UnbearableNausea

Could anyone point me in the direction of an apartment locator? How do you get in contact with these people/services, and are they free, reliable, etc.?

Anyone looking for a roommate in the Montrose/Museum District area of Houston? Personal message me if you're interested! Also, thanks Rhoooob!

I would say first off that you should not let anyone, with the possible (!) exception of your advisors and professors from undergrad, tell you that returning to school to pursue your passion is "silly." It is likely that, as well meaning as this advice may be, it comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to live a life of the mind and the rewards such a life brings. That being said, you are wise to consider the job market, even so early in the process. I have heard that, should you choose not to pursue a teaching position, the view employers will take of your extra degrees depends heavily upon the area of work and the firm itself. Many areas where philosophically-minded individuals thrive require their own form of schooling, such as med school and law school. Becoming an author is also a possibility, but likely just as uncertain as teaching philosophy where steady income is concerned. Worst case scenario, you do not have to mention your higher-level degrees to employers if you do not want to, and if they ask what you have been doing for so long you can always couch your answer in terms of personal growth, problem-solving, research, etc. as these skills translate very well into any environment. You mention Loyola but it is unclear whether you have already applied or if you are merely considering applying there. If you have already applied, what does the funding situation look like? Do you have any existing debt? Savings? Many of the questions you ask are particular to your situation itself. Are you the type of person who can easily avoid having a family for the next 7-10 years and focus on personal and professional development, even at the cost of some debt from student loans? Or do you currently have a family, or a situation you would rather not leave? Without any more information, I suppose I would say there is little harm in attending a funded M.A. Worst case scenario, you will lose out on two years of wages at your current job and chances for promotions and may need to re-calibrate your sights when you enter the job search again. Taking out loans for an MA is a different animal, and is contingent upon your personal finances, your comfort level, and your desire to pursue philosophy for the sake of philosophy. I will also toss in as a side note that, although I know very little about this, I have heard that continental programs are much harder to find, and that the job market is a little more rough on those from a continental background (at least in the U.S., where most philosophy departments lean heavily toward an analytic approach.) I may have generated more confusion, but I do hope this helps somewhat.

I think many of your arguments hold true for a BA more than they do graduate studies in philosophy, and I actually think you are quite wrong about future role of MAs. This will especially be the case if/when most PGR ranked programs cut the number of funded PhD spots. One thing to consider is the attrition rate paired with the somewhat severe lack of jobs. Many programs lose a substantial percentage of their graduate students before they complete their degree, and even still, the relative few who enter the job market face not just stiff competition but an actual lack of employment opportunities. While it may seem authoritarian or fascist for a school or a cadre of schools to purposefully cut their enrollment to compensate for the terrible job market, the alternative is to continue to perpetuate a system that results in a glut of applicants in the market and a corresponding glut of unemployed and overeducated individuals. Is this the responsibility of the schools? No. But it is refreshing to see that they are aware of the issue and are actively trying to resolve it. You say that as long as they are adults and know the risks then things should remain as they are. But grade inflation and the general tone of pseudo-grooming that goes on leads many, many students to believe that they are the brightest star in the sky, when they are but one among many. Some are not even told about the job shortage that awaits them - and this has been the case for almost 20 years. I should like to live in a world where students are encouraged to seek out graduate programs without a thought for potential hardship that awaits them in getting a job, but that is surely not the world in which we live. I agree that education should be as much about enrichment as it is about pursuing a career, which is why I see MA programs playing a larger role in the coming decades. As MA degrees become more and more expected across the board, philosophy-specific MA programs will serve as a proving grounds that a candidate has ( a ) the chops to complete PhD level course work and ( b ) is sufficiently exposed to the atmosphere in professional philosophy departments so as to weigh whether this is the life he or she would like to lead. Also, law is facing a similar glut of qualified workers without job prospects, though not to the degree that philosophy is.

