philosophia14

Good question! In my department, 2nd years+ teach a 1:1 each year (excluding the dissertation year funding, in which we don't have any service duties). I've seen some of our 6th year people win competitive university-wide dissertation funding, which gives them a second year of service-free funding. My friends who haven't won the competitive second year fellowship have indeed found teaching for our department. Usually they teach a 2:2 for about the same amount of funding that I teach a 1:1 for, since their department funding is over and they're now in the adjunct pay grade. Does that answer your question okay? And absolutely in agreement about undergrads. My students gave me the excitement I needed to power through my own research this past year, which often isn't the case.

Hi ratanegra! Happy to help in what I can. I should give the caveat that I have no interaction with the English department. BC has been pretty flexible with me--I ended up changing my AOI significantly about a year into the program, and no one seemed to raise any red flags. Every department handles those things differently, but mine has been very hands off in letting me study what I want to study and follow what I'm interested in. As a general rule, I tell incoming students that they can take classes at any of the institutions in the Boston area except MIT and Harvard given our consortium agreements. Lots of us take classes at BU when they're appealing, and I've had friends take classes at Brandeis and Tufts. English may have an agreement with the center for humanities--that'd be a question for the department probably, but I know philosophy doesn't have agreements with MIT and Harvard. I can tell you that PhD funding across departments differs very widely in the school between departments. Each department is quite autonomous with how it does things and the other grad students I have met from English have different service duties for their stipends than the philosophers do, so I'd imagine salaries would range based on the differences in those duties. I tend to not share my stipend amount with the world (and it's no impertinence to ask, no worries on that score!) but I can tell you I haven't starved on BC's stipend. Living in Boston is an adjustment cost of living wise and that is something to take into account for sure, but all of the doc students I know have found ways of making it work. I usually pick up a part-time job in the summers to make things work, but I also do a lot of expensive traveling during the school year, which makes my extra expenses quite high and puts a strain on my stipend. BC pays for at least one conference presentation trip a year, which helps on that side of things as well! Rent in Boston is high--it's a reality that you really can't escape unless you're willing to live way out in the suburbs and forgo the convenience of the city living. I don't live like royalty on my stipend, but I certainly live comfortably. My department also provides me with health insurance, so that expense is taken care of by the school. One more thing that I think few people think about when they're applying to PhDs--the undergrads at BC that I've taught are really stellar. That has made my job as a TA/instructor a lot more enjoyable and a lot easier. BC undergrads are motivated, and sharp as a tack. When you're juggling teaching, taking your own courses, research, and your personal life plus a thousand other things, having great students really helps keep you motivated and excited about what you're doing. My jaw dropped the first time I sat in on an undergrad class here. My students show up with the reading done and questions waiting for me--that alone makes the craziness easier. Feel free to ask me any further questions! Philosophia

Hi folks! I happened to log on here after a few years to do some poking around and noticed some people had questions about Boston College's MA and PhD and that no one seemed to respond to them. 2016 folks who've committed to BC and 2017s who are considering applying, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. I'm a 3rd year PhD in the department and am loving Boston and all the adventures I've found at BC. Philosophia P.S. Apologies to those of you who asked questions and never got e-mails back. We've cleaned up the website in an effort to get questions for current grad students sent to the right liaison.

Ask other graduate students or a graduate director to put you in contact with another graduate student who shares your interests (especially in a really pluralistic department). Ask that grad student who has interests in common with you what it's like working with your POIs and how it's been generally for them studying your AOI in this specific department.

I don't think it's a bad thing to inquire if they are currently taking graduate students--but I have a feeling that that would be a good question to ask the Graduate Director first and then if they defer the question, to the professor themself. The Grad Director is your point of contact to the department, so most things should go through them.

I go back and forth. I didn't contact beforehand and when I did get accepted, I ended up having great meetings at the visit weekend. So I would venture that it has the possibility of hurting you and less of chance to help you...which is why I didn't end up contacting persons of interest.

I second philstudent1991. As someone who just survived this process, the later you can convince yourself to get mentally involved with it, the better. By the time February hits, you will be permanently checking your inbox and checking this forum. Enjoy the rest of your undergrad!! I wish I had!

It's been awesome, guys. Thanks for keeping me sane and enjoying the insanity throughout with me. I hope to meet some of you around conferences etc. ~I remember dfindley~

I would also check out Boston College. They have strengths in phenomenology and are just a solid Continental department.

Removed myself from the ND waitlist and declined Gonzaga.

No way, dgswaim! Small world indeed. Two of mine did their MAs there. How recently did your prof graduate?

If you need any info on the program, I was accepted there too and have lots of info on it since one of my faculty mentors graduated from there. It's a good school and Spokane will grow on you quickly.

2015, don't let anyone tell you that you don't have enough qualifications to get accepted. Apply to reach schools, and apply bravely. Miracles do happen here on TGC (not just on 34th Street).

Yep, BC, not BU.

Thanks, Matt Dest and dgswain! Relieved to join the company of the accepted and funded. No word from ND yet, waiting it out till the very last day.

Accepted to Boston's Phd program! To say I'm happy is understatement. :)

Yep, can see where you're coming from, but Phil of Religion is really where it's at for me and I'm the classic philosophy student who doesn't care all that much about my job hopes--I do philosophy because I can't conceive of a possible world in which I'd do anything else. ND is by far the top choice for me because of this.

Philosophy of Religion, Hilbert's Timequake.

I'm waitlisted at my dream school, Notre Dame. Really hoping someone with my AOI rejects their offer. Really hoping.

Anything to help the local philosophy admissions ninjas, Ian Faircloud.

Thanks Ian! I'll send off an email later today. Any thoughts on why there are so many ND accepts in TGC compared to other years? I'm a little bit baffled. Normally I'd understood they only accepted 10.

I posted this in the acceptance thread, but figured it would get lost in there really quickly. What is the etiquette protocol for finding out info about the waitlist one is on? Is it okay to ask the DGS how long/where you are in the waitlist or is it best to stoically wait for the magical phone call?

Question: (looking at Ian Faircloud and all the other philosophical admissions ninjas out there) Does anyone know how long ND's waitlist has been in recent years or this year? And is this a question that it's polite of me to ask of the DGS or not? I'm completely unsure about ettiquete with these things.

Weltgeist, I ran out of upvotes for the day, but I would upvote this thrice if I could!

I am a waitlistee and have no info about the wait-list other than it is ontologically real and that they informed us that we have a shot at getting in and off the waitlist. Also, does anyone know if ND ranks the waitlist (assuming they do)?? Also, thank you all for your congrats! It's a good day, though it means I'll be waiting with you all till the bitter end!