Received an email that implied an offer. Completed app. Confused...

[robertayala]

I've been on the edge of my seat since receiving a very positive email from an MFA program after a second interview.

About 4 weeks ago I had a wonderful 2nd interview with one of the program heads at my university of interest. Later that day I received an email with the subject "[State] University MFA Offer," with the following:

"Thank you for the conversation today. After our chat, I would like to invite you to join us at [State] University. If you are equally interested, then I can send you the information to proceed with the application process."

I replied with excitement and said I was very interested in proceeding. I received a reply with a link to the application and the following:

"We would like to invite you to join us for the Fall of 2020 in the MFA Program at [State] University. For you to move to the next level, we have to get you officially accepted to the University Graduate School."

I completed the application, received stellar letters of rec from former profs, have the required academic history, etc. In spite of all this I'VE BEEN RACKING MY BRAIN since submitting my application a little over one week ago.

ANY advice would be great. Does this sound like a positive case of being accepted? I want to believe that their word is their word, but I know I have to receive a written letter in the mail to make it official.

Thank you!

[cropop]

It doesn't seem like a usual application process, but I don't see why you would interpret that as anything else but an acceptance. Likely, you were accepted by the department and you are just waiting for the graduate school to send out the official acceptance, which is common.

[robertayala]

30 minutes ago, cropop said:

It doesn't seem like a usual application process, but I don't see why you would interpret that as anything else but an acceptance. Likely, you were accepted by the department and you are just waiting for the graduate school to send out the official acceptance, which is common.

Thank you, cropop! That puts my mind at ease. My silly brain keeps overthinking and reminding me of other candidate's emails in which the school said "you would be a perfect fit for our program" or similar - which lead you on but aren't necessarily any type of answer.