musicdegree4me

I am just ranking them based on my observation of how well they tend to place in the USA / desirability assuming all things are equal. This also doesn't take into account departmental strengths such that LSE is going to rank higher if one wishes to do political philosophy and Edinburgh will rank higher if someone wants to do philosophy of mind and so on. And, like all rankings, they are subject to my limited knowledge and biases etc and should be taken with a huge grain of salt, though I think an informed starting point. Certainly the programs you mentioned are also very strong (add Texas Tech, Talbot for phil of religion, SFU, etc) and each student will have to take their unique interests, personal / financial circumstances, and risk tolerance in making decisions. The Philosophical Gourmet has a ranking of MA programs that I would encourage folks to look at. Since the OP is an american I thought it helpful to try to place the UK programmes in the context of american programs.

I did a masters at Edinburgh (distinction in the programme and on my thesis) and am now accepted to the Oxford DPhil. I would rank the top UK masters programs as follows: 1) Oxford BPhil 2) Cambridge MPhil 3) LSE 4) Edinburgh/KCL/St. Andrews 7) UCL Interspersing these with US programs I would have a top 5 that looks something like this: 1) Oxford BPhil 2) Tufts 3) Cambridge MPhil 4) Brandeis 5) LSE Tufts and Brandeis have the advantage of offering significant funding. You can certainly get funding at the others, but it is unlikely for American students, especially with your profile (e.g. lower than a 3.9X GPA).

Any word on Harvard, NYU, or Princeton. Seems to be some confusion as to whether people have received notifications of various types from these places (especially Princeton, wherein an acceptance appears to have been falsely reported here on grad cafe).

American. No sources of funding offered and none expected. I am an older student and can, luckily, swing the tuition.

I can claim an Oxford DPhil acceptance that I plan to accept. If there are any others out there would love to connect.

MSt PE applications are not even closed yet. Acceptances go out later than the rest of the phil programmes.

Is this philosophy?

If you said you had a paper, and then didn’t send me the paper, that would come across as pretty disingenuous to me.

One of us ... One of us ... Gooble gobble ... Gooble gobble ...

Ask them to also be considered for the PhD.

I switch back and forth between program and programme depending on the referent. I am waiting to hear back from my programmes in the UK and you’re waiting to hear back from your programs in the US. Similarly, my dissertation proposal is on moral “judgement”.

Coco - I should wager that channeling your energy into something positive is likely the best thing you can do at this point; ergo rewriting your paper as you are, is probably the best use of your time. So bravo for that. Perhaps you might also make a short term goal; maybe go to the gym each day from now until March 9th or learn the basics of a new language, etc. Personally, I've committed to reading one interesting paper per day (I am currently reading a paper on teleosemantics). I've also enjoyed reading and critiquing the samples and SOP's of other applicants to get a sense of who people are and what type of philosophy they are interested in; bonding together while we go through the agony of waiting and also further developing my own skills as a reader of philosophy while gaining the benefit of networking and community building with my peers. None of this solves the ultimate problem - I am going to be sitting around increasingly anxious over the next month while I await a response from the only programme I really wish to attend. But, we all do the best we can and it should help to know you're not alone. Also, it sounds a bit trite, but there is something to be said for the anxiety. The thrill of triumph is arguably enhanced when it's on the other side of struggle and pain. Finally, I am familiar with your application and I would suggest that you will place in at least 2 or 3 of your choices and as they are all top programs even one placement would be fantastic. And, when in doubt, keep venting here - it's largely what this forum is for.

Can I get in on this?

A new pal from facebook got an interview invite this morning to Cambridge. Most notably, I did not. The email suggests that all candidates under serious consideration will be interviewed. So much for that ...

I have to admit, that seems to be relevant evidence.

I am extremely skeptical that most adcoms are going to spend the time to read abstracts of work posted on your academia page. These are people busy with classes and family life and their own research. They probably mostly care about doing a good job - but also probably mostly aren't looking to give themselves more work to do.

For the record, I just did what I had to do to make mine fit (I was only given one page by my department). I think I wound up going single spaced and extended the margins slightly up and down.

Me too!

Are you UK, EU, or international?

Well then congratulations to us for making it this far! I applied to the Phd Philosophy. I chose Trinity and St. Johns (which are rivals - whoops), but there are so many colleges I think I would be happy at: King's, Corpus Christi, Gonville and Cauis, Peterhouse, Clare, Pembroke, Queens', Christ's, Jesus, St. Johns, etc. Just not a fan of the 60’s brutalist architecture so hoping for something medieval. Based on historical precedent - I am hoping for results the week of the 17th. Is it similar for your programme? Also as far as I know most people don’t get interviewed - at least for the PhD philosophy - but I saw one invite on the gradcafe results page. Any idea about their interview policies in general?

I applied also and am also a DPhil philosophy. It seems like a wonderful opportunity, but I had no idea how to position myself for that and basically wrote for it the day before it was due.

My only applications were for the PhD / DPhil at Oxbridge. I don’t think being “under review by committee” means anything other than you correctly submitted all of your materials, but since that’s also currently my status I am very happy to be corrected if it means more. Just curious - Which programme did you apply to and what was your first and second choice college?

Side note - I have briefly interacted with Amy Floweree and she is lovely. Also did me a solid one time. Anyone would be lucky to learn under her at TT.

They will trickle in and then the floodgates will start to open the week of Feb 10th.

Yes. /end