Berkeley interviews! What do I do?

[bewilderedherd]

So I was emailed by the professors I mentioned in my Berkeley sop a few days ago, and they said the department voted to admit me.  It's not official, because the admission decision still needs to wind through the graduate division bureaucracy apparently, but one professor mentioned that he's never seen the department's decision reversed on grad admits.  I set up times to meet a few faculty members, and have no idea whether I should treat this as an interview which could affect whether or not I get in, or if I should just treat it as an opportunity to learn more about the program, and figure out if it's the right fit (Although short of everyone hissing and spitting at me, it's hard for me to imagine turning down Cal. Genuinely shocked to have heard back from them with anything beyond a form rejection email haha).

 

Any advice?  Definitely a bit nervous.  If any of you have special Cal insights, or have already done interviews, or just obsessively search the internet for tips, you will certainly have my appreciation for sharing your knowledge.

[maelia8]

I attend that institution! Are you invited to the official visit day? If so, then you are definitely admitted. Are you meeting with faculty members before visit day (in March) or after? Regardless, don't be nervous, everyone here is really nice Cal doesn't do any formal interviews, so if you meet with profs, it will just be them chatting with you and trying to sell you on accepting and entering the program. 

 

If you'd like any further information about the Berkeley history department, I'd be happy to answer your questions in a private message.

[Annalistasaxo89]

The same thing happened to me and I did get accepted so I would not worry. Congrats by the way!

 

What field of history are you focusing on?

[bewilderedherd]

Got the official offer the other day, so I'm officially free of paranoid suspicions haha.  I'm going to be studying transnational history in the western hemisphere (Latin America as first field).  How about you?

[Annalistasaxo89]

Congrats! Medieval history (Germany) with a focus on law, lordship, and violence.

[nerdguy]

I was oddly not interviewed. Strange. But I'm in too! I'm studying transnational history as well (late modern europe as first field).