<p>I am guessing about brown but I am not guessing about other schools. Things may have changed but in 04-05 when I applied I was at a very prestigious high school with an extremely well connected college
Counselor. He would call schools a few days before decisions were mailed and get the jump on the results from some schools. At Hopkins he was told I was accepted but then I got wait listed. When he followed up he learned that an admissions officer had decided there were too many potential pre meds and bumped 100 accepted students to the wait list.</p>
<p>He was unable to find out in advance from penn but my mailing from them included everything an accepted student received except an acceptance letter and instead had a waitlist card. When he followed up they said the accepted students material was put in by mistake but he thinks it’s because a last second switch was made and they forgot to take out the other material.</p>