Moose#@1%$

You got accepted to 10 places? Wow. That's pretty amazing. What was your top choice?

Yea.. that's kinda what I was thinking. I mean, I guess they will eventually let me know.. lol

This is and probably will be my third and last time I will going through this process. I got into a MA program first time then shut out the second time (to be fair I only applied to 5 schools because I knew my application was weak), this time I've had some success. Accepted at 1 and wait listed at 2. I will second @Prose comment on pedigree. It plays a huge role - fairly unfairly... doesn't matter .. because you nor I can change the minds of the selection committee. But there are ways to balance that. Your GRE scored DO matter.. I dont care what people say, they do matter. They are not by any means the most important but they matter. Why? The next bit is something that I've heard from a good amount profs on selection committee (this may not be true for all schools but it is for many). 1. For the top schools, it is a good way to weed people out initially. 2. The graduate school, not the phil department, gives out funding and that is the only thing they look at for applicants across the university. So, if the phil committee thinks your GRE scores will not pass their threshold or just aren't good enough, then they are unlikely to offer you a spot since they can't fund you. Especially, if other areas of your file aren't exceptional. Sample Paper: 3. This is the most important bit of advice - do an independent study with a professor in you AOI where you only work on a sample paper and maybe even your SOP. SOP is very important for most schools. The only way they know how to gauge your seriousness and your mental preparation for PhD work. 4. Spend a lot of time on this bit. Because it is well known that if you make it past the initial "trashing the app stage" by the department secretary your SP is going to be read. 5. A term paper with a 100 is NOT nearly good enough to be a competitive SP. LOR 1. Get to know professors, talk to them about your academic endeavors and personal lives. The better they know you, the better the LOR. Where to apply: 1. Unless you're coming from a top 20-30 BA program apply for many MA programs. Sometimes even if you are still apply for funded MA programs. For example, univerist of wisconsin - Milwuakee, University of Arkansas, tufts etc. 2. I promise you, the chances of you being competitive for PhD spots coming from an unknown school are pretty low. Do not listen to people who tell you otherwise, they aren't doing you favors by making you feel good. Be honest with yourself. 3. Get ready to go spend money. Apply to at least 15 schools if not more. Again if others tell you that isn't the case, then chances are they are probably coming from a top program and had decent luck in application. And do research and make sure your are a good fit or a decent fit. That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure many will disagree with me but... meh. lol jk

So.. got a question. When is it appropriate to solicit a response from a school? I know some have already done it but I'm just unsure.

Oh man.. sorry to hear that. Are you coming out of a BA or MA?

21 people? Wow. I hope that includes people accepted.. otherwise.. they seem to be expecting decent rejections from their initial people.

So, anybody got an email from UMass- Amherst saying that there has been a change in status and check portal? But, when you go check there is still says status "pending update"... I'm asking this in this section because I have a strong feeling that it's a rejection and thinking maybe others have received their rejection this way?

Hopefully, we’re not in the next wave rejection. Lol

Yup same here.

Thank you. Maryland is up there for me too. Hope more ppl are able to do the same!

sorry! I just say that because someone on here said that their waitlist email said that BU only made 6 offers this year.

I think they’re done with acceptance.

It sounds like you’re going to get offer or waitlisted. Unless, the people they made the initial offers to all accept or enough that they don’t need a waitlist. But, it sounds like they usually get plenty of rejections.

Idk if there were some reported on here but I had two friends accepted there a few days ago.

This could mean that many of their initial acceptance and waitlisted people denied their offers. Or just s big ass mishap ha

Sorry to hear that! ? hopefully it wasn't your top choice.

ahh alright. Well, that means I most likely was rejected. hah Thank you for the information. I wonder if i should email and aks whether I was rejected?

People waitlisted or accepted at BU. other than the email (solicited or unsolicited) or phone call etc., did your status on the portal change too? I haven't heard anything and my status is unchanged. Just trying to get a sense of things. Thank you.

Like others have said. Depends on your goal. If you’re trying to teach philosophy, then sure. But fair warning.. go to a school with a good PhD placement record. UW- Milwaukee is a good place. But it’s probably best to apply for PhD again but try to spruce up your application. retake GRE? A better sample paper, SOP.. Also, only a funded MA. It’s not worth paying money for an MA in philosophy. It doesn’t matter how much you love it. And pay very close attention to their placement record.

Idk about the acceptances yet, but a friend of mine just got his rejection from them, that is ND. So, if you haven't heard anything yet, you might still be in the running.. hopefully?

True. Me too. But most reporting has been legit, so... hopefully they do.

Ahh okay!

Is there an acceptance for U MASS?

It’s possible that you might be just an excellent writer and you don’t need to spend hours editing it. It might be the paper you wrote was just really well written the first time around. An undergrad prof once told me that “some people just are really good writers and their first (second ) draft is better than most people’s 10th. But most of us aren’t like that, so, spend time editing, a lot of time.” With that said, it’s best to spend time, because chances are that we are not in latter. Lol

Waitlisted at University of Maryland. If you’ve been accepted but don’t plant on accepting, please decline. It’s one of my top 5.