There is a lot that one could say in regards to the application process and how everything went... All I know is that I failed to start early enough (lack of foresight on my part). So, I submitted a number of my applications last minute. In fact, I was working on my writing sample paper up until the day of the deadlines for some schools. That probably hurt me to some extent. However, I was able to submit all of my applications on time.
Here is a list of things one should consider in applying:
Talk, talk, talk with your professors/recommenders. They are a valuable resource for much of this process because they have been through the process before (at least if they have a Master's or Ph.D). The younger professors especially will have more up-to-date information as to the application process and what schools might want from applicants. NOTE: Make sure you ask your recommenders to write the recommendation letters months in advance. The best way to approach them so no social faux pas occur is to ask, "Do you feel that you know my work well enough to write me a positive recommendation letter for graduate school?" Something like that.
Take the GRE early (maybe as early as June or early July). Because, if you are unsatisfied with your scores, you will need time to (i) study and (ii) retake it in enough time for the scores to reach the schools before their application deadlines.
Speaking of studying for the GRE: DO SO. I did not, and, while I feel like my first set of scores are acceptable, they are not where I wish they had been. (When I retook the GRE to try to improve, I did even worse... Again, I failed to study as I should have...)
Also, research the schools to which you might wish to apply. Thankfully, philosophy has the awesome Leiter's Report: The Philosophical Gourmet Report which is incredibly handy. For better or worse, jobs want "pedigree." They want to be able to recognize the name of the school and know that it has a good program. The Gourmet Report is a good source for figuring that out yourself. NOTE: Be realistic about your abilities and your goals, but don't sell yourself short. Apply to schools on a tier-basis: lower, middle, higher. Higher-tiered schools (e.g. Harvard) will be harder to get into, but to give yourself a variety of opportunities apply to one or two of the higher ranked programs. The middle-tiered programs should be schools that you have a better shot of getting into. The lower-tiered schools are the ones you possibly have the best shot getting into. However, these tiers are fluid, and the ranking or whatever of each school you pick will be entirely based on your ability and your stats. Be honest with yourself while being confident.
Pick anywhere from 8 to 15 schools. This will get a bit expensive, especially considering the cost of the GRE, sending GRE scores, purchasing transcripts, money spent on copies or prints of things like transcripts, costs of envelopes and postage, etc. etc. However, you want to give yourself the best shot possible. By applying to only three schools, you run a severe risk of not being accepted anywhere. At least with more schools, you have a wider variety of programs as well as a variance as to what kind of applicants schools are looking for. (That is, if you only apply to Harvard, UNC Chapel Hill, and Boston University, you cut off other possible schools such as UIUC or somewhere else.) NOTE: Just because you might have the stats and everything else to get you into a school does not guarantee acceptance; schools have your interests in mind as well as their own. If they don't think you would receive what would be beneficial to you at their program, you might be rejected/wait-listed.
Save your money to pay for this endeavor. This seems like a weird piece of advice, but applying for grad school is an enormous financial endeavor, honestly. When application fees are ranging from $40 to $150 and the GRE is almost $200 itself, you will want to make sure you have some cash set aside just for all of these expenses. I was told that I might even consider taking out a loan if necessary. (However, I recognize that is a dangerous piece of advice. Be judicious about that, please...)
Lastly, make sure you compile lists of application parts for each school. All schools will have the main application (where you will put information like your name, birth date, graduation date, mailing and permanent addresses, etc.), but many will also require any combination of the following: GRE scores (self-reported and officially sent), transcripts (official and/or uploaded/unofficial), resume/C.V., a writing sample, recommendation letters, and a (personal) statement of purpose. For some of these things, you can just have one copy on your computer (like the writing sample) and simply upload where appropriate. (Make sure you are sure that all of the information they ask for is on each document, if they ask for any at all. For example, Boston University gives each applicant a number that they want on the top of your writing sample, resume/C.V., and your personal statement.)
That's most of my experiences, anyhow. Hopefully, that helps.
