philstudent1991

right. I don't mean to say that gpa and gre can tell you whether an applicant is good or not. I simply thought that perhaps the postings reflected a consistent fraction of the applicant pool, so perhaps a smaller number of postings meant there are fewer total applicants than a school that has a lot of postings. but I don't think theres anything to it now.

I noticed in the results section that while some schools have almost 2 pages of 2013 philosophy results, some departments have barely half a page. I was tempted at first to conclude that the number of postings somehow correlated with the number of applicants...but based on seeing that both Harvard and ucla didn't have many postings last year of admits or rejections, I think I have to trash that theory. Any thoughts on if any information can be gleaned from browsing last year's postings to determine competitiveness/size of applicant pool?

my school sends transcripts for free, I guess I should have mentioned. I forgot that most don't.

So I've submitted all my applications, and my grades for this semester just came out. 4.0, but doesn't change my GPA by more than .01 I don't think. Still, a 4.0 is always good. Plus, it included a graduate class, the only one on my transcript. However, the professor of that class was a letter writer so I probably already got all of the benefit of that anyways...what are you guys doing about reporting this semester's grades? Are you going to send in the updated transcript or nothing or...

I agree with that. It just seems to me like new PhD programs is the last thing the profession needs. If I was the one making these decisions, I'd much rather be a top 10 MA program that is relevant than an unranked PhD program that no one goes to.

Anyone else applying there? How are you guys tackling the personal history statement?

I thought it was of interest too, and you'd think since they have a reputable MA program currently that it would translate to a decent PHD. I'm just not willing to risk my career if the program is a flop.

Dfindley, I'm still not really sure if this is all a joke or not, but here's reality: Applying to graduate school will cost you almost 1000 dollars if you're applying broadly. Ad comms have to look through hundreds of files, so if they see a file that refused to follow the instructions (like sending in the appropriate amount of letters), I just don't see how that file is going to make it very far. Supposing even that your writing sample is amazing, it's not going to get read if your application is incomplete. They don't have time to read hundreds of samples, so they are only going to read those that have strong GRE, GPA, letters and SOP. 3.4 isn't going to sink your application, but only having one letter really is. That will raise serious warning flags with your file, whether they are justified or not. You've gotta get more letters if you're gonna make a real run.

Wait dfindley I thought you were already married

My main takeaway is that now ten or so great young philosophers that would have ended up there will now be ending up somewhere else. The pool just got even more competitive. FML.

What do you guys think the biggest weakness of your application is? For me it's gotta be pedigree (I'm at a big state school with no PhD program).

Yes, that I actually agree with, most likely at least.

Satyr, Ignore dfindley. he is crashing this forum and being rude to everyone and giving absurd advice. Of course you should get a bachelors degree before a phd. I understood from your post that you are not yet an undergraduate, so of course that's the first step before the phd. If philosophy phd is somewhere you want to end up, then definitely consider going to a school with some prestige, if that's a possibility. as far as small departments with significant philosophy reputations in the US, the two that immediately come to mind are Dartmouth and Swarthmore. Both would be pretty tough to get into tho. I would think twice about coming halfway across the world for a middle of the road school. Even if your grades aren't fantastic, the diversity of experience that you bring to the table will be an advantage.

You're right, my AOI is meta ethics thanks for your input. I guess it's just a tough question of which I would go to if I had a choice: top 30-40 PhD or top 5 MA hoping for top 10 top 25 phd later down the road. I don't know what I would pick if that was a decision I ended up with.

So I'm doing what probably most people here are doing: applying to top 25 schools and a few MAs. I have, however, been advised to apply to one or two lower ranked PhDs as "safeties" (as if there were such a thing). I don't know, at the end of the day, if I would go to such a program, provided that I got in at a reputable MA...and it seems unlikely that I would get into the PhD but not the MA anyway (we are still talkin top 35ish). At the end of the day, no one can make the decision but me (unfortunately), but I'm wondering what others are doing. Are you guys that are applying to top Phds and MAs also applying to lower ranked Phds, in the strange event that you don't get in to MA or top Phd but do get in at a lower ranked phd? Any thoughts? Thanks.

Alright, thanks for makin me feel better

I figure they have the scores they just haven't matched them to my app yet, so I was just wondering if someone else had already been through it

I agree, if the hume paper is on par submit it. But the point is to put your best foot forward so if the other one is better (kant and laozi I think you said?) then submit that one. Ok fellas so I've started submitting apps, and like all of them say everything is complete except GRE scores. However, I submitted my GRE scores months ago. How long did it take for you guys scores to show up as confirmed on the apps you've already submitted? Ugh this is annoying. Like on every app there's been some question that turned up weird or wouldn't work in the pdf format they show me at the end, or wouldn't let me add a fourth recommender without extraordinary effort, etc. All I want is to put my best foot forward in the app but I feel like they make it overly complicated. And expensive I've spent $345 today.

I agree with daniele, plus, if you don't actually want to go to a place then don't apply there. Are there really 25+ programs that are a good fit for you? probably not

If you have talents that would allow you to go into medicine, do it. I'm going into philosophy because it is how my mind works, but medicine would likely be far more lucrative, if you'd be happy doing either.

hmm well right now im reading mockingjay of the hunger games trilogy...lol. but the stranger by camus was great, as was siddartha by hesse. this semester I read some of foucaults lectures and some of violence by zizek, and a little bit of Nietzsche. also while working on my sample I read a ton in metaethics (one of my professors loaned me an anthology she used in grad skool) so mostly articles. the only phil class im takin next semester is a perspectives on death and dying class, should be fun... over Christmas ill be sending in some applications, but other than that no philosophy at all

absolutely you stand a chance, no bs

The time has finally come to start hitting the submit button. I'm glad I've had this forum to learn about the process and see what other applicants are up to. I hope everyone posts on here where they end up (and where they don't end up), both for future applicants to see and for us to see. I feel like I'm actually invested in you guy's success (bar scene, matt, tomjones, magog, max, gateway, philhopeful, wanda and all the other people that have joined in our discussions on here), and I hope everyone gets into the school of their dreams. I know I will be competing against some of you at the schools I'm applying to, so who knows, maybe I'll see some of you guys around someday haha. Best of luck to all of you, and please keep us all in the know!

philstudent22: firstly, nice name. secondly, I think you should apply to at least one MA or lesser ranked program than the top 25. your stats are great but even for the best it can come down to luck.

You've gotta get more letters. Letters from the mailman and your friend's kid's babysitter are probably better than only 1 letter.