Duns Eith

I think I will back-pedal and say that "even at an unranked school" was too excessive. If you have a "top ranked" MA offer with full funding (no going into any debt), and you have an unranked program (unranked, even if it is ranked on specialties?) with full funding, then you can go with the MA. You'll likely reap the benefits we've already discussed. But if you've got a ranked school with full funding, I can't think of a program that would beat that out. Like, Missouri should beat Tufts; Arizona State should be NIU.

Where are we talking? Tufts? NIU? Let me deflate some of this. It isn't like Top-30 is a reach (top-5 are lotteries), but if you get an MA then top 5 is a reach (there is no lottery). Rather, the benefits of the MA are largely covered by @Schopenhauerfanboy; but odds are, if you could get into a top-10 school after an MA then you were something special before the MA to begin with. For example, I got into several MA's in the first round, waitlisted at a PhD and rejected at another. But someone else, quite comparable, actually, applied to 3x as many programs (a lot more PhDs) and got a funded PhD offer. I bet if I had applied to more places I would've simply been admitted to a PhD program the first round. Well, live and learn. I agree, but my standard of "really attractive" would be Top-50 (PGR, english speaking world) with full funding. My guess is that if you're getting an offer at a #40 PGR, then getting an MA first won't change that as drastically as expecting an offer at a top-10. Outside of the top-15, I would say that the differences in quality of program diminish rapidly. (FYI: I hate these rankings, but they are the closest proxy we have)

Yes. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Don't do an MA if you have an offer for a PhD with funding: even at an unranked school, do the PhD. You may get an offer, you might get shut out. You definitely would be out $800-$2,200 + a ton of stress just for another chance. Not worth it.

Rejected at WUStL. Anyone else not able to post their results in the database? (EDIT: the answer is yes. Not sure whether the site admins are going to fix it soon, but it's definitely broken)

Ballsy ask, IMO.

Yeah, that's how I'm reading the tea leaves.

There's two dates: the earlier date is if nominated for fellowship, Feb 23rd if you're not nominated for fellowship. This corresponds to the two deadlines on their app page (Jan 7 for consideration of fellowship, and Feb 1st for consideration of TA-ship or no funding)

P.S. I did not post the reply on the results. That was quite a burn.

I lol'd. (author was someone rejected at Fordham)

Michigan State. What. Quite unranked. Very ouch.

Yes. I should've spelled out the context a little better. I think the dates are predicted too early, given that they were (apparently?) calibrated for the HPS program of each. ...That, and I am looking for reasons not to be anxious.

I think there's an error regarding IU Bloomington and Notre Dame, in that decisions for HPS have typically come out earlier than the normal philosophy PhD program. Like, I am thinking that Notre Dame should be posting on or about the 17th, and the same for Bloomington (not Feb 6).

Arizona just sent some acceptances. 4 posted today! ... Nothing on Bloomington, except their HPS PhD

Thanks! Thanks! It would be hard to rank the two thus far, to be honest. They have different strengths, and that means a decision would imply the emphasis or direction my work would take. That's hard to nail down.

Accepted at UIUC.

Thanks

Things are broken.

Congrats!!!!!!

It's only 2 days early. Aye. I have unwarranted (and unprecedented) hope that the department has, unbeknownst to me, submitted my results on the Grad Cafe's database on my behalf and will notify me later in the manner stated. It would certainly be a favorable situation given that I did not hear anything from them and I would much desire to have such an offer.

o_O ... 8 out of 17 programs I applied to I have heard nothing from, even though either there are results posted or the program was predicted to post by now but no results yet.

Congrats!

Congrats! I know someone there, and they really like it. I would've applied if they had a stronger EM focus. Congrats! Awesome!

Chicago. Not surprised, though.

Congrats! Congrats! Woohoo! Congrats all! One of my colleagues also was accepted (not sure if he posted on the results page).

Aye! it is quite the balm. The prospect of other offers, however, seems a little bit more dim if I'm rejected at an unranked program that I felt somewhat confident I would get into. My confidence was misplaced.