iamtheother

Just go to campus and ask.

Vanderbilt's doing that shitty thing they do where they don't send out rejections until the positions have all been taken. If you haven't heard from them by now, you are neither wait-listed nor are you accepted.

As I mentioned, GRE scores play a role in the way funding is offered, and in some cases may even be contingent. Thus the previous posters nomination of an external fellowship. Those fellowships can mitigate the money the department pays out, and make a department look good for having had a prospective student awarded such a fellowship. How that nomination process plays out can be wildly different depending on the institution. If you're going by the PGR, NYU may accept a student with mediocore GRE scores for whatever reason because they can fund them without consequence. But, maybe Rutgers needs funding from the Graduate School qua Graduate School, and is in that sense beholden to making cutoffs based on certain scores. That being said, as a previous poster mentioned, as long as you're in the 310-325 range that would seem to satisfy most institutions.

What I've learned: 1) GRE scores are important. But, qualify "important". In most cases GRE scores tell a part of the story - as in, they are supposed to indicate - as to your success in graduate school. Rightly or wrongly, that is their intended purpose. 2) The import of those scores for admission to a program (that is to say, direct admission where only your attendance, and not your funding are considered) is lessened by the successful completion of an MA (or other graduate degree). As you've proven you can be a graduate student. 3) But...funding decisions, if made my a larger entity (the Graduate School, and not the department) may be dependent on your scores. So, the department likes your application in all other respects, but cannot offer you admission with funding (which means you're often not offered admission at all). Ultimately, most applications don't hinge on GRE scores if it can be avoided. The exceptions to this rule seem to be if either your scores are super low (below 300) or a department has their hands tied by outside rules. Near perfect GRE scores really just tell someone you're good at taking tests. If you'll hold on, I have to head over to this Merleau-Ponty text and do some fuckin' algebra in it. Edit: All of this assumes you're not an international student (US Citizen, Native English Speaker, US educated). The story may be very different otherwise.

I was told to present papers, try to publish papers and develop a "research tool" (language, etc.). Also, to apply to Political Science programs with strong focuses on political theory. The last bit of advice is more in line with my AOI though, so take that as you will. For what it's worth I was described as "philosophically creative" and "inventive"; which was "highly valued" but needed augmentation by "further scholarship and secondary sources". At my program my rejection was partially based on an incomplete file (I was very, very sick and my papers were quite late). @oldhatnewtricks I also attended a school in North Carolina, which very few people have heard of. Was this school nestled in some valleys with a work program?

FYI: If you haven't heard from Memphis yet, it is likely you're out of luck.

There's also the risk that @pecado just really likes sophistry, and is under some kind of pretension that Philosophy is done in a vacuum.

As someone who was shut out this season, I'll be happy to answer your questions after I meet with my MA adviser. We'll see what she says about these.

Well done.

I was there. I am reporting my experience and those of others. Does that satisfy you?

It wasn't boring; just offensive naivety combined with arrogance and a dash of systemic sexism.

I'm happy for your happiness and unabashed expression of elation. I am unhappy that at least one person in that department gave the worst talk I've ever seen.

Thanks.

@lisamadura Who was in contact with you from Vanderbilt? I've e-mailed the DGS three times now and have yet to receive a response.

Hmm. Okay, thanks for the heads up.