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Without having any other information than what you've provided, two things might throw up flags. One, and I'm in the same boat, is that you're a non-traditional student. I've intentionally not brought up that fact about myself in my SOP/SOI. I didn't want it to potentially be a negative differentiator. Secondly, your sample is in aesthetics. Unless you applied to an aesthetics-heavy department, that AOI hasn't looked that great on the job market for a number of years now. I believe, according to a recent sample, there were just two jobs with that AOI last year. If that's the case, even though it isn't your AOI, they might be judging that as such based on your sample. (I also wrote a paper and attended a conference for aesthetics even though it isn't even remotely an AOI of mine. I made sure to essentially bury it in my CV.) Since much of the prestige in a program is based on graduate placement, it would make sense that few programs take on students with AOIs with few placement opportunities. Regardless, good luck and I hope something comes through!

I've been invited to attend a prospectives' weekend for a waitlisted program, and I'm wondering if this will end up a de facto interview. That can be good and bad, of course. It could either set me apart positively or negatively from other waitlisters who were or were not invited. Any thoughts from those with experience?

Agree entirely. ...though I don't know why schools just don't put you low on the official list instead of on a hidden waitlist that is, theoretically, lower than the actual waitlist.

Very nice! Congratulations! Glad it turned out well.

Given the information about your grades/scores and whatnot, I would bet it's far less your writing sample (though it could be) and might be more your letters. If you do try again next season (should you not receive anything this season), I would encourage you to have a one-on-one discussion with your letter writers and/or find new letter writers.

Thank you!

Keep it brief. Thank them for their time, but be honest: you found another program that better suits your interests, or has offered you a better package. The more honest you are, the better they can use your feedback for next year.

I asked but they couldn’t say.

Gotta say, that’s better than the typical rejection many would get in that situation. I’d look at it as a net positive.

WUSTL

Washington University in St. Louis started sending out waitlisted notifications on 2/24.

PNP. You?!

Officially waitlisted at Washington University in St. Louis, my top choice. Saw there’s another waitlisted on the search/results page, too. 2a/1w/0r/2 to go

I asked what their process was, if it was segmented by specific program (they have two Ph.D. tracks), or if it’s by POI, and, if she could tell me, what place I’m in. She said she couldn’t say much but that they do tend to go for some balance in their programs.

I'm in the same boat, lol.

None at all. To be honest, the term kind of pisses me off. What a pessimistic thing to say. Look, if it's not a rejection, you're still in the running. Be an optimist, acknowledge you're still in the running, and look forward to hearing back.

Don't worry, the end is near. Figure by the end of next week or so, most first passes of acceptances or rejections will be done, most waitlists will be solidified, and then it's again a waiting game til mid-April to see where people declined and positions open. Look at it as you have a variable birthday every day for the next month and a half. Sometimes you get good presents, other times you get bad ones. LOL

So two schools I applied to have sent out some acceptances and some rejections, and one has sent at least one waitlist. So I'm very confused on why I've received none of those statuses yet. I'm not complaining, per say, since it's not an outright rejection. I prefer to look at it optimistically as a "possible waitlist." But, still.. I don't get the logic of the depts.

Accepted to PhD in Health Care Ethics at SLU. Offered possible RAship that will cover all or most of tuition. 2a/0r/0w/3 still to respond.

All these other mass-decisions makes me suspect of the WashU rejection. Traditionally they send out notices next week. I would think that had they sent out rejections, we'd see far more appearing, a la Brown. I'm holding out hope, anyhow.

Very nice idea! Similarly, I sent all of them via email and hard copy in their department box a packet: on top, a list of programs to which I'm applying, due dates, method they'll need to submit the letters, along with my CV, writing sample, and copies of any papers I wrote for them. Fortunately I only had three letter writers and 6 applications (4 of which used ApplyWeb, and two of which used a homegrown system with a tracker) so it wasn't too difficult to track.

Same here. It's my top choice. It is just the slightest bit early for them to be giving notices, though. Typically they'd do it next week. Might just be first round of "clear cuts."

1. Either one of two ways: some natural predisposition to doing well in Philosophy, or by working extremely hard on your writing and argument structure. Feedback from Profs will be key. 2. Absolutely. I found it incredibly helpful to specialize as early as possible. By doing research very early I was able to make connections with Profs and position papers for big conferences. Remember: a terminal MA is 1-2 years, so you don't have much time. Coming from my first semester, I submitted to 20 conferences, was accepted to 11, and presented at 4. For my second semester, I wrote a paper that got me into two additional conferences, including an APA. Start early, finish strong. 3. Not even remotely. But, like others said, this might depend on the program. As far as I'm aware, out of my class, only a few of us were regularly submitting for conferences or publications; I think I was the only one "over-doing it." 4. I wish I had planned out my program better. I'm leaving my terminal MA for a PhD next year (accepted already, so it's a foregone conclusion). I could've completed the program had I really taken the time to plan it out, though it's unnecessary at this point. Just still would've been nice. 5. Yeah, apply early and get funding. Fortunately my Profs were really, really nice and found some TAships and was invited to a RAship that paid for a semester + $5k. But had I applied when I should have (I was a late entry), I likely would've been given substantial funding in addition to waiting tuition. One note: before you decide that it is your chosen career, make sure you're okay with the money you're bound to make. There's lots of public info about salaries, especially in academia. It's nowhere near what you'd make as an engineer. Good luck!

I live near SLU (and also applied two PhD programs there) and am very familiar with the program and some current grad students. I'd be happy to put you in touch. They tend to be a department strong in history/ancient, religion, continental, and health care ethics. I know far less about any specializations into math and philosophy. It's a good community, though. The SLU, WashU, and UMSL grads get together pretty regularly at student-led events and local conferences. It's a pretty close community.

More than anything it likely depends on the stature of the POI in his department. If he's a tenured full prof, he probably has some sway. If he's a teaching prof just finishing his first year, he probably has less clout.