TruthInFiction

I got into three top-15 departments with a 3.5 GPA. It is possible, although not common.

The stipend for the next cohort will probably be what directingdirections said, or a little bit more. It's definitely not an easy amount to live on in the East Bay, but it is doable as long as you can live frugally. Finding housing at all is stressful, and the cost of living is high; you'd have to live with roommates, and couldn't count on going out to eat a lot or very frequent nights on the town. On the other hand, in every respect besides financially it's a great place to live. I don't think any of us find it easy, but I would say most of us find living here to be well worth it on the whole.

I'm sorry, Nicator, but you're wrong - philosophy programs do care about quantitative score, because it's taken to indicate something about logical ability. A high quantitative score doesn't help that much, but a low one can definitely hurt, especially for making the first cut. Krauge, if you don't make it this time, you may want to seriously consider putting the work in to get your quantitative score over 150. If you end up doing significantly worse on verbal, you can always send only your scores from the first time. But it really can make a difference to your chances.

I'm at a top-ten Leiter department, and this isn't the case at all, nor at any other departments that I have any knowledge of. I'm sure there are some departments like this, but I don't think it's the norm. Grad school is definitely extremely stressful, and it doesn't always bring out the best in people, but my department at least is not at all competitive. We're each other's greatest supporters, and often celebrate individual successes as a community. Use your time visiting departments to try to get a sense of the environment, and honest assessments from students about the atmosphere. But I really don't think cutthroat environments are the norm.

I wouldn't worry about this at all. Programs don't care about your AW score, since you'll be submitting a writing sample which will be much better evidence of your writing ability. Focus on your writing sample and don't bother retaking unless you think you can improve verbal and/or quant.

Declined UNC and Arizona.

Three rejections in two hours. Not a great feeling.

When will this hellish roller coaster of excitement and disappointment finally come to an end...

Thanks! Nothing's changed on the application website. As for more information, I got a phone call telling me I've been accepted and a little bit about funding, and then an email soon after with the official letter and a lot more information about funding. That's all the information I have :/.

Just got the phone call from Arizona!

Just got an acceptance from UNC with funding that was actually sent yesterday.