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Glasperlenspieler

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  1. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from PolPhil in Am I even good enough to have impostor syndrome?   
    This metric would seem to be a better representation of ones odd of getting admitted to any given program (which I take to be the general question here) and is the way the term acceptances rates is used by most institutions I'm aware of. If an undergraduate college says they have a 20% acceptance rate that means 20% of the people who apply are offered admission regardless of whether they matriculate.
  2. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from PolPhil in Am I even good enough to have impostor syndrome?   
    You're certainly right that it is extremely competitive to get into a Ph.D. program in philosophy, but for the sake of accuracy, I do want to ask how you got these statistics. It sort of looks like you divided the incoming cohort by the number of applicants, but that assumes a 100% matriculation rate among those accepted, which I suspect for most programs (even the very top programs) is probably not quite accurate.
    Yale, for instance, has its statistics online. In 2019 they admitted 12 out of 333 applicants, but only 5 matriculated. That's a 3.6% acceptance rate. Still very low, but somewhat higher than what you're reporting. (Data here: https://public.tableau.com/profile/ecf5839#!/vizhome/YaleGraduateSchoolofArtsandSciencesStatisticsWebNoBBS/Admissions)
    Of course, none of this is to refute the general point. It's very hard to get admitted and this year will almost certainly be worse than usual.
  3. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from Marcus_Aurelius in Am I even good enough to have impostor syndrome?   
    You're certainly right that it is extremely competitive to get into a Ph.D. program in philosophy, but for the sake of accuracy, I do want to ask how you got these statistics. It sort of looks like you divided the incoming cohort by the number of applicants, but that assumes a 100% matriculation rate among those accepted, which I suspect for most programs (even the very top programs) is probably not quite accurate.
    Yale, for instance, has its statistics online. In 2019 they admitted 12 out of 333 applicants, but only 5 matriculated. That's a 3.6% acceptance rate. Still very low, but somewhat higher than what you're reporting. (Data here: https://public.tableau.com/profile/ecf5839#!/vizhome/YaleGraduateSchoolofArtsandSciencesStatisticsWebNoBBS/Admissions)
    Of course, none of this is to refute the general point. It's very hard to get admitted and this year will almost certainly be worse than usual.
  4. Like
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from dancewmoonlight in Academic Writing Sample?   
    You're better off with one 15-25 page writing sample. Programs want to see that you can produce a strong, extended argument, and they want to know that you can enter the program and hit the ground running, which means writing several 15-25 pages seminar papers at the end of your first semester while managing other responsibilities.
  5. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Marcus_Aurelius in Am I competitive?   
    To echo many posts on this forum: writing sample writing sample writing sample. That's what will largely determine your fate.
  6. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Olórin in Program's Writing Sample Page Length   
    100% double spaced for grad applications.
  7. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Marcus_Aurelius in Is it even worth it for me to apply this cycle (Fall 2021)?   
    I echo what other commenters have said, especially PolPhil. A few extra comments:
    1) Applicants aren't expected to have done other interesting things beside a solid major, so that's not something to be worried about. One question is whether you were able to take a wide variety of courses at UW, even if they weren't quite your interests. But, especially if you can address the early academic instability in your statement, the GPA is nothing to worry about.
    2) Writing sample writing sample writing sample. Like almost every other applicant, your competitiveness will mainly be determined by the quality of your sample. Because you think yours is somewhat lacking, others' advice to focus on MA programs is sound.
    3) I wouldn't fixate on any one program (in this case CU Boulder, but this is a general claim too). Your reasons for being interested in that program don't seem too deep, and there are presumably many places where you could pursue those interests (and of course your interests might change). 
    4) If you're uncertain, don't do it. But MAs are s good option if you're passionate, and also you can explore fee waivers. Some of them need to be requested a while in advance, though, so watch out for those separate deadlines.
  8. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to dr. t in UVA PhD Acceptances   
    Ah, a caste system. That'll solve everything. 
