PHILOSOPHY M.A. ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION 2018

[Goonasabi]

1 hour ago, Descartes blanche said:

Not yet, unfortunately. I'm stressing out over two funded offers and a close waitlist. All three schools are good in different ways but neither is good in all the ways I want them to be. School (a) is close to where I live, has just increased my funding offer to the best M.A. funding/cost of living ratio I've seen, but it doesn't happen to have the ideal program for my AOI along with an average placement record. School (b), which is the close waitlist school, has an ideal program for my AOI and a decent funding package, but a pretty bad placement record for some reason. And lastly, school (c) is pretty well suited for my AOI, has a decent placement record, but has the lowest funding of the three, and is located in a city that I don't care too much to live in. What would you do?

Option A imo. Money aspect will take a lot of pressure off of you. And being close to home is very helpful. Also, since it's an MA, you don't have to zero in on your AOIs this early. You can always explore your AOIs in a PhD. Plus, your AOIs can always change!  

[Thefrog]

Honestly, I don't think you can do wrong with any of the choices.

[TomKatze]

On 2018/3/14 at 10:48 PM, downwardabsolute said:

Got into Tufts!

Why don't you go to Oxford? Tufts is better than Oxford?

[Kantattheairport]

1 hour ago, TomKatze said:

Why don't you go to Oxford? Tufts is better than Oxford?

Funding, perhaps? You'd usually have to pay at both, but Tufts typically offers at least a partial remission.

Edited April 14, 2018 by Kantattheairport

[Kantattheairport]

Speaking of which - just declined Tufts' offer, which should open up a spot to someone on the waitlist.

EDIT: Not completely certain about this, but I may also decline an offer from GSU, provided they make me an offer (I'm on the waitlist) - it might depend on the offer, so could be a last-minute decision. Sorry!

Edited April 14, 2018 by Kantattheairport

[downwardabsolute]

7 hours ago, TomKatze said:

Why don't you go to Oxford? Tufts is better than Oxford?

It's seeming increasingly unlikely that I've gotten funding from Oxford, so I'll probably choose Tufts for that reason. 

[GoodbyeGadfly]

On 4/13/2018 at 8:54 PM, Descartes blanche said:

Not yet, unfortunately. I'm stressing out over two funded offers and a close waitlist. All three schools are good in different ways but neither is good in all the ways I want them to be. School (a) is close to where I live, has just increased my funding offer to the best M.A. funding/cost of living ratio I've seen, but it doesn't happen to have the ideal program for my AOI along with an average placement record. School (b), which is the close waitlist school, has an ideal program for my AOI and a decent funding package, but a pretty bad placement record for some reason. And lastly, school (c) is pretty well suited for my AOI, has a decent placement record, but has the lowest funding of the three, and is located in a city that I don't care too much to live in. What would you do?

 If B is CSU, and it’s absolutely a tie between the three, then I will tell you that I’m right behind you and that CSU is my best chance at something funded. I don’t of course expect you to not pick CSU on account of me.  If you need a true tiebreaker, then I figure giving the best birthday present ever is as good as any. No matter what you pick, I wish you an excellent academic journey!

[Kantattheairport]

Just took myself off the waitlist at GSU. Good luck, friends!

[Bring the Pain]

Just accepted an offer at GSU

[RussellsPipe]

Hi folks, I've a question for y'all. I have two offers, one from school A, a UK school that is quite strong in my AOIs, and another from B, a strong terminal MA program in North America with an excellent placement record (I just got off the waitlist there, so currently trying to decide between the two last minute). The UK school's placement record is allegedly excellent, but they don't track that kind of data, while the terminal MA has a proven track record. Financially, B is much safer, as it is funded and doesn't have exhorbitant tuition fees. A, otoh, is less safe but potentially much more exciting research-wise. I'm wondering if UK schools place well, if it's worth it, etc. etc. Any thoughts help, friends.

[hector549]

46 minutes ago, RussellsPipe said:

Hi folks, I've a question for y'all. I have two offers, one from school A, a UK school that is quite strong in my AOIs, and another from B, a strong terminal MA program in North America with an excellent placement record (I just got off the waitlist there, so currently trying to decide between the two last minute). The UK school's placement record is allegedly excellent, but they don't track that kind of data, while the terminal MA has a proven track record. Financially, B is much safer, as it is funded and doesn't have exhorbitant tuition fees. A, otoh, is less safe but potentially much more exciting research-wise. I'm wondering if UK schools place well, if it's worth it, etc. etc. Any thoughts help, friends.