I would agree with these statements, but I disagree with their degree. First, with regard to the friend mentioned, I should hope he did not send in a 100 page honors thesis in with his application, as I doubt anyone, even faculty at NYU, MIT, etc. would read any more than 10 or 15 pages of even a top-notch writing sample, if that. I would even go so far as to say sending that large of a writing sample in (unsolicited) is rude, and risks damaging your application. Additionally, as I have noted in another thread, if the results survey is to be trusted then individuals with 3.18 GPAs and the like can gain funded offers from mid-ranked programs. With the exception of general advice (i.e. do as well as you can on every aspect of the application) the application process is somewhat of a black box. Individuals with top stats are sometimes rejected, individuals with weaker areas are sometimes offered top spots. None of us here are in a position to offer more than anecdotal evidence or general advice from those in a position to know, like Eric S. and Brian L. As for the competitive nature of top tier programs, I agree with the spirit of these comments but not the hyperbole. Yes, realistic candidates for the top ten PGR programs must not only be brilliant but have sterling records and a good measure of luck. That being said, the difference between realistic candidates for the 50th ranked program and the 10th ranked program is the difference between, say, 97th percentile and 99th percentile. It is well-documented that philosophy majors score higher on most, if not all, types of tests and one can infer from statistics like these that philosophy majors are some of the brightest students coming out of any given school. In light of this, admission into any ranked program is an indication of at least above-average intelligence. Cases like I note above where there exist some lacunae in the application and yet a funded position is offered from a top ranked program likely indicates an incredibly strong aspect that outweighs any weaknesses present. A very low GPA, relatively speaking, might be outweighed by an incredibly tight writing sample, though I would say the chances the inverse would be the case are slim. As a side note, the suggestion to apply widely is a wise one. I would also add that one should pay careful attention to the ranking in specific areas of study and not simply the general rankings of the PGR. Programs that are not as highly ranked in general may nevertheless be ranked as a top program for a specific focus. Given the current (competitive) climate, a reduced number of spots in ranked programs, and the economy, it is wise to apply to more "safeties" and fewer reaches than in the past. This would include MA programs and unranked PhD programs.

Brandeis and Houston have already notified. Check the results survey to see who else has posted so far.

These areas are not really my strengths and so I cannot say much about which programs are strong. You should definitely look at what the Philosophical Gourmet (linked above) says with regard to which programs focus in these types of areas. Leiter breaks them up into tiered groups, but really most of the programs are going to have more/stronger faculty in that area than schools who are not even listed for that focus. I have heard people speak highly of Purdue's philosophy and literature, although it is not really a ranked program (if that matters to you at all). As for the GRE, one thing I would suggest (if possible) is to pay the extra money to take a prep-course and do so with enough time to really focus on studying the material provided. These programs teach tricks that save you time and can help make any guesses you must make more likely to land a correct answer. The application process is a black box from our end, and so it is difficult for any of us to know what factors weigh more heavily at certain schools versus others, but high tests scores never hurt. Low scores can, but again, no one knows to what extent. If I were you I would not take the test more than one more time unless you feel certain you will get a much higher score, as you do not want to waste money or time if you continue to get the same score. Focus instead on really tuning up your writing sample, and let your letter writers talk you up.

All of these replies are about 6 years old but I thought I would post in here first rather than start a new one... I am considering an offer from Brandeis, and the best financial aid they can offer would still have me taking out a loan to cover part of tuition and living expenses. What I am wondering is if anyone could ballpark it for me what a modest but livable amount of money would be for a single grad student living in Waltham and attending Brandeis. 10K? 12K? 15K? More? Also, with regard to Waltham, is there literally nothing there (i.e. no grocery stores, cafes, bars, etc.) or is it just quiet compared to Boston? I would easily be able to bring a car, but would prefer not to if I can to keep costs down. Thanks in advance!

Occasionally people will post their CGPA and GRE scores in the results survey. Otherwise I have not seen a thread that offers states paired with acceptances.

I especially second this part of ECG's response, but I would say that given this round of applications was particularly brutal for a lot of people (although that's the trend) one would be wise to choose a few extra "safeties" as programs are becoming less safe as the market becomes more competitive. With respect to your friend, M.A.s are a great way to jump into a better PhD program than you might otherwise be able to attend and are certainly a great place for students with one or two weaknesses in their applications to bolster their next attempt at PhD programs.