  9. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Sigaba in UVA PhD Acceptances   
    I would suggest that the system you describe in your post is setting the stage for AI/ASI in the Ivory Tower is similar to TNCs (transportation network companies like Lyft and Uber) being used to push AVs (autonomous vehicles) into transportation. (The extent to which TNC drivers don't get the connection is chilling, IMO.) By breaking down work into smaller pieces, one can learn which pieces are more important than others, and which ones can be done through software.
    Along the way, the people participating think in terms of the upside (the convenience of on demand services and a la carte pricing/subscriptions, the perception of lower operational costs because of lower overhead, not having to deal with as many people), and the down side in personal terms without realizing the extent to which they're participating in the commodification of their every day lives. 
    MOO, many members of many professions that seek to leverage technology do not understand that they are actually the prey of technology firms.
  10. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from Indecisive Poet in Parts of Application   
    The writing sample is by far the single most important part of your application. Everything else is secondary. Whether the CV, or the personal statement, or your transcript, or your letters of rec are going to matter more is going to vary widely depending on who's reading your application.
    That being said, admissions committees will often decide how closely they're going to read your writing sample based on the quality of your other materials.....
  11. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Sigaba in Is it possible to do Law School and Graduate school at the same time?   
    Questions that follow include how high are the hurdles to getting approval for pursuing dual degrees, what do professors actually think about such opportunities, what is the rate of success, and how well do recipients of dual degrees do in the job market?
  12. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from Indecisive Poet in Queer studies and Young Adult Literature   
    Find books and articles on the topic. Keep a list of the authors, and figure out where they're at, who their advisors were, and who their advisees are, and where they're all at. Then read the bibliographies and acknowledgements pages, trace down those works and authors and repeat the process. Once you get to the point when the relevant books and articles being cited are by people you've already looked into, you're starting to come full circle and should have a decent idea of who's who in the field.
  13. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to dr. t in 2021 Application Thread   
    It's not encouraging. Schools who have looked at the current situation and decided to take more graduate students either 
    1) Have little connection to reality,
    2) Can't function without grad student labor, or
    3) Both.
  14. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Sigaba in 2021 Application Thread   
    Oh! The cynicism!
    Another take is that programs that are not as highly ranked as they would like understand that they have the opportunity to get graduate students that would otherwise end up at Happyland University.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    And then exploit them as cheap TA labor.
     
  15. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to jbc568 in programs suspending admission fall 21   
    It's easy to look in from the outside and fantasize about living the PhD life, but you'd be wise to not dismiss what current students are saying as "gatekeeping." I'm about halfway through a PhD at a, maybe the, top program and every day think about the years of proper income and career growth opportunities I'm missing out on. I was very educated going into the process, and there are things you simply can't know unless you're in a program. Friends at other of the top 5 programs corroborate this. Apply if you have an outside stream of income, but it should be a red flag that well-funded programs are choosing to suspend admissions right now.
  16. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from Marcus_Aurelius in Program's Writing Sample Page Length   
    I don't know if it matters that much, but I would agree with this, especially since endnotes are evil and should be avoided, so footnotes would naturally contribute to the length of the paper.
  17. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to dr. t in 2021 Application Thread   
    Sure, but suddenly having to homeschool your kid, for example, is somewhat different that what came before. That new burden disproportionately affects women (in this example) - from the available evidence, it affects them all the way up the food chain.
    So this is new, and if you find yourself able to be productive, as I have, it's one small blessing in a large shitpile.
  18. Like
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to meghan_sparkle in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    Just poking in to say I can't imagine how enormously frustrating and sad this is for the fall 2020 applicants. If it's any consolation (not that there needs to be consolation) I think what programs choose to do this season (whether they pause and why, how true or false words about closing admissions 'to support current graduate students' end up being) will be really ... telling. Telling for what it would like to be in that program, telling for the longevity of the humanities PhD, telling for the profession ...
