali too...and I'm in Maryland. If you guys get in, you'll love it. Baltimore has some really beautiful spots. Good luck everyone.

[Suryadeep]

Am Bengali too. But I stay in South Korea -- so I guess its an all nighter for me. :)

[JHU_Blake]

good luck everyone!

[Abduhu]

@Nisa, Suryadeep & FM

It's a little late but Happy Independence day to you.

I hope we all get in. It would be great to have a vibrant Bengali community at Hopkins.

[tanziyah]

hey all, i just wanted to say good luck to all of you..and there seems to be a lot of bengalis that have applied..i'm bengali but i got in early decision and i live in saudi arabia, good luck you guys and i hope to see you all next year :D...

[lav]

omg this is exciting...lol there are a lot of bengalis...I'm not, but am from nearby, but live in the US...goodluck to all you guys!

[Nisa]

Wow!!!This is great.I'm so pleasantly surprised...it going be AWESOME if we all get in!!
Matt, I am probably going to sleep,because like Daniel said...its not confirmed,and it will take a few hours before the process is complete.im still very very tempted though! Good luck to all of you!
ps. Congrats Tanziyah! I hope we all get to meet too..

[Suryadeep]

Yea. It would definitely be fun. Am from Calcutta. :)

[Abduhu]

Suryadeep, so long as the Bengali spirit is there, it's great.

And congratulations to tanziyah!

I wonder how many other internationals have applied.

[Matt]

Well, I'm gonna hit the sack for a bit of nap and be up for the email. Good luck to everyone!

[Abduhu]

Good Luck getting sleep with your mind on this, Matt. :)

[TMF]

Long over due....

Congrats on everything. Video blog is great. Decisions are out early, you must be thrilled!

I miss HI! (a lot)

Be in touch,
TMF

[Candice]

oooh I'm tempted to just watch my computer all night and wait for the email. I think I'm gonna grab a nap first though, eat my dinner and then check it out around 10. Good luck you guys!

[nakeisha Griffin]

wait a tic, this is in Eastern time. Here I am thinking I still have over an hour. In reality, it's a little under 26 minutes. I love this blog, after discovering it in December. That puts a new spin on things.

Theoretically all I have to do is finish watching Jeopardy and ta da, the first notifications have been sent. Maybe not mine persay, but the first.

[Nathan G]

For the few applicant like myself who observe the Jewish Sabbath, I hope we hear back before services start (~6:30 in Boston) or else it'll be more than 24 hours before we check our emails again.

[Kaitlin G.]

lol I like the message on the whiteboard =D

[mark]

let the madness begin... everyone start refreshing your emails!

[Aryan]

Lol I have a feeling the email service providers are going to experience a spike in people checking their emails. Haha, good luck everyone!

[k-dog]

Soooo anyone got anything yet? Bahumbug..