Occam's Razorburn

I took a slightly more exploratory tack with mine, but that was largely because I didn't really know what I was doing coming out of undergrad. So what basically happened was the following: I spent the first semester just taking classes, and not thinking too much about application anything (a vital period of mental recovery, I think). I learned a bit about what faculty I meshed well with and began to consider my interests, which allowed me to target a little better for these things in the second semester. So I took classes in things that would probably be listed on my future statement of purpose, with people I might ask to write for me. I started my Master's paper/writing sample the summer between my second and third semesters. It began as a random reading of literature in an area I was broadly interested in, and narrowed to a specific focus through a process of refinement from there. By the time third semester started, I had most of a first draft and a lot of reading done to take to my advisor. I think that of all the things I did, that helped the most. Third semester was taking a few additional classes with potential letter-writers, but I backed off on the courseload a little to focus on the paper. Also, this cannot be emphasized enough: unless it really works for you, do not work on a "deadline' mentality. It kills motivation and doesn't help much with actually meeting the deadlines. I prefer a "systems" mentality. Develop good habits, e.g., writing a few pages every day, rather than trying to cram 20 of them into the last few. It gives you more time to reflect on what you write, to sort of let the ideas percolate and refine a little. Treat applications themselves the same way: a little bit every day, with weekends off if you need them. If you can get yourself into a consistent habit of being productive, the deadlines will be mere formalities rather than looming specters of your increasingly-immanent demise. Or whatever. But hey, that's just what I did. This process is far from one-size-fits-all. I wish you the best of luck!

Major props to everyone, and a special congrats to zizeksucks, for enduring what has to have been the most cringe-worthy waiting process I've ever had the misfortune (privilege? I'm not really sure) to witness. Incidentally, I'll be attending UNC Chapel Hill.

Thanks for crushing my reach dreams, Princeton/Rutgers admits. I mean... congratulations! (No seriously, though, major props, it's awesome and I have no doubt that you guys deserve it.) Also, I'm pretty sure ungerdrag just went 9/0/0. I tip my hat to you, sir or madam.

To lay my cards on the table here, I had an offer (with lots of money, oddly), from a T40 (PGR) program the first time I did applications. I also got admitted to an MA program, one of the not-really-ranked "top 6," I guess. I figured it was a calculated risk, but I chose to take it. I'd say I'm very happy I did it, honestly. I feel like not only has it helped my admissions process and all that, but it's made me a better philosopher, put me into contact with more scholars and future scholars of philosophy, and been genuinely fun as well. I think I'd find it valuable even if I didn't end up getting into any better-ranked schools because of it. I think it's fine, and oftentimes even advisable, to take that risk. As long as you're realistic about it and acknowledge that it is, in fact, a risk, I think holding off on accepting that decent-but-not-stellar PhD offer to do a Master's instead is completely reasonable.

Seconded.

Thanks, and I'm sorry! But hey, you never know--it could just mean that you'll be getting called in a few minutes. In which case, advance warning might help you sound like less of an idiot than I did.

Heads' up, guys! I just got a call from Calvin Normore--UCLA is still admitting its initial batch. Apparently they just didn't call everyone at the same time. I'm hoping this is awesome news for some other people besides myself. Good luck to all.

Uh... let me see. It was the PhD, and they first called on 8 Feb, which was a Saturday. I missed the call, so they tried again on Monday the 10th. I think early afternoon both times? I hope that helps. Can I ask why you'd want to know?

I feel your pain. And I will accept your charitable interpretation because of it. Good luck to you as well!

And don't forget the snail-mail acceptance that mysteriously disappeared hours after being reported. Clearly, all the professors are just allergic to efficiency and the emotional well-being of applicants. Edit: Be still, my beating heart! There's an acceptance reported as well. Can someone claim that and put me out of my misery?

Also, do people really call for wait-lists? It's like... I think if you're getting a phone call, they'd better be calling you to tell you you're in. Of course, I might be thinking a little wishfully here, because Harvard is probably the school I want into the most... fingers crossed. Also, congrats to the GSU admits and wait-lists!

There are definitely close possible worlds in which I lift weights, Ian. No but actually, all of this is great stuff. Now, I just need to force myself away from TGC and my computer screen and actually take the advice. Meditation sounds great; it's something I used to do, but I've kind of fallen out of the habit.

Congrats to the UT wait-listers and the USC admit! I'm hoping this week is a little denser re:decisions than last week...

This was a couple of days ago. From what I understand (mind you, this is from the rumor mill, so may not be true), Rochester admitted maybe 6-8 people with the intent of filling only around 2 spots this year. I'm not sure what that means for you, but I hope you hear good news from them!

I'm not sure if I'm part of the observation sample here, but as I am located in that state, I'll respond anyway. I can't speak to the general truth of your hypothesis, but I can say that I, at least, am applying out of an MA program. My UG was a small lib-arts school in the middle of nowhere. The first time I tried to apply to PhD programs, I had a few MAs more as safety schools than anything. Turns out the program made my writing sample a whole lot better, and gave me much more background in analytic philosophy, since my undergrad was primarily History/Continental in focus.

Well, I'm happy about it, don't get me wrong, but there's still a couple things I'm really anxious to hear about. Plus, I think the thread topic could benefit a lot of us, not just me. And thank you, mrs_doubtfire, for the recommendation!

So, I've seen a couple offhand mentions of this in other threads, but I thought it might be good to start a separate topic on it. For all those of us in the (often agonizing) waiting process, what are you doing to manage the stress/anxiety? Any suggestions for the rest of us? Or, if you're just one of those people who doesn't feel the pressure so badly, how do you do that? I personally have been reading a great deal. Some philosophy, mostly not. Tangentially: I'd be interested in book recommendations, if anyone has any.

I'm going to take a wild guess here and suppose that the opinions of adcoms are also divided on the issue. The reason for the speculation is that I've heard contradictory advice on the matter, both from professors and elsewhere (blogs, etc.) As with basically any other time I've come across a situation with no definitive answer in this ridiculous process, I've tried to find a happy medium. Surely it looks best if one has a mix of letters from junior and senior faculty (or people with varying degrees of eminence)? I'm not sure how deeply the adcoms think about this sort of stuff, but to me, a mix suggests that an applicant is capable of impressing the more recognizable names but also not too uppity or concerned with looking good to work with genuinely talented junior faculty whose interests match up with their own--and who can then comment extensively on that work. Non-famous philosophers are on adcoms also, and I can only assume that they, too, would like students to work with. I believe this is why I was told not just to name the most famous or prominent person in a department who does what I want to do in Statements of Purpose.