magog

I inquired about this a couple of years ago when I was flirting with getting back into the academy and David Pitt specifically told me they're not interested in rec letters. You might as well contact them yourself though just to make sure nothing's changed - I'm sure they get that question all the time. But beware: CSULA is really hurting financially and I've heard they're transitioning many phil courses to online(!) only or cancelling them outright. Maybe rumors - I'm sure someone who attends can give better info on that. What is it about CSULA that's attractive to you? There might be better options.

FYI for those waiting to hear back from LSU, they just emailed me. I've accepted an offer elsewhere, so I'll be declining. Good luck.

Based on the schools you applied to for PhDs, I'd suggust Toronto. UWO, from my understanding, is more SPEP oriented. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with what Nausea said. But (and I know this isn't the topic of this thread, but still), I tend to believe that your writing sample is far more important than your SOP. May I ask what your philosophical interests are, and if you have any idea where you'll be applying?

They had about 10 prospective students visit for interviews and such this past weekend, and are looking to fill 6 spots. However, the students that were invited to campus are not the only ones on their short list. I believe offers will go out by the end of this week. And, of course, they might dip into the wait list / short list if anyone declines.

this - greatness starting with season 4

I guess the point was that to even be in a position where one can refuse to be in a shitty situation is itself privileged. Or maybe that to have the mindset that a fast-food job or a job with anti-intellectuals is in fact shitty is a privileged attitude. I agree, and I don't care. We ARE privileged - both to be in a situation where graduate school is a social/economic possibility, and to have minds/attitudes conducive to intellectual pursuits. So what?

I'm 'miserable' when I'm sitting in my cubicle. I'm alive when I'm presenting a paper. Having walked in both worlds, the choice is no choice at all. I will no longer surround myself with intellectually incurious capitalists.

Buy a hooker with the last bit of money I've saved from my 'real job.'

Anyone heard anything form Memphis? I expected word by now...

Yawn. Articles like this can kiss my ass.

This is a good point, I probably overstated my case. The name recognition might be seen as a potential marketing tool for the dept. "We have X number of faculty from the Ivy League," or whatever. I think this can be a good resource, but be careful with it. Leiter himself has said that those interested in 20th century French phenomenology will find his rankings of little use. I think this is true also for those who take Derrida or Lacan seriously. Note that he does not have a sub-ranking category for phenomenology at all. Of course, it's somewhat presumptuous for those of us who are 5-7 years removed from our PhDs to be discussing TT positions... but philosophy students aren't the humblest bunch.

Hi Savvy, A few things you should keep in mind (just my opinions, but, I think, informed opinions): The hierarchy of graduate programs is not the same as the hierarchy of undergrad. Ivy League, 'Public Ivy,' 'Southern Ivy,' etc don't matter all that much - what matters is the reputation of the particular program in which one intends to study. Remember, getting a job in academia is not the same as, say, going for an interview at Acme Financial. In the latter case, the general status and name recognition of a school weighs heavily in your favor. In the former case, let's say you want a tenure track position in subject X, have a PhD in X from Yale, but your competition has a PhD in X from Generic State University. If Generic State happens to have a leading department in X, and Yale doesn't, Ivy League be damned - you're not getting the job. In your case, you're interested in the type of philosophy taught at only a handful of schools, *many of whom hire graduates from each other’s programs.* You say your odds of getting a TT position are higher with an Ivy League philosophy PhD than one from, say, Stony Brook. This is probably true in general, but, I'll argue, *not if you want to study and eventually teach 19th and 20th century German/French Phenomenology and Psychoanalysis.* So, if you're obsessed with the name of the school, go comp-lit, but realize that names like 'Harvard' and 'Yale' don't do much to impress the community of scholars that you want to join.

I agree with Nausea. You might check out the MA programs at Texas A&M or LSU - both are 'pluralistic' and have the potential to offer funding.

What is called 'philosophy' is so broad in subject and method that I'm confident in saying there is no 'best' place to study it. It all depends on what exactly under the broad umbrella of 'philosophy' you're interested in. Ethics? Metaphysics? Phil of religion? Phenomenology? Ancient Greek? Political? Epistemology? Critical Theory? Cog. Science? Logic? Pragmatism? Etc. Since you are coming from a theological background you might also consider Religious Studies programs that have heavy philosophy components. We could give you a better answer if you could tell us what types of philosophical problems/which philosophers interest you, and maybe a bit more on your theological background as well. Protestant? Catholic? Other? Do you ultimately want a PhD in philosophy? Theology? Religious Studies? As far as funding, that's tricky. There are some MA programs with funding, but I'm not aware of any that I would call 'excellent' (I'm not nearly as familiar with non-continental programs though, so others will have better info on that).

Thanks. Hopefully all of you that are still waiting get your own good news soon... one thing to keep in mind is that if it can work out for me it can work out for anyone. I've been out of academia for two years, my undergrad and MA are from no-name departments (as far as philosophy is concerned), and I wasted my undergrad doing anything but homework. Good good luck to everyone.

I'll claim that result. I'm keeping it under wraps in my offline life (since it's not 100% final until March), but since this site is more or less anonymous I guess I'll come out of the closet. I was shocked and awed by the phone call, to say the least. Still haven't totally wrapped my head around it...

I expected to see results from more of my schools by now... how am I supposed to work under these conditions? In the mean time, anyone want to share what they're currently reading? I'm in the middle of Stiegler's _For a New Critique of Political Economy_.

French and/or German. Learn them.

Wondering the same thing... this is a few weeks earlier than I expected (based on past results) anyone to hear form UofO.

I can't resist perusing craigslist housing/apt ads...

This is my first round applying to PhD programs after a couple of years thinking I'd be out of the academic game - already have an MA. I want to be cautiously optimistic, but it's difficult when you don't have a stellar pedigree. Most of the time I have very little hope of acceptance anywhere, although I'm confident in my abilities if I do in fact get accepted. Most of my thoughts tend toward wondering what I'll do if(when) I am left with 12 embarrassing rejections. Try again next year? Friends/family can't begin to understand how this feels... I wonder what the first rejection will feel like. I pass the time reading the '100 reasons not to get a PhD in the Humanities' blog.

I'd suggest looking back at previous years on the results survey to see how it's played out. They might send out acceptances one week, then wait-list's the next, etc., it just depends on the department.

DePaul interviews and invites for on campus visits. Penn State interviews.

What's everyone going to do if they don't get in anywhere, or get in sans funding (and aren't rich)? I honestly don't know... Peace Corps? Try again next round? ...probably pull a Leaving Las Vegas.