Neither Here Nor There

MA program did not give me a stipend, but did wave my tuition. I did not have a BA in philosophy, so getting any funding was good (my writing sample and LOR helped). I have no regrets. It was my dream to study philosophy. I may or may not get into a PhD program given that the school is not well known. I am still glad I am doing the MA regardless. It was my dream to study philosophy and study it at the graduate level. So I think it comes down to that. Do you love philosophy so much you want to study it at the graduate level, and do you have enough money? Alternatively, you could wait a year and reapply at schools. If you thought it would help, you could take one or two graduate courses just to get a better writing sample.

If your writing sample was good, and you had a 3.9 GPA in seminary, and all those languages, that is a pretty strong applicant. There is also a difference between having a 3.25 GPA over all, and a 3.25 GPA in your undergrad major.

Hegel and Heidegger? No way. They are the best philosophers. As far as worsts, I might pick Descartes. "Worst" is not a good word, though. I just disagree with him.

Yup. It's real and super, super good.

No, I don't think my continental philosophy courses are a liability. I know that Emory says successful candidates show that they have taken French and German classes (I think I read that). I don't think a few semesters of languages make you fluent, though. Fluency is not my goal, but I think it's pretty weak to try to get into a PhD in continental philosophy without any appropriate languages. But the reason I asked is I knew you all may have a better feel. All that said, I think the advice here about improving my writing sample and GRE is great advice.

Hi, thanks everyone. I appreciate it. It's good to know that a PhD is not out of the option, and I'll definitely be working on the writing sample and languages.

THIS SO MUCH. When I finish term papers in grad school, I usually sleep 12 hour days for a week to make up for the lack of sleep.

Probably these people who got accepted with low GREs got their undergrad degrees from top universities as well.

As someone said above, German and French matter in continental philosophy whereas it's not as big of a deal in analytical philosophy. I'm going to add German in the fall, but it still seems not enough.

I was depressed when I first started my MA (not because of the program; I came in depressed). Because I am in the humanities, the intellectual environment and in particular a couple works I read really made my depression lesson. But it was really hard for a while because depression makes me not want to do anything and especially not want to be around people.

I want to get a PhD in philosophy, and my interests are in continental philosophy. My application weakness: MA in philosophy, but no BA in philosophy (BA is in an honors degree in English, and only a couple philosophy courses). Both degrees are from smaller schools. The BA is from a baptist university in the states, and the MA is a private university in Canada with 4K students. Languages: Fluent in Thai (I am not Thai, but I took Thai from a university in Thailand and in language schools) and made "A"s in four semesters of Koine Greek. But continental philosophy programs want German and French. I know PhD programs in philosophy are competitive. What should I do before applying to Phd programs? Should I go and get another MA from a state school (or not necessarily another degree, but pick up more courses that I have not taken) and then apply to PhDs? Or should I spend a year working on languages?