Spirit-Seer

Overall GPA, like the verbal GRE score, is only used to weed out potentially unqualified applicants. Grades in your upper division philosophy courses will be far more instructive to admissions committees. I had a 3.8x GPA, and I got into three top 10 programs. The most important components of your application are your statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and writing sample. To make these the best they possibly can, you'll want to develop close mentoring relationships with at least two (ideally three) permanent faculty members in your philosophy department, so that they can advise you on the admissions process, write stellar letters of recommendation, and help you revise and edit your writing sample.

I declined offers from Stanford, Toronto, Georgetown, Riverside, and Johns Hopkins, and removed myself from wait-lists at Brown and UCSD (AOI: Kant, German Idealism, German philosophy, history of philosophy).

I just accepted an offer from Columbia (AOI: Kant, German Idealism, German philosophy, history of philosophy). I declined offers from Stanford, Toronto, Georgetown, Riverside, and Johns Hopkins, and removed myself from wait-lists at Brown and UCSD.

Thanks for your perspective! I think your suggestion to think of this as a request rather than a negotiation is very helpful. I suppose my main concern was with regard to the perlocutionary effects of even having the gall to ask for more funding, given that the offer is already substantial and competitive with similar programs. I think everyone (myself and the department) can see and know that the amount offered is certainly livable, but I am nonetheless concerned about the cost of living. So, that being said, I agree that it would make the most sense to simply ask if there is any way that they can improve my package.

Regarding the bulleted points, at present I am inclined to choose B over A, but given the disparity between the packages (and the fact that A is also an excellent place to pursue some of my AOIs and philosophy more generally), I haven't sufficiently reflected on this inclination to say definitively that I will or want to choose B. Part of the issue is that A and B have slightly different (but related) strengths, and I haven't personally decided which path I want to take (my application kind of straddles these two AOIs). A further complication is that I haven't visited A yet, but I feel that if I were to negotiate with B, I should do that sooner rather than later to give them a chance to discuss internally. If B were to increase its package even by $1k I think it would be sufficient to take B over A. Perhaps it sounds silly but there is some psychological comfort in being shown that I am really wanted by a department. I don't mean to suggest that this whole process is some sort of game; at heart I am essentially concerned with my living conditions, as it will be quite expensive to live and attend B (and likewise for A, but A's package seems to acknowledge this expense more frankly than B). So, I think I would want to say (to B ) that I am having difficulty choosing between A and B, that I am inclined towards B, but that the decision would be much easier for me if B were able to offer any sort of extra remuneration. What do you think of something along those lines?

Is it appropriate to negotiate funding for a PhD, even if the package is "survivable"? When seeking private employment, it seems like negotiating one's salary is a matter of course. Is the etiquette any different when it comes to negotiating funding packages? More specifically, I am accepted at two wealthy, Ivy or Ivy-esque schools, A and B. University A has offered me a very generous funding package amounting to around a guaranteed $40k for 5 years and minimal teaching responsibilities. University B has offered me a funding package amounting to around a guaranteed $33k for 5 years and a bit more in the way of teaching responsibilities. The cost of living seems to be similar (and expensive!) for both places. I definitely prefer the academic / philosophical environment at University B more; would it be appropriate to email their graduate admissions contact and suggest that I want to make my decision solely (or as much as is possible) on the basis of these academic / philosophical factors, and to then suggest that this might be easier if my funding package were increased? On the one hand, since University B's package is already enough to live on, I don't want to come across as rude or entitled -- but even $33k might not go as far as some might think in certain environments. On the other hand, I would feel remiss to accept University B's package as it stands if there were some chance that they could improve my living situation over the next 5 years. Is anyone else in a similar situation? Or has tried negotiating and have it either succeed or fail?

Hi everyone. I just received an offer for the 5-year PhD in Philosophy at UofT. I'm still waiting to hear back from other schools, but I really like what Toronto's program has to offer. I'll be attending the graduate research weekend mid-March, hope to see others there!