goldenstardust11

Yup! I wrote on Hegel and Antigone while that's one of my interests most of my work in grad school so far has been on Plato and I highlighted my interest in ancient philosophy in my SOP, so I think the most important thing is submitting work that you're most confident in. 

Only got the one acceptance (and two waitlists), but luckily it was my top choice! I'm finishing up an MA at Boston College, and I'm thrilled to continue on to their PhD.

Somehow I was hoping this thread was about C. S. Peirce.
(My intuition is that you needn't worry too much!)

Waitlisted at Boston College. Nice email from the DGS recognizing my application strengths and the "uncomfortable situation of suspense" this puts me in but said he won't be able to tell me much before April 15th. 
 
 

In at UCR! I'm over the moon.

I did something similar, but I suspect my revisions were not very noticeable. On December 21st, one especially well-known professor very generously agreed to help me improve my writing sample after I had already received comments from three of my other professors. His comments were mostly small suggestions, but nonetheless, the December 31st iteration of my writing sample incorporates these suggestions for improvement, and thus varies slightly from previous versions, though it is hardly a palimpsest. Honestly, I just wrote this response because I wanted to use the word "palimpsest." 

I love my program and my colleagues. But I've heard that it can be cutthroat in general, so I imagine ymmv. I think what @psygeek indicates about lack of supervision and interest is the normal negative experience, though. Hyper-competition happens but (thankfully) not ubiquitously. 
 

P.S. have you considered applying straight into a PhD program? I highly recommend it. It can save you time and energy and money.

Ah! That makes a lot of sense!
 
Yeah, sure. But even then, Acosta is not really part of the aesthetics community, so she can't exactly help you with that network (nor has she published in any aesthetics journals). That's not to say her work isn't great; it's just to say that she's not really involved in that area. There are plenty of 19th c. folks who are, however (e.g. Guyer, Shapshay, Gjesdal, Ostaric, Goehr, Zuckert, etc.), and I think one would be better served by having them as advisors.

Yup! I wrote on Hegel and Antigone while that's one of my interests most of my work in grad school so far has been on Plato and I highlighted my interest in ancient philosophy in my SOP, so I think the most important thing is submitting work that you're most confident in. 

Hello 2019 applicants,
Like most of you, I am frantically trying to compile an application. Arguably the most important aspect is the writing sample, so I figured we could use this space to discuss topics we are submitting, strategies, and other useful information.
I am abroad right now, so I am having to study for the GRE, finish a full load of summer semester classes, and prep my thesis for next year. I currently don't feel like I have a strong sample at the moment, so I am planning on using one of my term papers this semester. My topic is on the notion of spirit and the aesthetic conception of human nature in philosophical anthropology (a topic you can only find here in Germany HA!). As you can see, it is heavy on continental theory. I am mainly using Max Scheler, Hannah Arendt, and Friedrich Schiller as my primary sources. I don't think I need to rely on too many secondary works (which might be a problem for adcoms). In fact, no scholars are writing about Scheler anymore, which I think adds to the novelty of my sample. Do you all think that that kind of originality matters for admissions, or are more esoteric topics like mine detrimental?
 

Hey all,
I'll be reapplying to several PhD programs this coming fall.  I graduated with an MA back in 2013 and have somehow been able to keep afloat as an adjunct full time.  My interests are in continental philosophy at large with a particular focus on the philosophy of art, aesthetics, ethics, and phenomenology.  I'm not too sure what my writing sample will be, but I'll be hopefully auditing a course this coming fall and hope to produce something that will be workable for the application.  I have a fairly extensive list of programs that interest me, but some of the top schools include UC Berkley's program in rhetoric, Stony Brook, New School, Boston College amongst many others.
While I'm not excited about the application process I am happy to be going through it with others-- here's to getting to know everyone better as we do this together!  

Can we take the continental talk elsewhere? Perhaps to a more appropriate thread, for example?

Yes! Got an offer from Boston University last week and visited this past Monday. Still hoping to hear back from Arizona, Colorado-Boulder, UConn, and Virginia but I'd be pleased as punch if I went to Boston. 

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!
 

Another thing to note is that academia, for better or for worse (I think for worse) is, just like most things in life, extremely power-imbalanced: unfortunately, you guys have pragmatic reasons to do certain things (show your best face to faculty) that faculty have less of a reason to do with you.
I'm not defending that the fact that this is true (which I think it is) also somehow makes it right. But I think in this case it doesn't really matter: we should all (faculty, grad students, prospective grad students) just try to be more kind, compassionate, respectful, and professional.