As unhelpful as this sounds, it is the truth: no one on these boards is capable of assessing any person's chances of being accepted into any program, let alone whether that person is a good candidate for graduate programs in general. The best anyone can do is compare your stats with those of accepted and enrolled students at various programs and guess, although this does nothing to account for exceptional writing samples, or glowing letters from respected faculty (Arizona is a highly ranked PhD program, though I am unsure of how the graduate department is structured.) All such unknowns aside, most M.A. programs in philosophy accept applicants who come from very small departments, or who did not major in philosophy as an undergraduate. However, someone in your position would likely need to demonstrate reasons for pursuing philosophy and perhaps even address why you only took a few courses. Indirectly, discussing some of your work in philosophy in more detail than usual might reinforce that you are a strong candidate despite a limited background. I believe the advice for your situation is just a repetition of the advice for PhD applicants, perhaps with more emphasis on letters and writing sample: (1) Have a tight, pithy writing sample of philosophy (2) Cultivate relationships with your philosophy professors so they feel confident recommending you as a candidate for graduate school (3) Study well for the GRE and get the best scores you can (4) Work closely with your professors to determine which programs best suit your interests and whether they will translate into placement at a PhD program that also fits your interests (5) Also work with your professors on your personal statements

Hi Ekant, Though you are likely looking for an example of the type of format, length, etc. that is typical of a statement of purpose in philosophy, all of the information, and perhaps even how it is presented, what is included, downplayed, highlighted, etc. is particular to the author. For someone with a weak GPA from missing courses due to a medical condition, he or she may choose to mention the extenuating circumstances early, later, or focus more on other activities that demonstrate a commitment to academics, and so on. The best advice I have heard is to work closely with your philosophy professors on your personal statements, and go with their advice. However, there are some reliable sites that have great information on this and other aspects of grad school in philosophy. Here is more general advice from two of the top philosophy blogs: A post with substantive comments on the function of personal statements in philosophy and suggestions for what to include can be found here at Brian Leiter's blog (of the Philosophical Gourmet): http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2007/09/advice-on-perso.html Also, Eric Schwitzgebel has a long-standing (and regularly updated) series of blog posts for grad applicants. Here is the section on personal statements. I would also suggest the other posts in the series. The comment section on every post is also a trove of information, as Eric S. responds to comments whenever they are posted. A lot of the regular questions have been addressed there. http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/10/applying-to-philosophy-phd-programs_08.html Hope these are helpful!

Hello all, There is a chance I might be relocating to Houston to attend UH. I have read through all of the replies, but had a few questions I wanted to throw out there. (1) I grew up on a relatively rural area in New England and have not spent much time in large cities. For undergrad I was in Florida and though I lived downtown, this was not a very developed area either. What advice would you have for someone in my position who is coming into Houston with very little experience of the area, and of big cities in general? (2) I survived undergrad without my own car, primarily by living close to campus and borrowing a friend's car to get groceries, etc. when needed. I currently reside in New England and I do not think my vehicle is up to the drive down to Houston, nor do I want to bring it unless it is absolutely necessary. Some people have said it is, but I do not envision myself trying to investigate every corner of the city - primarily just getting around the immediate area and to and from campus. Can it be done relatively painlessly (and safely!) without a car? (3) My stipend will be around $900/mo but might go up a little bit by the time I accept the offer. I will be arriving with some minor savings, and from all I have read Houston sounds very livable on a relatively small amount. I am wondering if it is possible to afford a 1 bedroom without a car that is in a safe area and still have money left over to pay other bills and to have for meager entertainment? Or should I consider trying to meet up with another grad student who could split a 2 bedroom? My preference is to live alone, but I would not mind a good roommate. Thank you so much for your help!

I have wondered the same myself. I would be a lot better if I had a funded offer under my belt already. I know it's just March 1st but I am becoming worried.