There is a lot that one could say in regards to the application process and how everything went... All I know is that I failed to start early enough (lack of foresight on my part). So, I submitted a number of my applications last minute. In fact, I was working on my writing sample paper up until the day of the deadlines for some schools. That probably hurt me to some extent. However, I was able to submit all of my applications on time. Here is a list of things one should consider in applying: Talk, talk, talk with your professors/recommenders. They are a valuable resource for much of this process because they have been through the process before (at least if they have a Master's or Ph.D). The younger professors especially will have more up-to-date information as to the application process and what schools might want from applicants. NOTE: Make sure you ask your recommenders to write the recommendation letters months in advance. The best way to approach them so no social faux pas occur is to ask, "Do you feel that you know my work well enough to write me a positive recommendation letter for graduate school?" Something like that. Take the GRE early (maybe as early as June or early July). Because, if you are unsatisfied with your scores, you will need time to (i) study and (ii) retake it in enough time for the scores to reach the schools before their application deadlines. Speaking of studying for the GRE: DO SO. I did not, and, while I feel like my first set of scores are acceptable, they are not where I wish they had been. (When I retook the GRE to try to improve, I did even worse... Again, I failed to study as I should have...) Also, research the schools to which you might wish to apply. Thankfully, philosophy has the awesome Leiter's Report: The Philosophical Gourmet Report which is incredibly handy. For better or worse, jobs want "pedigree." They want to be able to recognize the name of the school and know that it has a good program. The Gourmet Report is a good source for figuring that out yourself. NOTE: Be realistic about your abilities and your goals, but don't sell yourself short. Apply to schools on a tier-basis: lower, middle, higher. Higher-tiered schools (e.g. Harvard) will be harder to get into, but to give yourself a variety of opportunities apply to one or two of the higher ranked programs. The middle-tiered programs should be schools that you have a better shot of getting into. The lower-tiered schools are the ones you possibly have the best shot getting into. However, these tiers are fluid, and the ranking or whatever of each school you pick will be entirely based on your ability and your stats. Be honest with yourself while being confident. Pick anywhere from 8 to 15 schools. This will get a bit expensive, especially considering the cost of the GRE, sending GRE scores, purchasing transcripts, money spent on copies or prints of things like transcripts, costs of envelopes and postage, etc. etc. However, you want to give yourself the best shot possible. By applying to only three schools, you run a severe risk of not being accepted anywhere. At least with more schools, you have a wider variety of programs as well as a variance as to what kind of applicants schools are looking for. (That is, if you only apply to Harvard, UNC Chapel Hill, and Boston University, you cut off other possible schools such as UIUC or somewhere else.) NOTE: Just because you might have the stats and everything else to get you into a school does not guarantee acceptance; schools have your interests in mind as well as their own. If they don't think you would receive what would be beneficial to you at their program, you might be rejected/wait-listed. Save your money to pay for this endeavor. This seems like a weird piece of advice, but applying for grad school is an enormous financial endeavor, honestly. When application fees are ranging from $40 to $150 and the GRE is almost $200 itself, you will want to make sure you have some cash set aside just for all of these expenses. I was told that I might even consider taking out a loan if necessary. (However, I recognize that is a dangerous piece of advice. Be judicious about that, please...) Lastly, make sure you compile lists of application parts for each school. All schools will have the main application (where you will put information like your name, birth date, graduation date, mailing and permanent addresses, etc.), but many will also require any combination of the following: GRE scores (self-reported and officially sent), transcripts (official and/or uploaded/unofficial), resume/C.V., a writing sample, recommendation letters, and a (personal) statement of purpose. For some of these things, you can just have one copy on your computer (like the writing sample) and simply upload where appropriate. (Make sure you are sure that all of the information they ask for is on each document, if they ask for any at all. For example, Boston University gives each applicant a number that they want on the top of your writing sample, resume/C.V., and your personal statement.) That's most of my experiences, anyhow. Hopefully, that helps.
