Led on by POI or embarrassing misunderstanding?

[Eme19]

Not sure if this is under the right section but here goes. After interviewing at a school I received an email by one of the professors I had interviewed with stating that I had been recommended for admission and will get the details in the mail later. I emailed back saying how excited I was and the school was one of my top choices and he replied back saying they would be happy to have me here. Well I never got any official letter in the mail but in the meantime I was accepted at another school and liked it better so I went ahead and accepted it. I then called the original school and left a voicemail saying I was declining their offer. I also emailed the professor who emailed me with the news to be polite. Next thing I know the program coordinator emailed me back saying I was never offered admission in the first place so I didn't have to decline anything. I was really taken aback, it sounded a bit rude to me but I know tone doesn't translate well over email.

So was it a case of me misunderstanding the Prof's email or did he lead me on? I've heard of departments recommending someone for admission but because the candidate didn't meet the minimum requirements of the school it didn't happen. I don't think that was the case with me since I met all the requirements.

[thesnout]

I don't really think the professor was leading you on concerning your admission. Maybe the prof thought you had a good chance. Even though they recommend you for admission it doesn't mean you'll actually get accepted. That's just life.

Why worry yourself with this. You've already accepted an offer elsewhere so enjoy it and don't worry about needless things.

[Eme19]

Academia's a small world. I'll meet these profs again at conferences and I don't want to be remembered as some arrogant egoistic applicant who lacked reading comprehension. Well anyway I think it's strange to offer congratulations for just a recommendation for admittance and not actual admission. Don't these POIs know that some applicants dissect every word? Why in the world would you write congratulations when there's only a chance?

[wtncffts]

It's hard to know what the prof meant if we don't know what the e-mail said. Perhaps you could post it with, of course, identifying details left out, or paraphrase it. I'm thinking the prof may have meant he was recommending you, not that the department was to the grad school.

[juilletmercredi]

Key words: "I never got any official letter in the mail."

No matter how enthusiastic a professor is, you aren't formally admitted until you actually get an official letter in the mail (or over email - but it has to be official). This was a misunderstanding on your part: "recommended for admission" means that they submitted your name but you were still subject to final approval from the graduate school. If you emailed the graduate school, they may not have approved you yet and so you were jumping the gun to them.

I doubt that they will remember you as an 'arrogant egotistic applicant...' at conferences or anything. I would just let it go and celebrate your decision.

[stanzi]

Not sure if this is under the right section but here goes. After interviewing at a school I received an email by one of the professors I had interviewed with stating that I had been recommended for admission and will get the details in the mail later. I emailed back saying how excited I was and the school was one of my top choices and he replied back saying they would be happy to have me here. Well I never got any official letter in the mail but in the meantime I was accepted at another school and liked it better so I went ahead and accepted it. I then called the original school and left a voicemail saying I was declining their offer. I also emailed the professor who emailed me with the news to be polite. Next thing I know the program coordinator emailed me back saying I was never offered admission in the first place so I didn't have to decline anything. I was really taken aback, it sounded a bit rude to me but I know tone doesn't translate well over email.

So was it a case of me misunderstanding the Prof's email or did he lead me on? I've heard of departments recommending someone for admission but because the candidate didn't meet the minimum requirements of the school it didn't happen. I don't think that was the case with me since I met all the requirements.

I understand how you feel- I had a similar situation occur. except I wanted to accept their offer. couple weeks later I hear they didn't admit me... As much as we all DIE to hear something positive from the program or POI, I think they should restrict what they say until they know for sure. meh.