Hi Swizzle, I am not sure if you check the results survey (seeing as you are not yet applying this is unlikely) but there have been at least one or two posters who have below-average GPA but are getting admission into ranked PhD programs WITH funding. I believe one GPA was as low as 3.18. So do keep in mind that this is a very subjective process, and you might be extremely talented philosophically and have the writing sample and letters to back that up and provide entry into a solid program. Now, the PGR lists some of the top MA programs but it does not really do so with regard to a focus area. While I think a focus area is less important in MA programs as in PhD programs, this is still something to consider. When applying to graduate schools, do not go just off of the rankings themselves - research which programs score highly in your desired area of interest. Here is a link to the MA section of the PGR: http://www.philosoph....com/maprog.asp As far as I know there is no database of funded MA programs versus unfunded MAs in Philosophy, but I could be wrong. The PGR is as close to official rankings as we can get and Leiter does not strictly order the MA programs, or discuss funding. It sounds like you are primarily interested in just going to graduate school in Philosophy, and you haven't mentioned any particular areas of interest. I would counsel you to develop a general idea of what you would like to study, not only because programs expect to hear about this in your personal statements, but also because you want to target your applications to programs strong in your area. The PGR lists PhD programs by strength in certain areas, but this is only the top 50 PhD programs in the United States. Given that many of these programs receive 300+ applications per year and only open 5-8 slots, dedicating some time to researching highly-regarded MA or even PhD programs that may not be ranked but have good placement is a good idea. I have heard that it is not always a good idea to enter an MA program at a top-ranked school (i.e. top 15 or 20) because more energy, time, and resources are spent on the PhD students. I have no way of confirming if this is true or not. Again though, what do your professors think of your desire to enter graduate programs? They can point you in the direction of faculty who might work in your area of interest, or good programs you might not know about otherwise. If you have a good relationship with them then they should also be able to tell you how strong a candidate you will be and whether you should focus on MA programs or PhD programs, etc. Input from your professors is invaluable in this process.

This is definitely a question for your professors, as I don't think anyone on this forum has the knowledge or experience in the job market to even begin to give you anything but conjecture. I know there are top-tier programs that are outside of the U.S. (ANU, Oxford, etc.) but in terms of 'niche' schools where departments vetting you for a job would know about, etc. then I really am not sure. Just a blind guess, but I would say it may be easier to find employment (generally) in Europe in your area of study, especially if you have a degree from a European university. Then again, if you are really after a tenure-track position at a research school then you likely would need a PhD from one of the top 4 or 5 programs. Again, all of this is conjecture and you'd be better off having a frank discussion with your professors about your true interests, your concerns, etc. It is a terrible thing to gamble with 5 -7 years of your life, and even worse to waste it studying at a program you really don't want to be in.

I've heard (almost) nothing good - does that count?

Hi Swizzle, The answer to your question is a bit more complicated than providing a list, as there are a large number of factors that could change the way your GPA is perceived. Is your private institution highly regarded and known for being academically rigorous? I ask because a 3.5 from Harvard or a similar institution is said to be on par with a higher GPA from an unknown school. If this is the case, then I would say you have less to worry about. If not, unfortunately most, if not all, PhD programs in Philosophy (especially those that are ranked programs) have a suggested minimum GPA of 3.5, although most applicants to these programs have at least a 3.7. Is your relatively low GPA due to medical problems? Family problems? Any extenuating circumstances that impact your GPA can be discussed either in your personal statement or by your letter writers and, depending on the nature of the circumstances, these might mitigate some concerns about your ability to perform in the program. How are you performing in your advanced philosophy courses? If you are getting A's in these courses and continue to do so, then not only will you be able to pull your GPA up but these are also the courses that programs will see as being more important than, say, your grade in Into courses your first semester in school. All of that being said, I think you should understand that PhD programs, ranked or otherwise, are incredibly competitive, especially when funding is brought into the mix. I think you would save yourself a lot of headaches if you applied primarily to funded MA programs, and a few PhD programs that are on the lower end of the top 50 or are unranked. You can help balance out your application by scoring very well on the GRE, having a solid writing sample, and getting excellent letters from professors who have (1) given you excellent grades in philosophy courses and (2) who can speak positively about your ability to perform in a rigorous academic program. Getting into a good MA program will help you demonstrate you can complete the work, will give you a chance at a high graduate GPA, and can help you get into a better PhD program than you might be able to enter otherwise. What do your professors say about your desire to go to graduate school?

