The_Last_Thylacine

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

I have a concern that mental health is not so much affected by a failure to maintain a work-leisure distinction (whatever this means to you; philosophy is both my leisure and my work) as it is by a failure to meet one's goals. Every students has a set of goals that they wish to achieve, and if your goal is to become an academic philosopher, then to me it seems likely that students (like myself at least) would need to work for about 70+ hours per week to achieve this goal. I have seen a lot of people on here with intimidating intellects, and if you are one of the truly exceptional philosophy students, then this generalization will obviously not apply to you. You may, for instance, be able to produce a publishable paper with only 20 hours a week. 
However, in philosophy, what seems to be the biggest cause of mental health issues (e.g. depression) is that students have a goal of being at the top of their class and they refuse to work the number of hours per week that (for them) would be required to meet this goal. Alternatively, to be at the top of a class, some students may refuse to sacrifice other things that they value more than philosophy (e.g. family life, hanging out with friends, being in a band, et cetera). Sure, sometimes students get sick or their grandparents die, but programs will often treat these kinds of situations as extenuating circumstances. 
I don't really see any reason to talk about mental health here. If you are becoming depressed doing academic philosophy, then you should do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but you shouldn't feel entitled to a job at the end of your graduate education if you've submitted work that is of a lesser quality than everyone else. You've just learned that academic philosophy is not for you.
 

If you're thinking you might need to defer, then I'd suggest you should talk to the DGA/DGS ASAP about your situation. Don't wait until after the 15th.

I think I usually averaged 70 hour weeks in my first year, but that's hard to account for, given the amount of bullshitting that goes on when you talk to your classmates while working.

I just declined my spot at Georgetown, and removed myself from all of the waitlists that I'm on: UO, Emory, and Northwestern.
AOI: philosophy of race, critical theory, 20th c. continental, political philosophy

I'm an MA student, too. In my first year, I took four classes both semesters and had discussion sections for my TA course. So I spent 12hrs/wk in classes + 8hrs/wk on TA duties. I'd say I spent another 40-50hrs/wk on course work (reading and writing). That totals to 60-70hrs/wk. I only took three classes fall semester of my second year, but I spent the extra time preparing my PhD application. So I was still at about 60-70hrs/wk (maybe more). This semester (my last one!) I've had significantly less motivation, but I'd imagine I'm still putting in 40-50hrs/wk. Also note that I worked ~60hrs/wk on my writing sample from 1 June until the start of the semester. 
TL;DR: expect to spend 60+hrs/wk on average.

I will accept at Pitt if I don't get accepted off of NYU's waitlist.

Today, I declined Florida State and removed myself from the waitlists at UC Davis (where I was third on the waitlist); SLU (unranked); and Syracuse (where I was approximately 13th on a waitlist of 20). It was really hard to do this because these are all good programs, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other applicants. 

Today, I declined Florida State and removed myself from the waitlists at UC Davis (where I was third on the waitlist); SLU (unranked); and Syracuse (where I was approximately 13th on a waitlist of 20). It was really hard to do this because these are all good programs, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other applicants. 

Today, I declined Florida State and removed myself from the waitlists at UC Davis (where I was third on the waitlist); SLU (unranked); and Syracuse (where I was approximately 13th on a waitlist of 20). It was really hard to do this because these are all good programs, but it just wouldn't be fair to the other applicants. 

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

Congratulations on being accepted to your top choice, and thanks for quickly removing yourself from the waitlist! You're one of my many heroes right now!

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

Yep, Princeton! *dies of excitement*

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them! 

If you look at their profile, I believe it was Princeton.

Congratulations on being accepted to your top choice, and thanks for quickly removing yourself from the waitlist! You're one of my many heroes right now!

I emailed to ask if I was off the waitlist at Florida State, and they had just voted to accept me even though no one had yet declined! Really nice of them!