Does anyone else have the same experience?
What can I do? Keep on asking for a telephone interview?
Or submit an additional essay? but what shall I write in this additional essay?

I think you should try both of them, pushing for an phone interview, while writing an extra essay to present your enthusiasm

I agree with you. However, I doubt it is a good sign or a bad one since they didn't tell me how they choose the applicants who can get interviews.

don't think too much. No matter what, you just try pushing them a little bit, but sincerely.

comfort!

you may be admitted without an interview.

Yeah, it might be a bad sign. Some schools just can't wait to show their disrespect to our Chinese.

Does this mean they didn't begin to read your application yet? Otherwise, to place it in your application file is just nonsense. If so, it seems not too bad, anyway.