Olórin

I suspect you'll know better than most of the people on here tbh, since most haven't gone through the process yet. It's hard for me to think I'd have insights that you don't already have yourself. To me, undergraduate grades are only important if there are no other reliable indicators of your ability to succeed academically in graduate school. But given the sustained evidence that you have of success in graduate school, I think even a 4.0 undergrad GPA would be irrelevant to many admissions committee's decisions. Anyway, I hope things work out

Uhh, how did you get in the first time? Just do that again.

For an MA program, I would probably suggest prioritizing placement since MAs usually aim at giving students general competency in philosophy. When I did an MA, it was basically impossible to pursue your own interests because the courses demanded so much in so many different arenas. Also, you'd hate to have regrets if you go with the "fit" choice and then don't get in anywhere afterward... For assessment, look at the courses they've offered in the last two to four years, that will give one of the best indicators of what life will be like there.

Well, I think there's a difference between philosophy MAs and fully funded MAs, which tend to be on the competitive side. If an MA program only has 3 funded spots, and 60 applications, that's a 5% acceptance rate. They might admit double though, or move through a waitlist, so the final acceptance rate is higher. My experience with funded MAs is that they have between 3 and 5 spots a year, and they probably receive more than 60 applications. As for your record, it might be hard to convince them that you are better suited to an MA than someone who is transitioning into the field, since MAs

100% double spaced for grad applications.

Miami University of Ohio is fully funded, they lean continental but are pluralist. Their placement record is strong among continental leaning schools.

It sounds like this was a 1-year MA--which adcoms will ideally be understanding about. Here's what I would see: a student who decided to pursue philosophy late in the game, who did extra coursework and a 1-year MA to demonstrated being up to the task, and who is in fact up to the task. I promise you I would have failed a dissertation if I had to write and defend it in less than one year. Basically, you're doing okay and you're still in the running.

I submitted a 25 page paper to a program that asked for 10-15 pages. They admitted me. I wouldn’t sweat it too much, the adcom probably didn’t even know what the application website stipulated.

Sounds like this letter writer doesn’t have your best interests in mind here. It’s unusual to have people approach you to write a letter, and it puts you in a compromised position. My suggestion is to ask your other letter writers if they think it’s a good idea to have this person write you a letter, and if they have suggestions for how to navigate the situation.

FWIW my college gpa was 3.4 and I am in philosophy PhD program. I did a funded MA first.

It’s really up to you. I applied to 6 programs because there were only 6 programs I wanted to go to. If I didn’t get in, I would have done something else with my life. If I was adamant that even a bad fit would be better than nothing, I would have applied to a lot more programs, probably in the vicinity of 15-18. Your letter writers might roll their eyes if you apply to more than 20, but they’re used to it. Schools that use interfolio will make the work easier for them (as others say above).

I am all in for number three! I find the lack of academic job prospects liberating for the reason you state, and I’m not worried or conflicted about leaving academia after I finish my program. (Seriously, I have a part time job this summer that pays more than I would earn by adjuncting two courses. It’s less work for more money, and I still have time to tinker with papers.) My general attitude is this: check all the boxes as if I planned to get an academic job in a field I would want to work it, and even go on the market when the time comes. But also: try getting administrative work every

I’d have a look at University of Hawai’i.

idk what's happening there, but I know Miami of Ohio told all contract faculty (anyone not TT) that their contracts would not be renewed. So it might be a place where uncertainty is messing with available funding, and I am not sure the department would admit anyone without funding.

So, I would say two things. Getting an online MA in philosophy and then another MA in philosophy could raise eyebrows. Also, some (many?) university's will not consider applicants who already possess that degree in the field for which they're applying. So you might inadvertently shoot yourself in the foot by trying to get a leg up. (Mixing clichéd metaphors is always recommended right????) So, no, I don't really think an online MA will help you get into an in-person funded MA in the same field. And while I think online instruction actually has some merits, I think you'll encounter a lot of sno