finetune

@topplegänger I was a Fine Arts major that transitioned to philosophy: I did my BFA in Studio Art at a top-5 art school with no letter grades or GPA. I then worked in the NYC art world for a few years writing art criticism while studying analytic philosophy on my own. I was able to get into a number of terminal MA programs and ended up choosing Brandeis. This season, I applied to PhD programs and was admitted into many good places (including a waitlist to a Leiter top-10). I'll now be starting a PhD at a Leiter top-20 in the Fall. My AOS is in analytic metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language. TLDR: With enough work, transitioning is definitely possible! Please feel free to DM me; I'd be happy to chat.

I'm still waiting to hear from: University of Virginia Stanford University UNC Chapel Hill UT Austin University of Arizona UConn UC Davis For some of these, e.g., Stanford, I'm presuming that I've been rejected and notification is just taking an (annoyingly) long time. Others, like UNC and UT, are known for having hidden waitlists and so I don't know what to expect. Anyone else waiting on some of the above?

Suppose I've been admitted to a top-20 department — call it University X. Suppose also that I've been admitted to a department whose ranking is in the mid-40s – call it University Y. University Y is clearly not as well-ranked as University X and, seemingly, X has more ‘prestige’ than Y. But Y has one faculty member whose research interests almost perfectly align with my own. Also, most of the grad students at Y seem to have research interests that are in line with my own. The same can’t be said of the grad students at University X. Moreover, while X also has one faculty member whose research interests are in my subfield, they don’t seem overall as salient to my own, nor does that faculty member seem as involved in same ‘subfield scene’ as the faculty member at University Y (the ‘subfield scene’ I’m interested in). Assuming University X and Y have roughly the same job placement success (or lack thereof), and assuming X and Y have similar funding packages, is it better to attend X or Y?

Waitlisted at UCLA. So far, then: UC Irvine, University of Maryland [Admitted] UCLA, University of Rochester [Waitlisted] 24 more schools to hear back from... Will turn down Maryland and take myself off the Rochester waitlist, so I hope that frees up a space for somebody.

Admitted to (both yesterday): - UC Irvine - University of Maryland Waitlisted at: - University of Rochester 29 schools to go...

Mine was on skepticism. I introduce a new view—skeptical fictionalism—and show how the external world skeptic can make sense of his skepticism on semantic grounds, that is, by becoming a fictionalist with regards to positive 'knowledge'-ascriptions like 'S knows p'.

Received an offer from Virginia Tech (MA) yesterday. Still waiting to hear about funding though. Anyone hear back from NIU yet? I was told they were expecting to notify applicants no later than Monday, March 2.

I would be willing to give it a read as well. My own paper is on a topic within metaphysics too.

Hi all, this is great. If anyone wants to read an analytic metaphysics paper tackling the puzzle of material constitution (from someone with zero academic background in philosophy), please private message me and I can link you up. Looking for constructive criticism. Thank you!

Figured Kivy would be retiring somewhat soon. Good to know about Levinson and Carroll, as well as Lydia Goehr's familiarity with the analytic literature. I wasn't familiar with Anne Eaton at UIC so that's great. I'll have to look more into her research and the program there. Overall, CUNY still seems more responsive to aesthetics and phil of art than other top-twenty NA schools. As for Canada: I hadn't actually considered schools there—but perhaps I should...

Okay, I think that makes a lot of sense. I did some more research on Liberal Studies MAs from schools I'm interested in, and the academic options are not really in accord with my core philosophic interests. I'll definitely consider looking into matriculating as a non-degree student—at least that's something I can get a start on now, as you say, and hopefully build some credit before applying this January. (Though, I will likely have to take out a small loan if I do this at, say, CUNY even with access to New York State residency tuition rates.) I would be curious to hear your story though, if you're willing to share. Agreed. Which is why I'd like to stay on the analytic track. In terms of PhD programs in NA that I'm personally interested in, with notable analytic philosophers of art, there is: CUNY (Noel Carroll is still active there); NYU (Robert Hopkins recently came on board); University of Maryland College Park (Jerrold Levinson, also many of their grad students have primary or secondary interests in phil of art); Rutgers (Peter Kivy, Elisabeth Camp—though aesthetics/art seems more secondary for her). All these schools are highly ranked, so the obvious worry then, given my current stats, is that I simply don't stand a chance. While, I will definitely apply to MAs, do you still think it's worth applying to PhD programs such as the above? Do you recommend any others—particularly ones on the east coast? Can I ask what what your undergrad/grad background was?

