Am I getting my hopes up too much?

[kbirch]

I haven't heard anything from anywhere so I'm getting way too excited about an email I got today. I need someone to either bring me back to Earth or celebrate with me - haha.

I had emailed profs back in the fall, and I just heard from one of my POIs at Michigan State (who hadn't emailed me back initially) that she was going through her emails and was sorry she hadn't written me back. She said she saw my application and thinks MSU would be a very good fit for me.

Is it wrong to think that she wouldn't have emailed me that after I was already put into the "rejection" pile? Am I just crazily overanalyzing or am Ipotentially correct in thinking if she said that it's a good sign (in addition to overanalyzing)?

Also did anyone else apply to MSU?

[ducksoup]

MSU is my first choice. I haven't heard anything. I think it may be a good sign that a professor contacted you and was able to say that she remembers your application. The thing is I wonder if this is a professor who has their own funding to offer students? Please let me know if you hear anything.

Edited February 15, 2012 by ducksoup

[slaNYC]

I haven't heard anything from anywhere so I'm getting way too excited about an email I got today. I need someone to either bring me back to Earth or celebrate with me - haha.

I had emailed profs back in the fall, and I just heard from one of my POIs at Michigan State (who hadn't emailed me back initially) that she was going through her emails and was sorry she hadn't written me back. She said she saw my application and thinks MSU would be a very good fit for me.

Is it wrong to think that she wouldn't have emailed me that after I was already put into the "rejection" pile? Am I just crazily overanalyzing or am Ipotentially correct in thinking if she said that it's a good sign (in addition to overanalyzing)?

Also did anyone else apply to MSU?

I know I'm applying to an entirely different field (though I was a Soc undergrad a long time ago) but I had a very similar experience with a professor at Berkeley. I wrote to a member of the core faculty and 2 months later, after I had already submitted my application, she wrote back and was very apologetic for not responding sooner. She further said that I was "still in the mix and a strong candidate." Of course this communication made my head spin. Why would a professor reach out during this time? Clearly they know potential candidates are going to get their hopes up and they would want to avoid sending unrealistic messages. I posted my experience on gradcafe and a few people thought it sounded like an unofficial acceptance. I also work full-time for a university doing research and my PI also thought it was very positive. I wasn't ready to get too excited yet. This was in mid-January. Then Friday I received an email from the director of admissions to ask about my residency status (I live in NY but would be eligible for in state tuition because I attended high school in CA). Again, why would they care if they weren't going to admit me? Did this have something to do with potential funding I wondered. I'm telling you this long story because I want you to know that others are out there experiencing the same thing. I don't know about you but I'd almost rather the silence than this. I wish you the best of luck with this school. The waiting is nearly over.

[ThisSlumgullionIsSoVapid]

I know I'm applying to an entirely different field (though I was a Soc undergrad a long time ago) but I had a very similar experience with a professor at Berkeley. I wrote to a member of the core faculty and 2 months later, after I had already submitted my application, she wrote back and was very apologetic for not responding sooner. She further said that I was "still in the mix and a strong candidate." Of course this communication made my head spin. Why would a professor reach out during this time? Clearly they know potential candidates are going to get their hopes up and they would want to avoid sending unrealistic messages. I posted my experience on gradcafe and a few people thought it sounded like an unofficial acceptance. I also work full-time for a university doing research and my PI also thought it was very positive. I wasn't ready to get too excited yet. This was in mid-January. Then Friday I received an email from the director of admissions to ask about my residency status (I live in NY but would be eligible for in state tuition because I attended high school in CA). Again, why would they care if they weren't going to admit me? Did this have something to do with potential funding I wondered. I'm telling you this long story because I want you to know that others are out there experiencing the same thing. I don't know about you but I'd almost rather the silence than this. I wish you the best of luck with this school. The waiting is nearly over.

Yours sounds like you're unofficially accepted or in the "probably" type pile and they're trying to get funding in order. Maybe the amount of students they admit this year is dependent upon how much they're going to have to spend for each student. Maybe they can bring in an additional student or two if if they're under in-state tuition. Who knows

I'd say it's a positive thing though. You're obviously in the "considering" pile because, well, why would they bother to check your residency and the like if you were a flat rejection.

[calamaria]

In my case, I contacted a POI at Penn State with my SOP almost six months ago before my application. After read my SOP and research plans, He replied exactly as your POI emailed you: "Our program would be a very good fit for you." He never promised that he will take me, only told me that he likes my SOP (it was before I actually summit it). Then I am accepted to the program which is my top choice (I did thirty-minute interview before the admsision).

Kbirch, I believe her email is very encouraging to your application.

Edited February 15, 2012 by calamaria