Is This Good or Bad? The Wait's Making Me think Crazy Things!

[marquisb]

I applied to a school's African American Studies program. I received this email yesterday evening:

 

 "I'm one of the readers of graduate applications at [the university], and I'm very impressed with your high seriousness and high achievement.  As you no doubt know, the positions we have are very competitive--I think some four hundered applicants for some ten slots.  I don't know what your fate will be, since I'm only one of quite a few readers, but I have a piece of advice I think you might find useful should things not work out as you would wish here:  It seems to me that both your preparation and your interests make you a better fit for a program in American Studies than one in English Literature. . . .Good luck, in any case.  You deserve the best!"

 

I contacted the chair of the department and got this email:

 

"Thank you for writing and for calling our attention to your situation. I have copied [another professor], the DGS in African American Studies to this e-mail so that he is up to speed on the exchange.
[The other professor] and I will confer with English and American Studies to see what may be possible with your application. I do want to point out, however, that you have the academic units incorrectly labeled. African American Studies is a department while American Studies is a program. Normally, this is a substantive difference that one would have to take into consideration when applying for graduate school or jobs. However, due to a quirk in [the school’s] history and nomenclature, American Studies at [this university] essentially has all of the authority that one normally associates with a program. Granted, there’s no way for an outsider to know that, but this is the state of affairs.
In the meantime, we will explore the options in the coming days so that we can make a proper decision about how to read your file."

 

I would think that if I had no chance in getting in, they wouldn't bother working with me; however, them being so helpful and willing to work through this seems to intimate that I at least have a shot, especially the first professor who emailed me. What do you all think? Am I overthinking this?

 

I guess waiting days on end can cause your mind to think farfetched things!

[Sarah Bee]

Well, last year I applied to a Human Rights Watch fellowship program and since some of my documents were confusing, they got back to me, asking for details about the programs I previously undertook. I mean to say that they took genuine interest and it actually gave me a lot of hope because they were considering my case individually instead of downright trashing my application for having unclear information. After two months of wait, however, I was informed that I was not selected for the program.
Was really disappointing. 
 

Not trying to demoralize your hopes, but this is what happened to me. They might be considering your application.

In any case, all the best to you! Hope you get in.

[marquisb]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It'll keep me humbled at least! Humility is always good.

[jellyfish1]

That is really weird. It sounds though like a much better option than having heard nothing. If they thought you had zero chance of admittance, they wouldn't have e-mailed you at all.  At least you've made the first cut, perhaps!

[marquisb]

My thoughts exactly! I'll keep my fingers crossed extra tight (it's an Ivy school!).