Appreciate all the thoughful advice so far! Johannes14: Pretty interesting about Vanderbilt. In regards to the continental track: The continental environment definitely seems/has been more hospitable to aesthetics and phil of art overall than analytic has (though again, things *seem* to be getting better in analytic). I have interests in other topics than phil of art though, and prefer to explore those through the methodology ("methodology") and literature of analytic. I just don't think I have any real interest in continental on the whole—even in phil of art (there are exceptions obviously though). So, you think I should apply to a few PhD programs amongst MAs as well? Were there specific PhD programs you had in mind? If so, were they continental, analytic, etc.? ZiggyPhil: That's very helpful advice. I definitely agree about the GRE. It's my understanding that it doesn't usually carry much weight in admissions, but considering my circumstances, I'll need to do really well, as you say. Is your recommendation to enroll as a non-degree student based on the fact that I might not even be competitive enough for admission into an MA program (say like Tufts or Brandeis)? For everyone: Does anyone have any thoughts on a Master's in Liberal Studies? For example, CUNY offers an "Individualized Studies" program from which I'd be able to take a bunch of courses in philosophy. Though a Liberal Studies program seems like it would be frowned upon by admissions, its advantages would be all of those afforded by the non-degree option that ZiggyPhil outlines.

Hey guys, Would appreciate any of your thoughts and/or advice on the following circumstances. (I'll try to keep this short but informative.) I'm a 24 year old American really interested in pursuing analytic philosophy at the graduate level. I have no formal training in analytic philosophy, but have been independently studying various topics within philosophy of language, mind, and art for the past two years. I have written a few basic (unpublished) overviews on a few topics within phil of language (E.g., indexicality, reference, belief reports, etc.) However, my primary interest, I've decided as of late, is analytic philosophy of art, which I feel I could do my strongest work in. Last year I applied to MA programs in Europe with a phil of language paper, and accepted an offer at school X. I deferred weeks later once I sat down to crunch the numbers. Basically, I'm starting the application process again, and am looking to apply only to American MA and PhD programs. I'm worried that I'm nowhere near competitive for PhD programs, but wonder what the harm would be in applying. Based roughly on the following, do I stand a chance at certain PhD programs? MA programs even? What else can I do make myself a stronger applicant for both? Undergraduate Credentials (or lackthereof) Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts from a top-three art school. Academics: My courses were based on a pass/fail model, and therefore I have no formal letter grades or GPA. (I suppose based on this model my GPA could be calculated as being just average). Academic Discrepancy: Unfortunately, the one class I ever failed as an undergraduate student was Philosophy of Art (my current, primary research interest). Philosophy/Related Courses: Two/three continental phil courses; Cog Science course; Physics of Sound course; many Art History courses; two/three Art Theory courses. Extracurricular Activities & Misc. I host a weekly philosophy of art reading group. I have been sitting in on a Logic course at a local university (one whole semester's worth). I have published a lot in various art theory & criticism venues recognized within the Art world (none strictly philosophically recognized). Almost all my professional experience is in art writing (reviews, interviews, essays, etc.) Applying to Graduate School Recommendations: One of my three recommendation writers is an actual professor of (continental) philosophy. The other two are art theory/criticism based. GRE: I have yet to test, but let's, for the sake of this scenario, say they will be average. Writing Sample: A topic within analytic philosophy of art. I obviously aim for this to be the strongest part of my application. Concluding Remarks: - Philosophy of Art is already a marginalized sub-field within analytic philosophy (though it seems to be getting better), however, I feel based on my background, it just makes the most sense to pursue. Again, I feel I could do my strongest work in it. (Though I do consider it another strike against me.) - If let's say my writing sample turned out to be amazing, GRE scores strong (something that doesn't usually carry that much weight, but will in my circumstances), PhD admissions could still dismiss my application on grounds of simply not having, on paper, formal academic experience in philosophy. - This all makes me think that an MA might be the best option at this point. Again, do I stand a chance at certain PhD programs? MA programs even? What else can I do make myself a stronger applicant for both? Any advice or insight would be much appreciated. All ears.