Hugh_

I would contact the schools just to be on the safe side...

The funding is pretty meager for RA and TAships...It might be very difficult...Location and cost-of-living should definitely at the top of your priorities if you intend to move forward with the PhD. Pick small towns over big cities!

The NYU program is actually a good program, but yeah, kind of a cash cow. But definitely better than the MA at SFSU. My question is: why didn`t you apply to PhD programs in the first place? PhDs in philosophy usually have the master`s built-in and usually come with solid funding packages... While having a master`s is a great way to demonstrate your research skills when applying to PhDs, one thing to keep in mind is that since PhD program usually include coursework related to the MA program, chances are you won`t get many course credited toward the PhD... In any case, NYU carries much more weight than SFSU for the PhD.

Hi, I think 5 or 6 is a good number. If you are considering more programs than that, something tells me you may not be targeting the right programs.

Admissions committees take a comprehensive look at every application so they will definitely take into account all credit-baring courses and the grades you earned. A 3.4 GPA in computer science is not that bad...but yeah, the extra A`s you got will be seriously considered by the admissions committee.

It is extremely important. I would say that this is the first thing that the admissions committees look at when they sit around to look at files. You can have the best letters of recommendations and the best writing sample, but I a so-so SOP might deter the admissions committee to look further into your file. Make sure your SOP is rigorous, well written, and that it checks all the boxes.