philstudent1991

This whole thing was an awesome, awesome post. I do have a thought about this one tho. In one sense, similarly ranked schools are probably easier to get into than Ivy League schools just that name brand schools attract more applicants, so while I don't know for sure, I'd wager that Harvard, Stanford and Yale get more apps than Pitt, Michigan or even Rutgers, but I could be wrong on that. But here's what I do know: no one outside of philosophy cares about Leiter rankings. But almost anyone in the developed world will recognize an Ivy League degree. What if you don't end up in philosophy? Ivy League pedigree will be much shinier than Leiter pedigree, and even within philosophy I understand that some schools, especially SLACS, simply like to stock their faculty rosters with Ivy Leaguers because students and their parents recognize that as prestigious.

I don't see why international students would get unequal funding, and I can say that at GSU they have several international students per cohort, generally.

I can't speak to all the good terminal MAs, but at GSU at least they don't accept people with no background in philosophy. They recommend, as someone mentioned above, matriculating as a non degree seeking student and then applying after that.

Ya, the MA route is probably the way to go. You can apply to PhDs, but people with strong backgrounds in philosophy get shut out. Only one philosophy recommendation and no formal philosophy background will kill you at almost all PhD programs.

I'm not applying this year, but here's my advice and do what you will with it: get off this forum until October lol. Work on your sample, your GRE, researching schools, your GPA, professor relationships and maybe saving money if possible.

But of course, not even the greatest philosophers seem able to do this.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I knew I could count on you.

Good points. I think I'm not gonna move till August. You are your significant other should totally check out the aquarium tho.

To anyone still on here, here's my quandary: I have a brother that is pretty much anti-philosophy. He does math and is pretty bright, but has no background in philosophy at all. I'd like to get him a book that is short, with an introductory feel, that deals with some philosophical issues. Any recommendations? I was thinking the Meditations, which I think is crap myself, but still a pretty general and short text.

In metaethics, my AOI, some top programs include NYU, Michigan and Wisconsin, though certainly many programs have faculty working in this area. Of course, all of those are incredibly competitive. No idea what your background is, but an MA seems to be the best way to improve one's application. I would add to that a funded, prestigious MA, so GSU, NIU, UWM like zizek said. And ya, perfect your sample, get a professor to read it, get great letters, blow away the verbal portion of the GRE (165+), have a professional SOP, and nonetheless expect to get rejected almost everywhere.

I second Nietzsche. I also very much like Camus.

If I recall, this is their first year back as a PhD program after being an MA for a while, so if anyone deserves some slack if they are running behind, it's them. That said...the deadline is the deadline and I'd email them to inquire if you haven't. You HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, based on the universally agreed upon deadline by every major school in the discipline.

Any GSU people are welcome to PM me, tho I know I've already talked to most of you

The admit was on the deadline, that's all I know lol

I feel especially nostalgic, since BSG and I were probably the first two on here in this group. This has been a great resource, and it's nice that so many of us have found a program to attend. Best of luck everyone.

A Georgia State MA student got into Stanford yesterday, according to their listserve. You may add that to your list.

2 thoughts: 1. Emory is pretty inconvenient to get to if you don't live nearby, i.e. no MARTA stations run there. If you have a car, you're fine...I guess. 2. At GSU everyone is focused on phd apps, since that's the main career objective people are pursuing. At a PhD program, obviously, probably no one else would have that shared interest with you. Having a supportive community more or less in the same boat as you can be a huge plus.

I'm sorry to hear you ended up getting shut out, but you will likely end up making more money than any of us . I did my sample in metaethics, definitely "Sharon Street type stuff", so maybe that was my problem too (14 apps, 2 acceptances and 1 waitlist but all three non-rejections were MAs).

I agree with most of what people are saying here that UT might be the better choice. Do remember though, with regard to the "hoping to implement a system where...". I was in a fraternity in college, and when they were recruiting me, the fraternity house wasn't that nice, but they "had plans in the works to build a new one." I am now graduating college and no new house lol. The obvious moral which you already know is that "hoping to" and "are going to" are entirely different things.

Oh and yes, Wisconsin will probably be much better than Texas for metaethics. I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Shafer-Landau and yes, the annual metaethics workshop would be quite convenient there.

Two thoughts, FWIW: 1. The weather in Austin is sooo much better than Madison, unless you're an Eskimo. That might not be a factor for you but you do want to like the place you spend the next 5-8 years. 2. I have no insider knowledge, but I'm of the impression that UT philosophy is famously dysfunctional, and is not a fun environment...lots of factionalism and drama, but all I can do is repeat what I've heard.

Damn what a time to be out of upvotes. Congrats!!!

UCLA rejection. Not upset, just relieved to finally hear lol

I think some people on here enjoy an argument. Nothing wrong with that of course. I think many religious people accept some of their ideas on faith, in full knowledge that they cannot be categorically proven. Nothing controversial about that. Very few religious people would say that they can prove that God exists or whatever, because they know they can't. And they are welcome to believe in whatever they want. But faith doesn't have any role in philosophy.

Totally agree. Last thing we need is another PhD, but another quality, well funded MA is always welcome.