AquinasDuo
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Posts posted by AquinasDuo
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I'm pretty happy with where I applied. My rejection/waitlist/acceptance situation is ordered exactly by Leiter Rankings. I am accepted to some "safety" schools, waitlisted at some mid range (below top 20) schools, and have all definite rejections and one implied Rutgers rejection from the top 20. There is no school that I wish I had applied to that I feel I could have gotten into, and I'm glad I gave the top schools a shot, since I really only get to do this once in life. Given that this was, according to the adcomms, a year with (a more applicents (b better applicants, and many places (c fewer available spots, I can't feel bad about this. Now it's time to hit the publish or perish hamster wheel as all of us will be competing for the few tenure jobs left.
Doing it only once in a lifetime would have been a dream! This is round three for me and though I have one acceptance, one wait-list, and three with no word or even implied word, (thus meaning there actually was more 'success' this time around) I still might end up going for round four!
As to some earlier comments, I wish I could have substantially changed my strategy once I began to realise my folly The only top school I would have tried would have been Princeton due to my recommenders and vain hopes, and Michigan for fit. Besides that, I would have hit the middle range much more heavily, focused on schools that have funded MA consolation programs, put in some applications to high-up MA programs, and been much more agressive in applying throughout the UK (in Philosophy, Law, and Government, because the discipline barriers are much lower there especially at the PhD level so one can do that). If it comes to a round four, so it shall be.
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What happened to Princeton and Michigan Ann Arbor?
I too am curious about these two, and FSU for that matter.
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Am I correct that FSU and Princeton have so far been silent? I have heard nothing, positive or negative, from either, nor seen any record of others getting any result...
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Is anyone on here with an acceptance to Virginia planning on going elsewhere? Especially anyone on the moral/political side? I'm hoping heavily for a move off the wait list and wonder if any such machinations are in motion...
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Swell. I find it strange that a Masters from St. Andrews (being highly ranked [swapping back and forth with Cambridge for #2 in the UK, and the most rigorous of the UK postgrad masters level degrees) didn't garner better results. While it would have hurt to do so, perhaps I ought have applied to Tufts' MA just for sake of a smaller but more likely step.
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Official rejection from Chicago just came through. Guess I don't get to go home.
Also, if I read the above correctly that I have seen nothing from Arizona means I'm not even on the waitlist, yes?
If so, I have a feeling its rejections all around accept my one acceptance and one waitlist (SASP not withstanding). I wonder what about me is so bloody unappealing...
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Does anyone have a sense of what the chances of wait-listers actually is? I understand that there must be some differences in the length of wait lists by department, and of course there are the human variables of who actually decines offers or not. But, in general, what is a typical wait-list size, and how many of those folks can expect to win an acceptance? Any information that can shed light on the secret workings of wait-lists would be helpful.
So far I haven't been particularly excited about learning I'm on a waitlist. I mean, before they told me anything I thought I might get into the program or I might not, and after they told me I was on the wait list, I am still in the position of "maybe getting in or maybe not getting in." In fact, I find the additional tease-factor to be even more anxiety provoking.
(1) The downvote was an accident and I don't know how to fix it - so sorry!
(2) The best wait-lists in terms of those that see people off them getting accepted are those schools at the bottom of a bracket. I.E. People who applied to your wait-list program and better schools, and got accepted to them all (or more than just yours really) there is a good chance they will choose elsewhere and you will promote. Middle bracket school have this, but two a lesser extent. And top of a bracket schools are a long shot (save the top-top which are all aflutter with one another). Do note, by bracket I mean a nebulous band of quality and prestige that is often hard to pinpoint at least to first time applicants.
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I was just waitlisted at Texas Austin
Congrats Kelizabeth!
I have been following your saga and am happy to see a good turn especially at such a top notch program!
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I don't know. I've seen first hand what kind of work these people do--know how we're all at our wits' end? Yeah, well multiply your anxiety by two hundred people. The guy at our office read me (anonymously, of course!) just a small sample of the kinds of e-mails they get every day: "Can you change my file? What if this part of my application is late? Why do you still have a paper application; it's ridiculous! I only have two letters of recommendation--how will that hurt my chances?"
Individually, these kinds of requests/questions/etc. wouldn't be a big deal. But those folks get hundreds and hundreds of those emails. When do you think you'll make a decision? Have you made a decision? Can you tell me your decision?
So I understand why they said "shame on you"; you turned in your application--once it's in, you're locked and loaded. They know you might go to conferences and write interesting papers and meet interesting people between December and April--but for the sake of paperwork, what's done is done.
I was a student rep for an admissions committee and fully understand. The change was an expulsion being removed by the university that issued it, and my emails came complete with documents and external contacts; I didn't even expect a reply. Little changes that likely barely matter (presentations or going to a weekend workshop, let's say) should be well be left off. Indeed, I may go so far as any changes made the student should be set aside, but come now! It's a major change, one that summarily discounts applicants in many departments, and the change was to my formal record by a University not myself. Indeed, from a legal standpoint, I do wrong in not reporting it. So, bullox on the time not being available to print out the new transcript and drop it in a folder. Indeed, any MAJOR change should be processed by a department.
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A paper of mine was just officially accepted with a good journal (and one of which some professors at schools that I applied to and haven't heard from are on the advisory board for). Should I notify schools of this, or would it be annoying?
