thehegeldialectic

I was also accepted into the NSSR MA last round of admissions. I reached similar conclusions to the other commenters after researching them. They basically accept everyone, it's a ton of money, and you will almost never talk to any professors ever. Even if you are a Ph.D. student writing a dissertation, you have to make huge appointments in advance.

So this problem at NSSR even exists at the level of their Ph.D. program. 

If you take out debt to get an M.A., go somewhere where you aren't a cash cow. Talk to students and find out if the class distinction between MA's and Ph.D.'s is noticeable. At my own MA program, for example (Duquesne), the professors treat MA's and PhD's the same, and there's not really a noticeable distinction between them (so much so as you don't really know who is who).

Otherwise, you might not get placed out of the MA into a PhD.

There are also terminal MA's that pay you, although the work tends to be a lot more severe when it comes to grading (from what I've heard), but something like this can definitely get you placed. 

Because philosophy majors score higher on the verbal than any other major, including English.

If you have a verbal of 167+, then you have "good scores." However, if you just made it generally into the mid 160's, then you're in the same boat as most of the other applicants, and it's not going to be counted as a point in your favor, because it's not exceptional by any means.

If you are below 160, and especially if you are in the 150's, you will encounter a problem. The school of humanities likely requires the philosophy department to meet a certain average GRE score. This means that they might only be able to take one student with a GRE score in the 150's. It also means that you will be less competitive for fellowships, as these often involve GRE requirements. So basically, a low score *hurts* your chances because the department can only take in so many people with low scores. But a high score doesn't mean you'll get in, because at the end of the day, it's the writing sample and general fit that matters. 

Good luck with your career having this attitude. 

Only because continental programs aren't placed on the ranking. Fordham is a great program with a strong reputation. 

I know that some MA programs, especially the funded ones, do not practice grade inflation. It has something to do with the reputation/ability of the program to place their students and provide a measure of their ability. 

I made a 4.0 in my MA, but don't know what my colleagues are making. I think the standard practices is to give an A- if a student could have or should have done better.
 

Accepted Villanova. 

Declined Duquesne, Kentucky, South Florida, USI Carbondale, and removed myself from the wait list at Loyola and UC Riverside.

So the final score is a5/2w/r7 out of 14. Pretty good season, I'd say. 
 

Accepted Villanova. 

Declined Duquesne, Kentucky, South Florida, USI Carbondale, and removed myself from the wait list at Loyola and UC Riverside.

So the final score is a5/2w/r7 out of 14. Pretty good season, I'd say. 
 

It's nice to see Leiter has learned to start using his words, rather than his poop, to make ridiculous ad hominem attacks.

(For those not in the loop: https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/professors-receive-packets-of-poop?utm_term=.rtkYRQWre#.xjEMn2qv0 )

 

Since we know that Leiter personally hates continental philosophy, this should come as no surprise. The rankings are bullshit.

The obvious intention behind their design is to create the false image that all "serious" continental philosophy is being done by Dreyfus, Pippin, Rorty, or Brandom.

Since we know that Leiter personally hates continental philosophy, this should come as no surprise. The rankings are bullshit.

The obvious intention behind their design is to create the false image that all "serious" continental philosophy is being done by Dreyfus, Pippin, Rorty, or Brandom.

It's nice to see Leiter has learned to start using his words, rather than his poop, to make ridiculous ad hominem attacks.

(For those not in the loop: https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/professors-receive-packets-of-poop?utm_term=.rtkYRQWre#.xjEMn2qv0 )

 

It's nice to see Leiter has learned to start using his words, rather than his poop, to make ridiculous ad hominem attacks.

(For those not in the loop: https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/professors-receive-packets-of-poop?utm_term=.rtkYRQWre#.xjEMn2qv0 )

 

It's nice to see Leiter has learned to start using his words, rather than his poop, to make ridiculous ad hominem attacks.

(For those not in the loop: https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/professors-receive-packets-of-poop?utm_term=.rtkYRQWre#.xjEMn2qv0 )

 

I would also advise you to completely ignore rankings, especially Leiter's.

Instead, I would try to determine (from talking to current students at Kingston) how much you actually get to work with these big named people. Of course, if you have a letter of recommendation from someone like Balibar or Malabou, this could be very good for applying to programs in the tradition of continental philosophy, especially programs that emphasize the French tradition.

However, there's a growing number of programs that allow students to study with big name figures at a significant cost (such as the European Graduate School or the New School for Social Research) that can have some downsides when it comes to faculty availability, tuition rates, and the level of engagement/competition among your peers (I have heard there was a major controversy, which involved Ranciere and Badiou leaving the EGS). That's not to say that you can't go to one of these programs and succeed, nor is this to say that Kingston is like this (I have heard nothing to indicate this about Kingston). Just that sometimes programs that offer you a chance to study with the biggest names in philosophy sometimes are funded by the fact that people are *paying* for the opportunity to study under one of the greats, so you have to be careful.

But again, I heave heard nothing to indicate this about Kingston, and if you are excited about the faculty (I certainly would be), it might be a great choice. 

Nope. As I understand it, they had two tiers on the waitlist, those interviewed and those not interviewed. 

I have decided to go to Villanova. 

Just declined University of South Florida and Duquesne. Will be sending out an email to Kentucky soon.  
 



They removed me from the waitlist, so if you're still on the list, that's probably a good sign!
 

I have decided to go to Villanova. 

Just declined University of South Florida and Duquesne. Will be sending out an email to Kentucky soon.  
 



They removed me from the waitlist, so if you're still on the list, that's probably a good sign!
 

Let's be honest: you got admitted to a grad school in philosophy -- be worried! Your attempts for securing a poor paying adjunct job or getting lottery ticket (tenure) are becoming a reality.
Gimme heart reacts if you don't mind staring into the void.

No, it's more common for people to apply to 20 and get into none.

No, it's more common for people to apply to 20 and get into none.

No, it's more common for people to apply to 20 and get into none.

More like $18,000 I would say. 

I guess the best thing to do would be to try to find roommates or commute from somewhere far away, if you end up taking the offer. 

Just sent an email to ask my application status to University of South Florida.

They replied that I was accepted with funding! I was not expecting that!

I would take into account that not all students who finish an MA end up applying for Ph.D. programs. This might be worth factoring into looking at placement. It might also be good to try to find information about the specific programs where MA students from these programs have been placed. If they have taken MA students from a program before, they likely have a positive view of the MA program. 

Accepted University of South Florida after sending an email asking about my application status.

Edit: Also heard back from UC Riverside that I'm on the waitlist.