thehegeldialectic

I have been reading Marx's Capital vol. 1 using David Harvey's course on YouTube as a guide/framework/motivation/reinforcement. I'm also slaving away eight hours a day at Starbucks, trying to help out with the bills.

Did you guys get into Vanderbilt or wait-listed or anything? I live in Nashville, but haven't heard anything from them or gotten any hits recently. I have a hit from Nashville from January 14th (right after I sent it), but I don't know if it was me googling myself, haha.

Hey everyone, I'd like to introduce myself. 1. I have a 3.64 GPA (3.94 philosophy) in undergrad. I wrote my honors thesis on Being and Time. 2. I'm interested in Heidegger, Aristotle, Hegel, Marx, continental philosophy, and 19th century German philosophy. 3. I'm applying to 10 schools (although DePaul never got one of my transcripts and didn't look at my app so 9), haven't heard anything back. The stress of this process is driving me crazy.

My professor advised me to mention it, but not to dwell heavily upon it. I highlighted with an anecdote in the first paragraph my naivete about language learning, then said: "I wanted to learn German as quickly as possible. I thought study abroad would be an instant fix. I didn't succeed and realized I needed to get back on track. I took a two-year hiatus, focusing on writing, language learning, etc. [then came back, succeeded, etc.]" One of my letter writers is the German professor. I haven't seen the letter, but I'm hoping she can vouch for my German abilities. I'm hoping that puts a positive spin on it, but it's rather nerve racking. I'm sure that many have experienced the Siren call of Europe before, too.

Like two other students I know, I failed study abroad - as well as a philosophy class and a directed study I took around this time. Embarrassed and defeated, I took two years years off and got my act together. I managed to get all of the failed grades replaced, but they are still on my record. When I came back to finish my degree, I made an almost 4.0 (only one 'B' ) over two semesters, wrote my honors thesis, and published several undergraduate papers. I finished 3.62 (3.96 in philosophy with 57 hours of phil. courses) with a 166 verbal, 150 quant. and 4 analyitical writing. I have a strong writing sample, statement, and letters. Does this failed semester necessarily ruin me? How are such things typically perceived? (Going back to desperately refreshing my inbox).