<p>If one receives an email from the graduate school saying that you are "seriously being considered" for admissions but you are missing X, please send X in ASAP (to the grad school), what does it mean? </p>
<p>I imagine it's significant that the email came from the grad school and not the department. Is this so that they can sign off, and rubber-stamp the offer? Surely, the grad school doesn't "consider" you for admissions, the department does.</p>
<p>Anyone else ever receive an email like this? Should I be cautiously optimistic?</p>
<p>I would be cautiously optimistic. They wouldn't have sent you an email if they were just going to recieve your document, put it in your file, then throw your completed file in the trash. I wouldn't necessarily call it a automatic in, but at the very least they are interested in you.</p>
<p>I agree with euler! If they did not like what they saw so far they would not have bothered to send you an e-mail - I also wouldn't call it an "in," but hey at least you're still in the running. :) Best of luck!</p>
<p>Howdy, I had a similar situation pop up a couple months ago. Pretty much the same cryptic e-mail, specifically asking for an official transcript (which I had sent, thats another story though). So I overnighted an extra set I had to the program, and a couple days later they offered me an interview. Sooo I place that type of communication to you as a potential positive.</p>
<p>I am sorry, but I must disagree that this is necessarily an encouraging sign. It is either one of two scenarios:</p>
<p>1)The department hasn't even seen your application yet, since it is incomplete. This scenario is more likely if the missing element is a transcript or an application fee. (Letters, writing samples, and personal statements often go directly to the department.)</p>
<p>2) The department has been forwarded most of your application, but cannot proceed with admission or denial because an element is missing. This scenario is more likely if the missing element is a letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>I got this type of email from two of the schools I applied to, and I'm sure I have been rejected from both. So it's nothing but a request to complete the application so the admissions committee can proceed. I don't think they bother with incomplete applications.</p>
<p>I am dealing with a situation like this- I have been exchanging email with the world's worst department administrator. I have sent two official copies of my transcripts and one unofficial copy yet I just got another email in the string letting me know that they still haven't received my transcripts. I am going out there for the interview on Thursday and our organizationally challenged friend wanted me to bring hard copies of my transcript with me. The moral of the story is that it may not be necessary for them to receive your transcripts to send you an invite. I suspect that Professor X is correct in his assumption that this isn't a good sign.</p>
<p>Yup, I have to agree with the pessimists here- this happened to me and another friend for Stanford, from which we were both ultimately rejected. My guess is that it's simply an administrative matter of course to collect all missing materials before sending the entire thing onto the actual admissions people for evaluation.</p>
<p>I agree with Prof X; however, it really depends. In my case, I had this happen (the dept somehow had not received my entire departmental application packet!) The day after I resent the application, I got a phone call from my POI, who immediately offered me an interview. The day before, I had gotten a call from the dept secretary saying they were "very interested" in me. My POI basically said the same thing -- that my app had made it through the faculty and they were very impressed and so decided to contact me to request the part of my app they were missing. So really, I think you should keep your head up and get the missing parts in but also realize that while it's possible you're being asked b/c they are interested, it may also simply be that they need all of your packet to make an official rejection or invite.</p>
<p>Oh how I love form-emails and google. I think I found my answer; I think it's a good thing. It would appear (from what happened to others in the past is) that the department forwarded a list of names to the grad school to admit, but the app got flagged because it was missing something. Nevertheless, I'm being cautiously optimistic until I get official notification. </p>
<p>In any case, I just have to opine: If the grad school sends an email saying that an applicant is <em>seriously</em> being considered for admissions, but (fill in the blank), surely the app made its way to the department! Some of the conclusions proffered seem quite illogical. Thanks anyway, though. </p>
<p>Good luck to everyone still waiting on decisions!</p>
<p>A message that might be more indicative of a positive outcome might read something like: "We are interested in admitting you (with funding, etc.)" vs. "we are seriously considering your application." </p>
<p>Congratulations! I guess we were wrong... but it might have nothing to do with the email (which I think still could have been administrative), and everything to do with however stellar your app was.</p>
<p>Hope everything goes as well with the rest of your applications :)</p>
<p>"We are in the midst of evaluating your application to our Ph.D. program and very much would like to continue. However, for whatever reason, we never received your transcripts. Could you get your transcript to us immediately, preferably today? (email, if unofficial include a list correlating course numbers and titles / fax, with list if faxing an unofficial transcript)"</p>
<p>I assumed that this was positive initially... but it has been a couple of weeks ago, so... idk, what do you guys think??</p>