I think it's very important that departments and directors of admissions be polite, kind, respectful, and thoughtful in how they communicate. I agree that they are not always, and I think that sucks. I would say the same thing to them.
One thing to note, though, is that there are some asymmetries in the process: for one, we get hundreds of applications that we have to deal with (I don't think this excuses the above, it's just a thing to note). Second, we often are not permitted to contact rejected applicants until the process goes through the admissions office, and the admissions people often use software and systems that we have no control over. So I'd be hesitant to immediately hold a grudge against a department or faculty rather than the fact that bloated university administrations tend to use crappy systems.
Take care.

Hi, I'm just posting to suggest that it is somewhat important to reply (preferably politely) to emails that you receive from department faculty, directors of admissions, etc., particularly when they attempt to contact you multiple times. (The failure of response rate is so high that I am certain this is not some sort of problem with emails going to spam, etc.) First, it's just better to be kind and respectful and polite, and if someone emails you, you should respond.
Second, a more pragmatic argument: If you're beginning a PhD or MA in philosophy, you are entering an academic community in which it is important to be professional and respectful and polite at all times. Suppose you don't want to come to my PhD program, or you aren't sure what you are doing yet. It's a better idea to professionally, kindly respond, thanking the person for the offer and letting them know where you stand (e.g. "I haven't made up my mind" or "I am waiting to hear about potential other offers but am very excited about this one", or whatever).
Many of us have pretty good memories. Someday we might be hiring in your area, or (especially if we are faculty who are taking the time to write to you because you work in the same area as us) might be refereeing your work, or might be talking to you at conferences. Many of the subfields of philosophy are actually quite small. I can't tell you how many people never respond (at all) to offers, emails, etc., (and if you aren't ever responding to the offer, you are screwing your fellow students over, as we then have to wait until April 16th to make someone an offer in your place).
Sincerely, a frustrated faculty member.

I just think it's pretty ridiculous to think that they key to getting a job is being from a program ranked highly by the PGR.

From what I have personally seen at my own graduate department (and from talking to students about recent graduates), the students who aren't getting placed in programs are the ones who are burnt out, don't like philosophy anymore, don't care to finish, or are otherwise busy. The students who are still working hard, staying passionate, and are excited about philosophy end up getting placed. At the end of the day, it's your own hard work and perseverance that gets you a good job, not going to a PGR top-20 program.

So I would choose a place where you can study for six years and still like studying philosophy after those six years, not somewhere that one thinks will look impressive. 

The thing that's weirdly hard to remember is that they go through this every year. They know that it's a big decision for you and that such a thing takes time to consider. I would just be candid and should they write you asking for an update (which they do because they'll also be trying to secure their cohort for next year and because they'll be getting questions from their waitlisted students too), let them know that you're still considering their offer and are very grateful for the opportunity, but are waiting to hear back from another school you're waitlisted at before making your final decision. They'll understand.  Congrats on a successful app cycle either way!

Yes! I've been reading Shanzai, really fascinating. What would you recommend next?

I found my Chicago rejection in my junk folder. (Where it belongs.)

Hey Everyone,
I'm applying to philosophy Ph.D. and M.A. programs for Fall 2018 (political philosophy AOI). I'm hoping for the University of Arizona but it's very competitive and I'm not holding my breath. There are some things that give me some hope. Based on my research of the Departments and the work of the faculty there I think I would be a very good fit. I've read research by Jerry Gaus, David Schmitz, Steven Wall, etc and thought to myself this is exactly the kind of research I want to produce someday. Also one of my recommenders isn't well known but was taught by Jerry Gaus when he was in undergrad and David Schmitz and him have collaborated recently.
I've also applied to Brown, Georgetown, Virginia, Michigan, Duke, UNC, Tulane, BGSU, WUSTL.
My "safety" programs are all M.A. programs. Georgia State, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Northern Illinois University. I'm most likely going to end up at GSU and that's fine with me. A student from my undergrad alma mater got into GSU just last year and I've been told I'm better than she was and would be fine to go straight to a Ph.D. program. Given the option between GSU and BGSU, Michigan, Duke, Tulane, etc I'd rather go to GSU for two years and then try again for Arizona, Brown, UVA, Georgetown. GSU's placement rating is quite good particularly for those four programs.
At the moment applications are sent and I'm just waiting.

i posted one of the berkeley acceptances. for those interested, my aoi are history of modern philosophy (esp. kant, nietzsche, wittgenstein), aesthetics and perception, and method. 
while there are some details i'll need to work out and think over, it is likely that i will accept this offer

yea, now that i've thought about it, i should have waited to post until i wasn't going to be ambiguous. i guess i just got too excited...sorry, everyone.