<p>Yes, if you were admitted for the spring semester, you were probably one of the “weaker” candiates admitted (“borderline”, if you like). Only once they fill the fall semester spots with sufficiently strong candidates do they move on to filling the spring semester spots.</p>
<p>(This doesn’t mean it actually matters whether you were a fall or spring admit after the first couple of semesters, though. Nobody really cares.)</p>