    There is also really no harm in taking a year out and working, if that would be possible. (Though I guess it's sort of like weighing up the choice to defer this year: there's no guarantee it will be better next year.) I worked for 2 years before applying and 1. professors mention my previous job all the time so clearly it's some kind of positive? 2. I really think the step back and gaining perspective was necessary, at least for me personally. Some go straight through (undergrad to PhD or UG, masters, PhD) and it works great for them, but I won't lie, most of the time, it really shows when someone has never been out of school as an adult before. (Sorry if that's a controversial view, don't mean to offend anyone—I just really genuinely think it can make you a better scholar and writer to step out of the academy for a minute, even if this year it may not be by choice for a lot of people.) Hang in there!
  19. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from onerepublic96 in Parts of Application   
    The writing sample is by far the single most important part of your application. Everything else is secondary. Whether the CV, or the personal statement, or your transcript, or your letters of rec are going to matter more is going to vary widely depending on who's reading your application.
    That being said, admissions committees will often decide how closely they're going to read your writing sample based on the quality of your other materials.....
  20. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from onerepublic96 in 2021 Closed Admissions   
    How's your German? You might find more Germanists interested in this sort of a project than people in English departments. Alternatively, you might look at grad programs in English departments in Germany (typically taught in English) where the profs are more likely to have a solid background in German philosophy/literary history.
  21. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to Bronte1985 in My former advisor is not supportive to my plan to apply to PhD programs..   
    I'm glad that was helpful! Another thing I'll say is that one of the most pernicious things about academia is the way it encourages you to identify your self-worth with academic success and how your peers judge you. That's not a good way to lead your life whether or not you're a "success", but keep in mind that being a successful art historian or any kind of academic is a very specific skill. Failing at it does not mean you're not a smart person with a lot to contribute to the world. You are not your work. 
  22. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from lilting in How necessary is it to have a masters to enter an ivy PhD Program?   
    Many departments provide profiles for their grad students which include their educational background. Yale's Spanish department, for instance, does this: https://span-port.yale.edu/people/graduate-students
    Spend some time looking at departmental webpages and you can get a decide idea of the profile for a typical student.
  23. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to kaufdichglücklich in programs suspending admission fall 21   
    I'm sorry but this is terrible advice. There are infinite career paths beyond restaurant server and teacher that would provide significantly more stability than a PhD program. Also academia is chock full of disillusioned queer people. Not sure if it's the paradise you're looking for. 
    And re: your final point... I have attended low/medium ranked and high ranked programs for my graduate education and anyone who says that lower ranked schools are a better experience is lying or delusional. It's the difference between a 15k and 35k stipend. It's the difference between having a fast tracked application to funding opportunities vs not even knowing they exist. It's the difference between having a guaranteed 6 years of funding vs never knowing if you will have to take out a loan to pay your rent or lose your health insurance at the end of the semester. Ok maybe your advisor will be "nicer" at a lower ranked program, but a letter from them won't go as far on the job market or during fellowship season. You certainly have a lot of advice for someone who has never attended an Art History PhD program of any kind. 
  24. Like
    Glasperlenspieler got a reaction from schlum in African-American Literature: which program(s) to apply to? + GRE   
    @WildeThing knows more about this field than I do, so they can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd also encourage you to take a close look at job placements. I can't speak for African-American Studies departments, but I do know that if, for example, you work in American Studies, there are far fewer jobs in American Studies departments than in English departments, and people with Ph.D.s from English departments will often out-compete people with Ph.D.s from American Studies departments for jobs in English Departments. It's worth checking to see if there's a similar phenomenon in your field.
  25. Upvote
    Glasperlenspieler reacted to jadeisokay in 2021 Applicants   
    @Bopie5 i had to laugh, to outsiders your message would probably seem nihilistic but for those of us in this... unique situation... we call grad life, "everything is literally precarious and a crapshoot but your undergrad doesn't matter" is very sweet and positive and uplifting.
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