Nichi

My professor to me yesterday: "You've been accepted to Florida State which has Al Mele and UC Riverside which has John Martin Fischer. How will you decide?"
 
 

I attempt. https://thenichi.bandcamp.com
I also composed a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KIBp0mFYBo&index=31&list=UUoAwkgXfbhPw46zeAVy45fQ But it's been so long. Grad school has decimated my time for music. 
 

Just out of curiosity, are you guys saying what you think a decent/average GPA is, or a *good* GPA?
 
I was answering based on an above average definition of good, but with the 3.5 range answers, I'm thinking maybe I'm going in a slightly different direction. 

I don't mean to be primitive, partial or confusing.

What are you guys comic book artists?

Partial mimesis' of the already partial subject???

If you don't mind my asking, why do you want an MA in philosophy? Frankly, you won't be competitive, for all the reasons you mention. If you get all As for a couple semesters maybe you could get into a self-funded MA program at an unranked school. But would that be preferable to just studying philosophy on your own for free?

Non-traditional almost seems like the norm at UCR. (Possibly because non-traditionals stand out a bit, but at the same time it was the only place I visited where my odd background got a "Yeah, we all have odd backgrounds" response.)
 
 
The general rule is have upper-level or grad-level coursework in philosophy. Even if it's just one class to 
1. Get an A and show you can handle it.
2. Get a letter from a philosopher who can say you can handle it.
 
I only published in one undergrad conference proceedings and presented at undergrad conferences. My B.S. came from a school without much of a reputation. (It's a decent program, but I doubt the name was pulling much weight.) Nonetheless, I did get accepted to a top 15 overall philosophy program. If you do a little bit of searching in the subforum, you'll see some threads with stories of even longer shots. A top 10/15/20 program is a long shot for pretty much anyone. I wouldn't say you need to be publishing or speaking to get in, but at the same time, if you can be presenting your work and getting feedback, why aren't you? 
Several studies I've seen (thanks to the philosophy blogosphere being concerned with causal connections between studying philosophy and test scores) say you can't do much to improve your GRE. If you have the time and money, though, it can't hurt, especially since you know where your gaps are. (I was able to remember the problem I missed on the Q section and solved it on my way home. Prompt smack to the forehead.) Look at the averages to the schools you're interested in. At some you're solid. I've seen a few where you'd be at a disadvantage.
As @Glasperlenspieler said, though, fit will matter. Spamming the top ten with little regard for fit is a waste.
 
It's a survey of what many prominent philosophers think regarding which schools have the best faculty. 
The alternative is just asking the philosophers you know which schools are best. You can still do that, though. PGR just gives you an aggregate of what more qualified people think.
This is why finding placement data is important. Last I checked, U of Memphis had a 100% placement rate despite being (iirc) unranked. Reading the part on the website saying what the PGR is measuring is important in using it. Really in using any statistical data, reading what the data is measuring is a good idea.
1. I'd be concerned about anyone who hasn't grown substantially in five years. If you're not getting better each year, what are you doing?
2. Why are there mid-tier journals, then? Shouldn't everyone be polishing until they get into Nous?
The general rule is a letter from a philosopher is better than from a non-philosopher. Though the more damning rule is when more than three can be sent, three good is good. Three good plus one lukewarm may sink you. I would speculate two good letters from philosophers plus a good from religious studies is better than two good philosopher letters and a lukewarm philosopher letter. (This is also usually regarding PhD programs. I will note I know much less about applying to MA programs.)
 

Non-traditional almost seems like the norm at UCR. (Possibly because non-traditionals stand out a bit, but at the same time it was the only place I visited where my odd background got a "Yeah, we all have odd backgrounds" response.)
 
 
The general rule is have upper-level or grad-level coursework in philosophy. Even if it's just one class to 
1. Get an A and show you can handle it.
2. Get a letter from a philosopher who can say you can handle it.
 
