Cecinestpasunphilosophe

I'm back at Toronto for an MA next year - if anyone's coming here, feel free to PM me. Or if you just want to stay in touch!

This definitely depends on your AOI and your proposed course of study for your Ph.D., I think. Next year, I'll be pursuing a one-year Classics MA with a focus on Ancient Philosophy, and my transcript will show a number of ancient philosophy courses - along with a massive amount of Greek and Latin reading courses etc. As I'll mostly be applying to Ancient/Medieval philosophy and philosophy of religion programs, I hope having the specialization will be a real bonus for my applications, even though it means I won't have done any contemporary analytic philosophy or value theory during my MA. I'm not sure how applicable this would be outside of the realm of ancient philosophy, but I'm sure that spending most of your MA studying pure mathematics would be useful if you wanted to work in phil of math, or studying quantum mechanics if you wanted to do phil of physics, and so forth. From a number of conversations I've had with professors over the course of the year, admissions committees really are interested (to one extent or another) in the specific courses listed on your transcript. So if you say you pursued a phil of language specialization for your MA but your transcript shows you took a random smattering of metaphysics/epistemology/value theory/history of philosophy with a couple linguistics seminars thrown in there, I imagine it won't make much of an impression. But if your transcript shows that you took a couple phil of language seminars, and then a couple linguistics seminars on top of that, and your reference letters and SOP both show that you have a specific interest in how to resolve questions regarding the semantics of fictional singular reference that you've already been pursuing during your MA... that should make people pay attention to you.

I'll be declining Fordham's offer today. Hopefully that helps someone!

Accepted a one-year Classics MA offer from the University of Toronto. Declining Fordham today, so hopefully that will help someone on the waitlist there. I guess I will be seeing everyone again next year!

Petros is really on point here. It's taken me most of my undergrad to arrive at a reasonable level of proficiency in both languages - you'll likely move at a quicker pace in a graduate program, but even then, you likely won't really be at the point of being able to independently read either language with any degree of fluency until two or three years into your degree. And that would be a major hindrance.

You'd really take either of those over Western? I've heard they have quite a strong department!

Which is as messed up an incentive structure as one could imagine...

Seriously, though, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Sounds like quite the adventure.

On masters programs: Toronto also has the CPAMP (Collaborative Program in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy), which would enable you to get a ton of experience in ancient while earning your MA. Two thoughts on the question more generally: 1) I'd suggest deciding on some specific ancient phil programs in which you would be interested, and then looking at the specific requirements they post on their websites. A lot of ancient philosophy programs don't actually require you to have much experience at all in the languages when you start the degree. 2) What does your financial situation look like? Each summer, CUNY runs what amounts to Latin/Greek boot camp (http://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Centers-and-Institutes/Latin-Greek-Institute). It's quite expensive, but I've heard that people leave the program with a genuine working knowledge (basic, but working) of the language they've studied. You really could have a good handle on either Greek or Latin by the time you applied in December, if you did this program.

I PM'd you.

Just accepted to the MPhil in Philosophical Theology at Oxford =) (Again, I'm not sure whether this belongs in the Religion section of here - but given that this debate has been raging for over a thousand years, and a resolution is nowhere in sight, I figured I might as well post it here!)

I'm glad things have finally started to look up for you, overoverover! Congrats!

Now that most of the excitement is over with American schools... any bets on when Oxford will release?

Everything's a little crazy here at the moment with the strike. Wouldn't be surprised if it's caused some delays for the AdCom.

FedEx tells me this address doesn't exist. Guess I'll be drinking the bottle myself.

I know it's for theology and not philosophy, but I have to share my excitement! I checked my admission status at Cambridge, and it now says: "Awaiting decision by the Board of Graduate Studies - Status: The degree committee is satisfied with your application. However, your offer has not yet been approved." I know I still need to wait for the rubber-stamp of the BGS, and have no idea if they're going to offer me funding - but it was a wonderful surprise after all the rejections I've received recently!

I actually wanted to make a separate post about these programs, but this seems like a suitable place to ask. Does anyone have any experience with the Cambridge one-year/Oxford two-year master's programs? I've applied to both, and I've been wondering how they work - do BPhil students have any teaching responsibilities? How does the coursework compare to the first two years of a direct-entry Ph.D. program in the States? Also, do BPhil students normally just continue on to do their DPhils are Oxford, or do most transfer to Stateside Ph.D. programs? It's fascinating - we spend a tremendous amount of time on these forums discussing American Ph.D. and M.A. programs, but I've seen very little discussion about programs in the U.K.!

But just in case: If you're reading this, Ted, that really was a nice rejection letter!

Officially rejected from Yale's Religious Studies program today, though I figured it was coming for a while. I think we all deserve a drink.

Well, looks like Chicago finally got around to rejecting me.

It's a shame you two are so far away - I really want to buy you both a drink. And then watch Jesus Christ Superstar, or something.

Indeed it is! Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be blessed: The soul, uneasy and confined from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

Responses are up on the website for Notre Dame. Though I wish they weren't.

Because I know God exists and wouldn't possibly deceive me. Duh.

A couple hours ago - they sent me an email telling me to check the website.