Dialectica

Precisely what I was going to ask. I'm really not sure what the upshot is. Though I was looking through past results and it seems the total number of rejections reported for each year is close to the handful of rejections reported today. So maybe there's hope for those who haven't heard anything.

Thank you so much for this update.

Seriously people, spill the beans.

Likewise—keep'em coming. Dear lord, I hope that I'm in such a position to receive one.

Anyone else curious why we haven't had a normal, non-fellowship acceptance from Virginia, but we've got waitlists started already? That seems strange to me. I could totally be missing something though.

Likewise! It looks like we've got some overlap; maybe (fingers crossed) I'll see you at Indiana or Wisconsin! Good luck to you as well!

Sorry to bump this, but I'm getting so anxious awaiting a response, so this gives me something to do. It's plausible that those in my program will know who I am—alas. I was present on grad cafe in 2013, applying to MA programs. I ended up at a Leiterific MA program, with which I was very happy. Here I am again, this time applying to PhD programs. I am, like many, very anxiously awaiting a response from Wisconsin, Virginia, Indiana, and UNC at the moment. The silence thus far is excruciating. Good luck, everyone! Thanks for making the wait entertaining!

I totally understand. There were a handful of programs that changed their deadlines quite late; you'd think that is important enough to change well ahead of time. Very frustrating.

I'm curious why you list Syracuse's deadline as December 15th. Their website lists it as January 1st. Where did you get the December deadline from?

I'm curious why you even consider Cornell here with respect to GRE scores, as they don't require that you submit them to apply. Is your point merely that they wouldn't view such scores in that light as they don't require them? Or is it rather that you have some information regarding how they view the GRE?

I'm curious: even though Wisconsin doesn't require the GRE in admissions, you still think it's especially important that he retake to raise his score? For Indiana, sure, but do you have reason to think Wisconsin assigns some non-negligible weight to the GRE, despite their not requiring it?

As far as I can tell, University of British Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Cornell, do not require that you submit the GRE in applying to their PhD programs in philosophy. As far as which programs place less weight on the GREs they require: that is much more difficult to say. Admissions committees likely change from year to year. And, again as far as I can tell, there are no official policies for how to weight the GREs with respect to the rest of the application. This does raise an interesting question regarding those universities that do not require the GRE: do they think it suspicious when one does not send their GRE scores, despite their not requiring them? Would they think the applicant has something to hide? I've heard anecdotal evidence that this might be so, but it would seem incredible that any such program would do this. If anyone from any of the three universities listed above (or anyone with inside information) has any information on how they perceive the GRE in admissions, that would be very helpful.

To the best of my knowledge, almost everyone receives the same funding package (I've heard that some receive full tuition remission, but only in rare circumstances). Such funding consists of a merit-based scholarship that covers 25% of tuition. On top of that, students can apply for a need-based scholarship also covering 25% of tuition (almost—if not absolutely— everybody gets the need-based scholarship). So 50% of tuition is typically covered. Everyone is also guaranteed at least one TA ship. Though, typically, students receive more than one. I have never heard of anybody getting a full tuition waiver at Brandeis; I've only heard of students receiving full tuition remission on the basis of their dossier alone.

I've finally made my decision. I'm going to Brandeis!!!

After some very very serious consideration, I have declined my offer from WMU. This was especially difficult, as some fine folks have been accepted to their program, with whom I'd very much like to work.

I was wondering if I would get funding at all, or is their policy, like GSU, to fund all students they accept?

I'm still waiting on UW-Milwaukee. I've been told I'm high on the wait list. I'm just wondering what the funding would be like if I got accepted off the wait list.

I'm also thinking you should go to NIU given your interests and given the absence of McGrew and Smith in your first year. But, then again, the financial consideration is huge. I'm currently trying to choose between Brandeis and WMU. Brandeis Pros: -prestigious MA program in philosophy. -prestigious school in general -Their placement is phenomenal. -Eli Hirsch and Jeremy Fantl. -They offered to cover 50% of tuition and a paid TAship for roughly 6K a year -Boston is an amazing city with a wide variety of philosophical resources and conferences. Cons: -Tuition is very expensive. Even though they'll be covering 50%, that still leaves me with some rather large loans (unless I receive a scholarship of some sort). This is, of course, the biggest con. -Boston is an expensive city. Western Michigan Pros: -They are offering full funding and a TAship for the first year. -They have placed well, though inconsistently. -The cost of tuition, even without funding, is relatively small. -The cost of living in Kalamazoo is quite low. -Tim McGrew and Quentin Smith. Both work in areas in which I'm interested. Cons: -Tim McGrew and Quentin Smith. Apparently, both of them will be gone during Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. -Their placement is very spotty. And when they are placed, it is lower on the PGR. -lack of prestige. -Tuition remission and TAship are only guaranteed for the first year.

Declined NIU. It wasn't an easy decision.

Declined Virginia Tech.

I've just declined my offer from Virginia Tech.

Brandeis is not a one year program, there is just a one-year minimum residency requirement. Some people, apparently, have completed the program in one year. But from all the grad students I have spoken with, nobody who plans on pursuing a Phd in philosophy has gone that route. It is expected, from what I gather, that grad students attend for two years. That said, Brandeis only charges full tuition for the first year; if you attend more than a year, there is a small continuation fee for every semester thereafter (and with a TAship, that cost is mostly covered). So even though their tuition is expensive, the fact that you are basically charged for one year, even though you can attend for two, the tuition is roughly equivalent to NIU's and Virginia Tech's. And on top of that, Brandeis is covering 50% of that tuition (for most of its acceptances, as far as I know).

It is super frustrating. But, even still, I've got a great impression of their program from current grads, and their placement is great. Given my other offers, Brandeis still comes out on top for me. I'm still weighing some options and figuring out some financial details, but it seems likely that I'll accept their offer.

Attention all accepted and wait listed at Brandeis. There was a miscommunication between the graduate school and the department regarding funding. In the initial offer, most people were offered a 50% merit-based scholarship, with the good prospects of a significant need-based scholarship shortly thereafter. However, the merit-based scholarship is 25% while the need-based is (in most cases) another 25% of tuition. While that comes out to 50% funding, it eliminates the chance of a need-based scholarship on top of that. I confirmed this information with the department.

Just declined my offer from SFSU. Hope that helps someone.