What does this mean? Hinting at acceptance?

[zillie]

I want some opinions about an email I received today from a POI. I am not sure if the POI is hinting at acceptance, or if I am interpreting it that way.

Here is what the email said (school name and projects removed to preserve anonymity.)

Dear BlahBlah,

Just wanted to check in. We will be deciding on acceptance of new graduate students next week.

Are you still interested in coming to BlahBlah University? I am very keen on working with you on project A and project B and other projects.

Professor Blah

I have spent half my day interpreting this positively, and then the other half nervously wondering if this is just a normal email, not anything to be excited or disappointed about.

Thanks!

[unitname]

Obviously this is an email hinting at acceptance, if you are still interested in them.

They probably want to know if you've accepted any other offers.

I'd stop wondering...you're in.

[MonkeyPants]

Maybe you can interpret this email as well...

Rec'd from a professor at my second choice school. He is POI and also wrote me a recommendation for the program.

"[Redacted personal chit chat]

Keep me posted about your graduate school applications. Very hopeful for you. Did you ever have any classes with [Random Guy from undergrad]? I've seen him at the University of [City]. He was accepted into the [Program] for this academic year. (I wrote him a recommendation.) Fingers are crossed.

Stay warm today,

[Professor Man]"

Of course i've spent at least 37.5 hours trying to read something into this.

[Ameonna]

zillie, your POI outright says that they are "keen on working with you." I'd say your chances are very, very good of being accepted based on that, as well as the fact that they're asking you if you're still interested.

csfrank, your e-mail is a little less clear-cut, and I don't really know if there's anything to "read into" here, other than that this particular professor is supportive of your efforts, which is a good thing in and of itself!

[MediaMom]

To the original poster - Sounds like an acceptance to me. My guess is that they've got a few people on the wait list that they'd really like to offer admission to, so they're feeling out a few of the definite yeses to see if any of them have changed their minds. If you come back and say thanks but no thanks, then they know they can just pull you from the running and jump right to the wait list.

[talific]

While, we're on the topic, I received an intriguing email from my UG thesis supervisor (who also wrote my LORs). I told him I'd been accepted at one of the schools I applied to, and was still waiting to hear back from my top choice. He responded with:

"I was just talking to [POI at top choice]; I think it sounds like she is interested in a new Masters student as well- might be a better match for you (she has more graduate students and more interaction in her lab), so wait until you hear from her before you make any commitments."

I understand that there is a very clear-cut way to read this. But I can't help driving myself crazy wondering if he has inside info that he is trying to hint at without directly saying anything... Opinions?

[Durrell]

Ok - I'll throw in another POI email for reactions: I corresponded with a POI at my top choice school and she wrote back a few weeks ago with an article cite, saying "Hang in there - I'm sure you'll be getting some good news soon." I was overjoyed at the time, but since I haven't heard anything (and one "accept" has popped up on GC results in the past few days), I don't know what to think. Opinions? Thanks!

[unitname]

Maybe you can interpret this email as well...

Rec'd from a professor at my second choice school. He is POI and also wrote me a recommendation for the program.

"[Redacted personal chit chat]

Keep me posted about your graduate school applications. Very hopeful for you. Did you ever have any classes with [Random Guy from undergrad]? I've seen him at the University of [City]. He was accepted into the [Program] for this academic year. (I wrote him a recommendation.) Fingers are crossed.

Stay warm today,

[Professor Man]"

Of course i've spent at least 37.5 hours trying to read something into this.

here is what this email says:

I did everything I could to influence your acceptance...crossing my fingers for you and hope you accept when you (probably) get in.

[talific]

Huh... hard call. Could be she meant about that school or she could just mean that you're clearly bright and will get in somewhere... But I'd lean towards the former, otherwise why would she risk getting your hopes up? Obviously all conjecture... Unfortunately, we are not mind-readers. I'd keep your chin up though, you haven't heard anything, so that's better than a rejection! (Yes, cheery thought, I know.)

[Durrell]

Thanks for the encouragement! Do you think a POI would write this just to be generally nice and not realize that it would get my hopes up? That's what I'm now wondering. Meanwhile, so many people in my specialty have heard from schools already, and I'm still. . . waiting. . . . .

[Ameonna]

talific, I can't say for sure, but if your UG advisor knows this POI, and likes you enough to have written a letter of recommendation, it could be that your UG advisor put in a good word for you and is hoping an acceptance comes to fruition. Nothing definite, but I'd follow your advisor's advice and see what comes of the application!

Durrell, I agree with talific in that yours is a really tough call, and could either be a comment on your general capabilities or a hint that an acceptance from that school is coming soon. I'm inclined to think that it's a good sign, though... (Just my feeling on it.)

[philguy]

If they are looking at you for a university-wide competitive scholarship, they might want to gauge your interest in BlahBlah before putting you forward for that and possibly losing the scholarship to another department, if you turn BlahBlah down.

[habanero]

I think that they only have a few spots in their lab and don't want to waste their time pursuing you if you will be accepting another offer. Make your interest fully known! It sounds like they would love to have you. I got a similar email from a professor, and received The Letter to End All Letters shortly thereafter.