Comments | applyingtograd: reading (too much into things) comprehension

pinkertina in applyingtograd

reading (too much into things) comprehension

Jan 20, 2009 20:12

Hello, all!

I feel ridiculous asking this, but I received a letter in the mail today and I'm not quite sure how to interpret it. The application deadline for one of the programs I'm applying to was last week (I got my application and whatnot in a good few days before the deadline, like a good girl).

( I am so impatient... )

fellowships, anthropology

Comments 9

idealforcolors January 21 2009, 01:44:57 UTC

This sounds like they may still be making decisions, and want you to come for an interview? It's hard to tell. I got a similar email from a professor saying i could be nominated for a fellowship and needed to provide an extra piece of information...still no word on whether I was admitted or not :P It's driving me crazier than hearing nothing, are you having the same feeling?

pinkertina January 21 2009, 01:51:29 UTC

I have no idea. The way they word it sounds more like a meet and greet than an interview type situation, but I'm also over analyzing every single word.

And yes, I'm going completely bonkers as well. It's good to see someone other than me is obsessing over minutiae as well. :)

idealforcolors January 21 2009, 03:29:10 UTC

Until you hear unambiguously that you're in, I'd say treat it like an interview, if an informal one...who knows what mind games they're playing!

I'm assuming I'm not in yet, but it's worse waiting now that I know they were already talking about funding last week - you mean they haven't decided by now?!

pinkertina January 21 2009, 04:10:27 UTC

Ha, very true. It already takes me 10 revisions to send a four sentence email, I can only imagine the anguish of playing these games in real time.

I will say it bothers me that schools I applied to waaay back in December are just sitting on apps when these guys are sending stuff like this out now! Congrats on hearing some positive news even if it's not 120% certain, though.

Thread 5

brittdreams January 21 2009, 01:53:21 UTC

To me it sounds like you're in with funding.

roseofjuly January 21 2009, 03:32:27 UTC

They could be telling you that you're in, or they could be telling you that you're eligible to compete for a fellowship before your admissions, but why would they ask you to compete for a fellowship if you weren't in?

crazypumpkin January 24 2009, 21:14:27 UTC

I was awarded a fellowship to my current school before I'd even been officially admitted. So yeah, it can happen.
Some schools use this as a recruitment tool for students they really like.
It is quite possible the department nominated you (as mine did).

But really, these are things that are specific to each school/department/fellowship, so I'd call and talk to them about it.

green273 January 27 2009, 04:34:46 UTC

this is probably their recruiting strategy.

you will likely receive more acceptances. look at this as an opportunity to see if the program is really a good fit for you.