I had a major change to my application and notified departments. Some got mad and told me applications could not be changed after they were submitted and shame on me for trying.
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I just checked and my Toronto still says under review also. If it is anything like last year, and acceptances have already gone out, then the still under reviews are probably those being paired down for the wait-list
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This is unbelievably depressing. I guess having a perfect 4.3/4.3 grad GPA from a Master's program, almost all A+s in philosophy from undergrad, an almost publication, conference presentation experience including an international professional philosophy conference... count for nothing.
If three seasons of applying myself and reading this forum are any indication then the sole factor is luck. I've seen lesser applications make the cut of stronger, and the strongest not make it anywhere.
Sadly, one can only afford so many applications. Would that we could just apply to simply everywhere.
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Last one for now, sorry to be so prolific for the moment: I see accepts and rejects on the survey for Chicago citing the website, but I can't seem to find anywhere that will give me anything other than 'submitted.' Any insights?
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Not only that, but time devoted to the other major is probably key. I took essentially only the miniumum amount classes required for my linguistics degree, and took many classes above the required amount for my philosophy major. So your point that a double major could hurt a focus in philosophy doesn't apply in cases like mine where it is decently clear from my record that linguistics was the "secondary" major.
I have to agree with this. My second BA (Poli Sci) was very Theory focused, so essentially I just took more philosophy courses, covering people I would not otherwise have gotten to, from a slightly different angle. Indeed, the only thing that made two-thirds of those classes not philosophy was the course number. That said, I work with someone with two completely disjointed majors and in her case I could see it making here less founded in each than she might otherwise have been.
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I am seeing some acceptances for Toronto up on the list today, but no news came for me. This is quite crushing, I had high hopes for Toronto specifically :-/
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By your name, I imagine you are also interested in medieval philosophy, and Aquinas. Someone (who would know) told me Phillipa Foot, perhaps my favourite ethicist, used to read some Aquinas and some Montague before writing--it focused her on the things that really matter. Toronto would be an excellent place to pursue your interests, and your application looks strong enough to get in. Right now, my options are Yale (acceptance) and Pittsburgh (waitlist). I would be interested to know where you end up--keep me up and I wish you the best of luck. If you are accepted to Yale, I look forward to meeting you.
Aquinas was my first love, but we have parted ways a bit since. Yale would be a dream, but I am not bold enough to fully hope - especially since I haven't heard back and you have. Toronto, however, while also a dream is one that I am indeed hoping to hear from, and soon. Thank you for your vote of confidence and congratulations on the top notch acceptances.
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Fair enough, other admission does likely entail (though not guarantee) rejections for us both; however, in my experience, it is definitely too early to rule out a wait-list spot. Chin up!
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Harvard admits up. I'm absolutely crushed right now.
Hey Kelizabethphilosophy,
Perhaps it is me being thick or tired, but how does one get back into one's application for Harvard to check results (now that the apply page is changed to closed)?
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Salutations all!
I have read through most of the thread and thus felt it only fair to contribute, (not to mention, as has been said, that suffering together is better than suffering alone.
My Statistics:
From University of Oklahoma:
BA Political Science (4.0 in Major, 3.8 overall)
BA Philosophy (4.0 in Major, 3.8 overall)
- Minor in History
From St. Andrews:
MLitt in Philosophy with Coursework Distinction (16.6 in coursework, 14.5 on dissertation (my dad died during my writing leaving me orphaned which adversely affected my product, this is adressed in at least two of my letters))
GRE (two years old now): 650 V, 710 M, 4.5 W
Publications and Presentations:
6 total publications, two undergraduate journal, two graduate journal, one professional journal, and one online journal.
10 total presentations: 3 invited guest teachings, one adress to a graduating class (not worth anything), 1 guest speaking, 1 undergraduate presentation (NUBC), 1 graduate presentations, 2 professional presentations, and a chairmanship at APA-Pacific.
Relevant work:
Adjunct at a small private college, mentor with Pathways, and editor with Figure/Ground.
My foci are: Philosophy of Law, Political Philosophy, and (to a lesser extent) Ethics. I wish I could do ancient, and have had some amazing professors and a handful of classes in the subject, but don't know Greek.
My writing sample was a very highly graded paper on the line of respect. My letters were strong. And I tailor my statements of purpose.
Hold-backs:
I had an expulsion on record which has since been cleared but was not cleared in time.
I applied to: Arizona, Chicago, Duke, Edinburgh, Florida State, Harvard, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Princeton, St. Andrews, Toronto, Yale, Virginia, Wisconsin
To date I have been rejected by Duke and Wisconsin, accepted by Missouri, and wait-listed by Virginia.
This is my third application season. The first I went 1/11(Oklahoma, MA), the second I went 3/13 (Toronto (MA wait-list), and accepted by Oklahoma (MA) and St. Andrews (MLitt with option to MPhil)).
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Anyone have a response I missed on the thread from any of my outstanding schools?
Cheers all! And best of luck.
2013 Applicants (Philosophy)
in Philosophy
Posted
University Of Virginia Philosophy, PhD (F13) Accepted via E-mail on 8 Mar 2013 A 8 Mar 2013
Would anyone be willing claim this? Moving off the wait-list here is something constantly on my mind and I wonder if that is what this person just did.