x13LadeZx Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 Hi everyone! First time posting here. I got an email from a rep at UC Berkeley's Mechanical Engineering department inviting me to visit, but the wording was a little weird and I can't tell if the email implies that I got accepted or if I'm just in a good position...? "..Congratulations! We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected as one of the top applicants to our graduate program in Mechanical Engineering. We intend to recommend you for admission to our graduate program, and would like to invite you to visit our campus on.." so that was the important chunk of the email, the other parts were just logistics. I was wondering if anyone else got this email or if you guys can give me your opinion of what this means? Thanks everyone!
123hardasABC Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 You got an okay from the department/College of Engineering but they're still waiting for the University to respond. The individual departments/colleges usually have different admission requirements than the University does. I went there; Cal works in mysterious ways. I do recommend visiting the campus though. It's an amazing place and there's lots to eat.
iphi Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 Speaking from experience with another department at Cal (a caveat that not all work this way, but this letter suggests yours might...) the interview/visit is for people who are already in AS LONG AS they don't eff up at the visit. If you get along with/be nice to professors and definitely the current grad students - they have tons of sway - and you'll be fine. Congrats!
Loric Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 They're still holding on to the veto - in case someone shows up and is crazy, impossible, or otherwise a fraud. iphi 1
x13LadeZx Posted December 21, 2013 Author Posted December 21, 2013 That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the responses!
jacket24 Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 OP, when did you submit your application? Just curious about the turn around time.
Sigaba Posted December 21, 2013 Posted December 21, 2013 Speaking from experience with another department at Cal (a caveat that not all work this way, but this letter suggests yours might...) the interview/visit is for people who are already in AS LONG AS they don't eff up at the visit. If you get along with/be nice to professors and definitely the current grad students - they have tons of sway - and you'll be fine. Congrats! That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the responses! Keep in mind that the task before you is not simply to avoid screwing up. You also should do all you can to put maximum effort in putting your best foot forward as a potential member of the department. This second goal does not mean you have to be the life of the party, to know the answers to all the questions, or to be someone you're not. What it means is that you need to compete for the opening in a way that is authentic to who you are at your best. (FWIW, I went to Cal as well.)
x13LadeZx Posted December 22, 2013 Author Posted December 22, 2013 OP, when did you submit your application? Just curious about the turn around time. I applied to Berkeley ~12/10 so the turn around was unexpectedly fast. As far as I'm aware, I was expecting to hear from schools in feb and march.
hippo1347 Posted December 23, 2013 Posted December 23, 2013 I applied to Berkeley ~12/10 so the turn around was unexpectedly fast. As far as I'm aware, I was expecting to hear from schools in feb and march. Hello Which program are you applying to? The reason I asked is that the deadlines for MS, MS/PhD and PhD are all 12/5 So I was wondering if you applied for the MEng program? Thanks!
x13LadeZx Posted December 23, 2013 Author Posted December 23, 2013 Ah sorry, you're right, I applied 12/4 (got my deadlines mixed up with another app). I applied to their PhD program.
hippo1347 Posted December 24, 2013 Posted December 24, 2013 Appreciated Another quick question, Have you already obtained a MS degree? This waiting period of absolute dead silence from the admission committee is pure torture! Thanks in advance
x13LadeZx Posted December 24, 2013 Author Posted December 24, 2013 Nope I'm still working on my BS degree. So I guess I may have applied to their MS/PhD program instead? I'm not quite sure of the distinction since I always thought that you would obtain a MS along the way if you are admitted into the PhD program, but I'm relatively new to the application process and just started combing through gradcafe topics to understand it better. It's also holiday season here in the States so everyone is off until 1/6 so you'll probably hear something after that date, good luck!
tingdeh Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 I applied to Berkeley as well (humanities/social sci) and I'm wondering how it works on this end of the academic spectrum. Waiting is totally killing me! I hope you're having a better time at it -- but congrats on the recommendation!
o.j. Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 Congratulations! I didn't think they reviewed applications this fast! But I guess they do! So nervous.
AWall2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) Congrats! I guess the application reviewing process was fast since it's a Ph.D program you've applied to (I'm waiting to hear from Berkeley concerning an M.A. program). This would be a good time for you to review any research published by the professors you highlighted in your SOP/Personal Statement. 9/10 they'll be there and eager to converse about the research that you found so interesting. Edited January 6, 2014 by AWall2014
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