UC Boulder is in the top tier for feminist philosophy, but I echo the sentiment about unfunded MAs. I forget who said this to me, but as unfortunate as it is, one should think twice about entering graduate school for philosophy if no program will offer you money to attend. Worse still, I think one should avoid going into debt to get a degree in philosophy, especially an MA, at all costs. This is because if you are unable to secure funding, regardless of your intelligence and quality as an applicant, there must be some reason (i.e. an incredibly strong pool of applicants, as if the case every single year) why programs do not consider you a competetive candidate. With that in mind, what is normally a brutal job market will become exponentially so given that programs did not consider you competitive enough to fund. Worst case scenario, you are left with an MA you put yourself in debt to obtain with which you cannot secure any form of employment, and likely will not translate into a paygrade bump in the non-academic job market. All of this is CERTAINLY not to say that this is the boat you, or anyone on this forum for that matter, is in. Rather, a cautionary tale that has been passed on to me, so I thought I would contribute for what it's worth. I would say, faced with the decision of an unfunded MA or another year off trying to find the perfect program that will offer funding, I would hands-down take the latter. Even two more years. That way you are at least avoiding debt AND making some money, job experience, etc.

Read challenging material in the area you want to study, and also branch out slightly. It also can't hurt to scour the net for one or two free journal articles written by professors at the programs you are hoping to attend. It never hurts to be able to (honestly) say that you have read "_________" and it impacted the way you view _______. Also, even though you mention you will already be studying for the GRE, you should also study study study study. Study.

I think this is still good news, goodmayhem, despite the fact that Boulder does not fund the 1st year for MA students. Boulder is a great school, and is not so high in the rankings that the MA students will be ignored in favor of the PhD students. Congratulations! Where else are you still waiting to hear from? Thanks for the link. I suspect that I, too, was accepted into the MA program, but I have e-mailed the graduate secretary as well for clarification. I find it odd that they do not provide any more details in the e-mail or the site, but then again Boulder likely receives more applicants than other equally ranked programs due to the area, climate, etc. On a related note, I am becoming a little disheartened that a number of the programs I applied to have posted acceptances and waitlists on the results search, and I have yet to hear anything for better or worse. It could just as well be a good sign as a bad sign, and I am driving myself insane trying not to worry about it until I hear concretely. Even still, there are always those horror-story posts/result postings that come days after the April 15th deadline from students who were just never contacted.

Agreed - I am operating on the humble assumption that, because others know they were offered admission to the M.A. rather than PhD, and because I have no such clarification (coupled with the fact that I applied to the PhD program, not the M.A.) that hopefully the e-mail means I was accepted into the program to which I applied! Time will tell.

Well, I sort of agree with Magog but also sort of not. I think even those of us who are well-educated in the workings of institution status, tenture track positions, and the job market, still don't know (a) how brutally competitive the job market really is or ( b ) or how the job market will be when we enter it. I am inclined to agree with Magog that good programs who are courting you for a position will know the faculty you studied under, will know how your institution ranks in that specific field, etc. and so I would be less worried than you are about giving up an "Ivy League" or "Top 4" position. That bit aside...I am not sure that getting a good tenure track position has nothing to do with the name recognition of your institution. FSU might be #1 in the world for Action Theory, but some hiring committees just cannot see past the glamour that having a Yale/Stanford/NYU/Harvard/MIT grad on the faculty may yield, even if that program is not as highly ranked in the field. All in all, as stupid as this sounds, there is really no way to know. I would say walk a fine balance between attending one of the best ranked institutions you can get into/will fund you but also making sure to attend those institutions where there is a clear advisor choice and a strong program for you. Would you want to go to NYU if the only time you could work on Continental authors was during your last two years on your thesis? Have you looked into Philosophy and Literature programs? Also, check out The Leiter Report's breakdown on 19th and 20th Century Continental Philosophy. There are plenty of top-tier programs up in group 1: http://www.philosoph...m/breakdown.asp **edited to remove an unintended smiley face.**

Hey SeriouslyKidding, there is still hope - I received an acceptance e-mail from Boulder today! I am not sure if it is for the MA program or PhD program, as neither the e-mail or my account on the CU site indicates. I will update when I hear from them. As a side note, could anyone accepted into only the MA program maybe let me know how they knew it was the MA?

Also, just thought, you should check out the Leiter Report's section on schools focusing on the Continental tradition - those are the places where you will be able to study Kierkegaard, Camus, Sartre, Nietzsche, maybe even Augustine. Schools falling more heavily in the Analytic tradition likely will not focus on these authors in the way it sounds like you would like to.