Help me read the tea leaves please.

[LadyL]

All my applications are in and now I am waiting/obsessing. So I need feedback on my latest point of obsession.

I applied to my top choice school 2 years ago and was rejected (but wait listed at two other respectable schools). I've reapplied with a much stronger app. this time around (much more research experience, which was the major weakness of my app. before). I got that experience in a lab affiliated with Top Choice working under two faculty members, who wrote a letter of recommendation for me. So I think my chances are a bit better this time around.

Anyhow, last time I applied, the only communication I had with the school was the automated application confirmation and a rejection letter. This time around, I've corresponded with the faculty member I'd like to work with, who has been fairly receptive. He agreed to meet with me and told me to send him times I'm available. I did so last Friday and haven't heard back from him, but he just got back from traveling internationally, so I just figured he was busy.

Then yesterday I got an email directly from the admissions committee. It said:

"Thank you for applying for admission to Top Choice Graduate School. We are reviewing applications and will soon prepare decision letters. Offers of admission will be sent via postal mail. Responses to offers of admission must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2009.

If you applied to multiple programs, you will receive a decision for each program. Please note that you can only matriculate into one program. If you accept an offer, any and all remaining offers are withdrawn.

With best wishes,

Dean ___ and the Admissions Staff

Graduate School"

I definitely didn't get an email like this from them last time, and in fact haven't gotten a similar email from any of the schools I've applied to this time around OR last time. Since the email is so geared around how acceptances work, I take this to be a good sign, yes? Or am I reading way too much into things?

Also, now I'm wondering if the faculty member didn't get back to me because A. he already knows I'm being accepted/getting an interview, B. he knows I've been rejected and doesn't want to waste his time, C. he is just busy like I thought.

Should I follow up with him anyway, if only so that I look interested? I just don't want to seem pushy.

I really wish schools wouldn't send out such vague, teaser emails that give me (potentially false) hope.

[IvyHope]

I wouldn't read too much into that. It sounds like an email that they send to the masses. Your school may have upgraded their admissions system since the last time you applied.

[Sonic]

Hi LadyL,

I don't want to expose your "Top Choice", but I received an email with identical wording, and I am a history applicant. I interpreted it as a notification that the Graduate School office had forwarded all the applications to the appropriate department though I, too, was desperate to deduce positive news from it.

I think you should continue to have contact with the faculty member. You've said that you already have a good relationship with some people affiliated with the University, and one more can't hurt.

Good luck!

[Phonologist]

Yeah, you're reading too much into it. Everyone applying to you-know-where got that email.

[LadyL]

Ok, so it was just a teaser then. That's ok . I will follow up with the professor on Monday.

[miratrix]

We should do a poll to see how many people on this forum got that letter...then we could see who goes there and hang out next year

[Sonic]

Good luck to us all then, and here's hoping that "soon" really means soon!

[domanda]

aww this is from Brown right? I got the exact same email. I'm supposing it's really just a generic email, although i secretly fantasize that it's for accepted people only. but.. highly likely just a generic email.

[miratrix]

Yes, it's just a generic email. The wording implies "hi, we've just gotten around to sorting papers out in the offices," which implies there's no way the committees have had time to make decisions yet.