Email from admissions - what does it mean!?!

[MJ0911]

I received this email this morning:

Thank you for your application to study for a research degree at XXX.

I am writing to let you know that unfortunately the department is unable to offer you admission for 2011 entry as no supervisor will be available. However, they recommend admission for entry in September 2012 when a suitable supervisor will be available.

Please let me know if you would like your application to be considered for 2012 entry. Please reply promptly, since if I do not hear from you within the next two weeks I will assume you do not want your application to be carried forward to 2012 and will treat your application as withdrawn.

Thank you for your interest in XXXXX.

Yours sincerely

Turns out the person who had agreed to potentially be my supervisor is unexpectedly going on sabbatical for the 2011-2012 academic year. So does this email mean I'm admitted, but for 2012, or that they will not consider my application until 2012?!

Thanks!!

Edited February 1, 2011 by MJ0911

[neshmi]

it sounds like you are in for 2012, although it is a bit ambiguous when they say "considered for 2012."

Is this one of your main schools of choice? Would it be worth waiting until 2012?

[MJ0911]

it sounds like you are in for 2012, although it is a bit ambiguous when they say "considered for 2012."

Is this one of your main schools of choice? Would it be worth waiting until 2012?

Yeah, I couldn't work it out! Glad it's not just me who found it ambiguous.

LSE and King's in London are my first choices (I'm totally split between the two), then this uni and Oxford are my joint second choices, with a slight preference for this one I suppose. I don't have any other offers (yet - I hope!), so I emailed to say "yeah sure , keep me for 2012" - now I'm just wondering what exactly I've said yes to!!

[Rustin]

Yeah, I couldn't work it out! Glad it's not just me who found it ambiguous.

LSE and King's in London are my first choices (I'm totally split between the two), then this uni and Oxford are my joint second choices, with a slight preference for this one I suppose. I don't have any other offers (yet - I hope!), so I emailed to say "yeah sure , keep me for 2012" - now I'm just wondering what exactly I've said yes to!!

I would definitely follow-up to clarify. I agree that it is ambiguous- initially it sounds like you are guaranteed a spot, and then the considered part doesn't sound quite as good. It is an unusual enough situation a follow-up e-mail or call is definitely warranted.

Good luck.

[MJ0911]

So I emailed asking directly "Am I admitted for 2012 entry,or are you holding my application to then consider it for 2012 entry?".

They replied...

Thank you for your email. We are currently processing your application for 2012 entry and will be in touch shortly with the details.

Am I being a complete idiot, or is this still totally ambiguous? I think it sounds hopeful but I don't want to celebrate only to then be disappointed. The two people I've shown it to seem to think it's still totally unclear but sounds promising...

Aaaaaaah! I thought I couldn't be in any more limbo after being waitlisted by Oxford, but I think these people might have taken it to a whole new level!

Edited February 3, 2011 by MJ0911

[communications13]

How obnoxious of this school and what a stinky circumstance for you.

The email(s) are definetly ambiguous, hopefully they actually will get back to you with more info, but if they don't I'd lean on the side that you'll be highly considered for acceptance next year if you choose to leave your application on file. I say that because it is a specific superviosor you want to work with and they will certainly be looking at all applications sent in 2011 for 2012 as well. I'd imagine you'd be a high candidate since it sounds like you were top choice this year, but hopefully that means you were a top candidate at other schools as well and better news is coming your way...and news that isn't so confusing!

[MJ0911]

How obnoxious of this school and what a stinky circumstance for you.

The email(s) are definetly ambiguous, hopefully they actually will get back to you with more info, but if they don't I'd lean on the side that you'll be highly considered for acceptance next year if you choose to leave your application on file. I say that because it is a specific superviosor you want to work with and they will certainly be looking at all applications sent in 2011 for 2012 as well. I'd imagine you'd be a high candidate since it sounds like you were top choice this year, but hopefully that means you were a top candidate at other schools as well and better news is coming your way...and news that isn't so confusing!

Thanks! I've given up trying to get a straight answer from them and am just going to wait and see. I have still to hear from my two first choice programs so I'm in no hurry ... other than being intensely curious now!

[faton4paws]

I received this email this morning:

Thank you for your application to study for a research degree at XXX.

I am writing to let you know that unfortunately the department is unable to offer you admission for 2011 entry as no supervisor will be available. However, they recommend admission for entry in September 2012 when a suitable supervisor will be available.

Please let me know if you would like your application to be considered for 2012 entry. Please reply promptly, since if I do not hear from you within the next two weeks I will assume you do not want your application to be carried forward to 2012 and will treat your application as withdrawn.

Thank you for your interest in XXXXX.

Yours sincerely

Turns out the person who had agreed to potentially be my supervisor is unexpectedly going on sabbatical for the 2011-2012 academic year. So does this email mean I'm admitted, but for 2012, or that they will not consider my application until 2012?!

Thanks!!

From my experience, this is what it means: "Thank you so much for your application to XXX! Unfortunately, you won't be able to be admitted for the 2011-2012 year, but if you defer your application to the next year, you'll be considered against the pool of applicants for the 2012-2013 year, and can go through this entire process all over again."

Each school is different, so I'd check it out, but that's my (extremely experienced) opinion.