psm1580b

Just for some perspective: Don't take being shut-out too seriously. I was in my early 30's when I first applied right out of my MA. Or, I should say, during the last year of my MA. I applied to 20 schools and was rejected by all. Not a single waitlist. Out of TWENTY. That summer, I took a course to try and raise my GRE score. I also chose a different paper to spruce up into a writing sample. I retook the GRE and got the exact same score. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling particularly super at that point. 
I applied again to 10 schools (ok, so money became an issue), some of which I'd applied to the year before. I was waitlisted at 2 and ultimately accepted at a school that had rejected me the year prior, so ...
I guess the moral of this story is: being shut-out doesn't reflect much upon yourself, and it is no reason to not try again next year. 

Hey all,
Good luck with everyone's applications and all that. I applied two years in a row and was finally accepted to start fall of '16. I wanted to offer some advice for those of you considering international schools: Be very certain of your financial situation and do not presume that there will be equivalent access to external funds (grants, scholarships, etc) during your time as an international student. Quite a few of the otherwise-available money is, in various forms, only allowed for current citizens or permanent residents. Quite a bit of the money you may qualify for in your home country must be used to find education in your home country. Take the time to think about what curveballs the next 4-6 years may through at you before you commit. 
 
-Just something to keep in mind. Sorry to add to your already considerable anxiety! 

Hey all,
Good luck with everyone's applications and all that. I applied two years in a row and was finally accepted to start fall of '16. I wanted to offer some advice for those of you considering international schools: Be very certain of your financial situation and do not presume that there will be equivalent access to external funds (grants, scholarships, etc) during your time as an international student. Quite a few of the otherwise-available money is, in various forms, only allowed for current citizens or permanent residents. Quite a bit of the money you may qualify for in your home country must be used to find education in your home country. Take the time to think about what curveballs the next 4-6 years may through at you before you commit. 
 
-Just something to keep in mind. Sorry to add to your already considerable anxiety! 

Just for some perspective: Don't take being shut-out too seriously. I was in my early 30's when I first applied right out of my MA. Or, I should say, during the last year of my MA. I applied to 20 schools and was rejected by all. Not a single waitlist. Out of TWENTY. That summer, I took a course to try and raise my GRE score. I also chose a different paper to spruce up into a writing sample. I retook the GRE and got the exact same score. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling particularly super at that point. 
I applied again to 10 schools (ok, so money became an issue), some of which I'd applied to the year before. I was waitlisted at 2 and ultimately accepted at a school that had rejected me the year prior, so ...
I guess the moral of this story is: being shut-out doesn't reflect much upon yourself, and it is no reason to not try again next year. 

Just for some perspective: Don't take being shut-out too seriously. I was in my early 30's when I first applied right out of my MA. Or, I should say, during the last year of my MA. I applied to 20 schools and was rejected by all. Not a single waitlist. Out of TWENTY. That summer, I took a course to try and raise my GRE score. I also chose a different paper to spruce up into a writing sample. I retook the GRE and got the exact same score. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling particularly super at that point. 
I applied again to 10 schools (ok, so money became an issue), some of which I'd applied to the year before. I was waitlisted at 2 and ultimately accepted at a school that had rejected me the year prior, so ...
I guess the moral of this story is: being shut-out doesn't reflect much upon yourself, and it is no reason to not try again next year. 

Can confirm this. He no longer teaches or takes students. Hasn't for a little while now. 
Signed,
-Someone lucky enough to have him on their committee 

Accepted to terminal MA at Brandeis with a $10k scholarship, TAship, and the possibility of more aid! 

3a/0w/0r out of 5 MA/MS 
0a/0w/2r out of 3 PhD 

My first year I was rejected from 15 schools and that really hurt. Over the following summer, along with working on new applications, I paid roughly $500 for an online GRE course and completed the entire thing. I did a lot of studying and took multiple practice tests. I went in to the testing center the following October excited that I might get a really high score, or, minimally, raise my overall score by a few points, and did my absolute best.
 
I got the exact same score, V/Q/W. 
 
So there's that. Oh, and I was accepted last year into my dream program.

Congratulations! I remember you from last years threads  

If you want to save $: Get one set of your transcripts, scan them, and upload those to all the schools. They say they want official transcripts, but in general thats only required after they offer you admission, and you can send them at that time. That happened to me twice last year. 

If you want to save $: Get one set of your transcripts, scan them, and upload those to all the schools. They say they want official transcripts, but in general thats only required after they offer you admission, and you can send them at that time. That happened to me twice last year. 

If you want to save $: Get one set of your transcripts, scan them, and upload those to all the schools. They say they want official transcripts, but in general thats only required after they offer you admission, and you can send them at that time. That happened to me twice last year. 

You're exactly in the right position. Small liberal arts college, published, specific interests, this is exactly what those applicant committees want to see. State what your interests are. Do not say anything about what your interests aren't. 

"(please correct me if I'm wrong) religion and philosophy is a bit more difficult to separate in much Islamic philosophy, is it not?"
I hate to say this, but as one who has taught Islamic philosophy--this is absolutely false. 

"(please correct me if I'm wrong) religion and philosophy is a bit more difficult to separate in much Islamic philosophy, is it not?"
I hate to say this, but as one who has taught Islamic philosophy--this is absolutely false. 

You're exactly in the right position. Small liberal arts college, published, specific interests, this is exactly what those applicant committees want to see. State what your interests are. Do not say anything about what your interests aren't. 

You're exactly in the right position. Small liberal arts college, published, specific interests, this is exactly what those applicant committees want to see. State what your interests are. Do not say anything about what your interests aren't. 

You're exactly in the right position. Small liberal arts college, published, specific interests, this is exactly what those applicant committees want to see. State what your interests are. Do not say anything about what your interests aren't. 

I'd suggest that UCLA edges out Berkeley in language, especially given that its linguistics department is absolutely top-tier. Of course, I may be biased since I'm going there.
Would you be able to take classes at USC? That's also in LA. And if there are faculty at UCLA or USC who you may be interested in, maybe you could have them as external advisors? That would definitely be a leg up.

Western Ontario 

Western Ontario 

Officially declined Indiana (HPS)

This is my second year and the quality of my entire application was better (and I got in with funding!) definitely do it.

I'm moving to Philly. 

It's like this ridiculous process has come full circle: after weeks of relative peace, I'm back to neurotically refreshing my email every few minutes.