MattDest

Iowa requires the same thing oddly enough. I really don't think it will be a problem. They must understand that this will happen occassionally (and it's doubtful they are reviewing too many applications this week).

I already upvoted this, but I felt I needed to just share this. I want to enjoy these next few weeks... but...

I think that all of these just indicate that you're over-thinking the minor details. I can't imagine that any of these would have any impact whatsoever on how an adcom will see your sample.

My GPA was bumped up a bit too with a 4.0 from this semester, but I'm not going to bother submitting those grades. I don't think that the slight change is going to have any significant impact on application chances, and it's a considerable amount of work to update the transcripts.

You scored perfect on both the V/Q? Wow, that is absolutely phenomenal. Congratulations! Is the rest of your application as spectacular?! (Sorry if you don't feel like sharing, you absolutely don't have to. I'm just very curious.)

That "fair amount" of studying sounds like a *ton* of studying to me. Would you mind sharing your scores Table?

phil

I didn't apply there - but I really wonder what's going on. It's awfully late to be sending out this type of e-mail, especially for those who already sent GRE scores.

Both times I have applied my professors have all submitted their letters on time (and in most cases, quite early). As long as you give them enough time in advance and keep them abreast of where you are applying and when the deadlines are - most of them are quite good at getting them submitted. After all, they know the drill.

*Fourth* time?! Wow, that's pretty intense. What are your interests, Aquinas?

^Ditto! I'm a little worried that my WS doesn't match my SOP as well as it should, but I wanted to submit my best paper.

I've heard similar things. But from discussions elsewhere (smoker, Leiter, etc.) it seems like a lot of letters are quite inflated. Unless they measure you compared to other students (i.e. "top 5% of students I've ever taught!"), I imagine that the lavish praise starts to run together. Tepid letters, on the other hand, will stick out like a sore thumb.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Did you ask them if they would be willing to write you a strong letter? I think most professors would be kind enough to brush away requests from people they feel they couldn't fully endorse. If they agreed to write you a letter, then I imagine that they have something positive to say about your abilities. Personally, I'm not really worried about my letters. Although I didn't get to read any of them (bar_scene, I'm so jealous!), I won an 'outstanding grad student' award and have talked at length with each of my letter writers about whether or not I should apply. I don't think any of them have any earth-shattering praise, but I can't imagine that lack luster letters will be my downfall (likely, it will be my WS ).

Good luck, kant_get_in. May the force be with you. Did you go to one of the "Leiterriffic" MA programs? I imagine it will greatly improve your odds.

I applied to a few schools that are fairly low ranked (UConn, Mizzou, Rice, UIC) and I would certainly go to all of them. They are all good departments. I think U Conn especially is too low-ranked for the quality of their faculty. If you can't see yourself going to the program over any of the MA programs you apply to - then I wouldn't apply there. But look at the placement records of some of the schools you are considering, and whether or not you would like to work with the faculty there. If I remember right, your main AOI is meta-ethics. You might consider looking at the gourmet in that area and looking at the lower ranked programs that are highly rated in that area (UC Davis, Nebraska, etc.).

Many schools take a while to update the app. I wouldn't worry about it until its been a week or two.

Yeah, zizek - take comfort in the fact that everyone (or almost everyone) feels the same way. Try to enjoy the holidays and know that the decisions aren't going to come out for awhile. Once you hit that submit button, you've done all you can for now.

I applied to about 20 schools, and my letter writers didn't seem terribly bothered by it. While there's no certain cut off, I would think anything 25+ is pushing it. I know that I feel pretty ridiculous applying to so many schools, but I didn't want to have to go through this process again.

What is "HYP"? I wouldn't bother retaking it, those are pretty great scores. Also, it's probably too late to retake anyway - right?

I'm having a hard time believing your reading list! I'm with phil519, it seems counter-productive to rush through works that quickly. How can you even talk about so much reading every week? In most of my grad courses we spend an entire 2 hr 45 minute class period on one or two journal articles, or a single chapter of a work. Here are my brief answers: (1) I have no idea. Maybe I *should* keep track of what I read, but I don't have a list handy anywhere. Currently reading Joshua Greene's Moral Tribes which is absolutely fantastic. (2) If you haven't read Daniel Kahnman's Thinking, Fast and Slow then you should drop whatever you are currently reading and pick it up. That book changed my life. (3) A seminar on Aristotle, independent study on social epistemology, and writing my thesis. (4) I can't say enough positive things about my department, and I'm not just saying that. We got a really neat crop of people that came in this semester, and I get along with most of them pretty well. I wish there was a bar on campus (or even in the department!), though. (5) After I finish my last paper and grade all of these finals, I'll probably take a break until the 1st. I bought an XBOX One, so I imagine I'll have a steady dose of that over the next few weeks in addition to family visiting for the holidays. (6) I work for an empirical lab studying synesthesia and perception, and I'm interested in psych and neuroscience generally.

Although the writing sample does seem a bit gimmicky, we really don't have any idea how well it is written. Moreover, I don't think there is really any evidence to suggest that professors in those programs will look bad at a dialogue just because it is a dialogue. I think you are spot-on about who to take advice from, though.

I think you have a great chance. Out of curiosity, why did you wait two years before applying? I know that some schools want gaps in education explained, but I don't think two years is enough of a gap to warrant explanation.

Please do! No problem.

Not very rigid. Obviously, it can't just be about anything you could possible word-associate with political philosophy, but we just want the best possible papers.

(1) It is indeed a suggestion for all who might be lurking here. Undergraduate submissions are welcome. This will completely give away my identity (it's really easy to figure out anyway), but I'm OK with that - I haven't said anything too incriminating, I don't think. Here's the CFP, please feel free to give it to anyone who may be interested: http://philosopherscocoon.typepad.com/blog/2013/10/gateway-graduate-conference-cfp.html (2) There isn't a particular individual that I am interested in, I am mostly interested in issues in religious epistemology, the problem of evil (I edit the PhilPapers category for this actually - something that you all might consider applying for! It's very easy and helps out the PhilPapers editors immensely if you do a good job) and other things. Alvin Plantinga, Peter van Inwagen, William Alston, Paul Draper, J.L. Mackie, the list goes on and on.