I only published in one undergrad conference proceedings and presented at undergrad conferences. My B.S. came from a school without much of a reputation. (It's a decent program, but I doubt the name was pulling much weight.) Nonetheless, I did get accepted to a top 15 overall philosophy program. If you do a little bit of searching in the subforum, you'll see some threads with stories of even longer shots. A top 10/15/20 program is a long shot for pretty much anyone. I wouldn't say you need to be publishing or speaking to get in, but at the same time, if you can be presenting your work and getting feedback, why aren't you? 
Several studies I've seen (thanks to the philosophy blogosphere being concerned with causal connections between studying philosophy and test scores) say you can't do much to improve your GRE. If you have the time and money, though, it can't hurt, especially since you know where your gaps are. (I was able to remember the problem I missed on the Q section and solved it on my way home. Prompt smack to the forehead.) Look at the averages to the schools you're interested in. At some you're solid. I've seen a few where you'd be at a disadvantage.
As @Glasperlenspieler said, though, fit will matter. Spamming the top ten with little regard for fit is a waste.
 
It's a survey of what many prominent philosophers think regarding which schools have the best faculty. 
The alternative is just asking the philosophers you know which schools are best. You can still do that, though. PGR just gives you an aggregate of what more qualified people think.
This is why finding placement data is important. Last I checked, U of Memphis had a 100% placement rate despite being (iirc) unranked. Reading the part on the website saying what the PGR is measuring is important in using it. Really in using any statistical data, reading what the data is measuring is a good idea.
1. I'd be concerned about anyone who hasn't grown substantially in five years. If you're not getting better each year, what are you doing?
2. Why are there mid-tier journals, then? Shouldn't everyone be polishing until they get into Nous?
The general rule is a letter from a philosopher is better than from a non-philosopher. Though the more damning rule is when more than three can be sent, three good is good. Three good plus one lukewarm may sink you. I would speculate two good letters from philosophers plus a good from religious studies is better than two good philosopher letters and a lukewarm philosopher letter. (This is also usually regarding PhD programs. I will note I know much less about applying to MA programs.)
 

Decimals are yucky.

A bit sad leaving my undergrad community in a week or so. Then leaving the place I spent the past 22 year in in a few months. Very excited for my adventures in Riverside.

Well, negotiating is mildly less unpleasant than I expected. And by "negotiating" I mean "asking if the offer can be increased while acknowledging I don't want to play a negotiation game, can we please do this quickly and then talk about something pleasant like metaphysics".

I don't know what good berating mano is going to do. As to the situation at hand, you can ask, you'd be unwise to expect. That the decision day is a Saturday (and on a holiday weekend no less!) is unfortunate since it means less chance of contacting people, especially faculty. So do what you can. That said, one extra day (Easter) is thus unlikely to help much unless you're somewhere that doesn't celebrate. Or, I suppose if you're truly busy, then you might benefit. Given the gravity of the decision and unlikeliness of an extension, you'd be well-off to clear your schedule and figure it out.

My professor to me yesterday: "You've been accepted to Florida State which has Al Mele and UC Riverside which has John Martin Fischer. How will you decide?"
 
 

Just got accepted off the waitlist at the University of Oklahoma yesterday! It seems like most people are done, but I'm just getting started haha. University of Utah is still working through their lists for instance. 
But the Oklahoma offer is funded with the normal benefits so I'm beyond excited! 

Haven't experienced it as a grad student (yet) but I've been hugged by a few male and female professors in undergrad after big milestones or when we bumped into each other after I graduated...although I'm from the Midwest and that pretty much guarantee's 90% of the population are big on hugging

Accepted offer from UC Riverside 

Fare well. I imagine I'll be seeing at least some of you around in the philosophy world. Since the next application season is coming around soon and I found the people who stuck around from previous years helpful, I'll probably pop in on occasion. And the other subforums look like they have some good info on the part that comes after making a decision.
 
Song relevant.

Fare well. I imagine I'll be seeing at least some of you around in the philosophy world. Since the next application season is coming around soon and I found the people who stuck around from previous years helpful, I'll probably pop in on occasion. And the other subforums look like they have some good info on the part that comes after making a decision.
 
Song relevant.

Also removed from Notre Dame waitlist. 

Declined Arizona.
In case someone here gets the waitlist offer and is curious, everyone there seemed to be sharp philosophers and kind people, but the fit is better for me at UCR. It was a tough decision.

Accepted offer from UC Riverside 

Accepted offer from UC Riverside 

Accepted offer from UC Riverside 

Accepted offer from UC Riverside