My advice? Take the offer from the US school. It's a bad idea to go to an unfunded MA in philosophy, especially when you have a funded offer elsewhere. Particularly when the funded program has a better placement record. Also, UK COL is significantly more expensive than the US.

AOI doesn't matter as much for an MA. Your interests will probably change anyway. MAs are also quick. It'll be over before you know it. UK programs are generally only a year, and that isn't really enough time to do research anyway.

Edited April 15, 2018 by hector549

[incredulous_stare]

3 hours ago, RussellsPipe said:

Hi folks, I've a question for y'all. I have two offers, one from school A, a UK school that is quite strong in my AOIs, and another from B, a strong terminal MA program in North America with an excellent placement record (I just got off the waitlist there, so currently trying to decide between the two last minute). The UK school's placement record is allegedly excellent, but they don't track that kind of data, while the terminal MA has a proven track record. Financially, B is much safer, as it is funded and doesn't have exhorbitant tuition fees. A, otoh, is less safe but potentially much more exciting research-wise. I'm wondering if UK schools place well, if it's worth it, etc. etc. Any thoughts help, friends.

I myself faced a decision between an MSt in phil theology at Oxford and the MA at Northern Illinois. While I think "don't go unless funded" rule is generally a good rule, I believe there are exceptions. For a number of factors I've decided to go for the MSt. DM if you wanna talk more!

[Rose-Colored Beetle]

Declined WMU. Decided to take the Fordham PhD.

[soproperlybasic]

11 minutes ago, Rose-Colored Dasein said:

Declined WMU. Decided to take the Fordham PhD.

Looks like I'll be headed to Fordham too right now! So perhaps we'll meet. 

(Unless some miracle happens and LA Paul emails with good news from Chapel Hill tomorrow. Though the chances of that are pretty much .0001)

[Descartes blanche]

22 hours ago, Kantattheairport said:

Just took myself off the waitlist at GSU. Good luck, friends!

Where did you end up going this cycle? Did you get off the NYU waitlist !?

[Neither Here Nor There]

16 hours ago, incredulous_stare said:

I myself faced a decision between an MSt in phil theology at Oxford and the MA at Northern Illinois. While I think "don't go unless funded" rule is generally a good rule, I believe there are exceptions. For a number of factors I've decided to go for the MSt. DM if you wanna talk more!

Sure, a phil theology at oxford vs. a MA in philosophy is one reason to turn down a funded program. But for most people, headed into an academic field that may require living on $25,000 a year post-graduation until the unlikely academic job comes up, major debt would be a disaster. Small debt maybe one could wave. But certainly, it depends on a lot of factors. Not disagreeing with your post.

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by Neither Here Nor There

[TomKatze]

Hi all,

Do we need submit the undergraduate transcript when we apply for Ph.D programs from our MA program?

[Kantattheairport]

38 minutes ago, TomKatze said:

Hi all,

Do we need submit the undergraduate transcript when we apply for Ph.D programs from our MA program?

All of the places I applied to this year asked for all transcripts of higher learning, so I think usually yes.

[incredulous_stare]

2 hours ago, Neither Here Nor There said:

Sure, a phil theology at oxford vs. a MA in philosophy is one reason to turn down a funded program. But for most people, headed into an academic field that may require living on $25,000 a year post-graduation until the unlikely academic job comes up, major debt would be a disaster. Small debt maybe one could wave. But certainly, it depends on a lot of factors. Not disagreeing with your post.

 

Very true. Really is a case-by-case basis, though the offer that is funded will almost always be the more "safe" bet. However, I tend to consider factors involving back-up plans as well. We all know how hard the job market for philosophy is. So part of my thinking was "If I were go to Oxford and eventually pursue a non-academic career, then I would be much better off than if I had gone to a publicly unknown (though good reputation within phil) school for a terminal MA". Additionally, I thought Oxford would leave me better off (though maybe by not that much) with respect to getting a job in philosophy, which I want to maximize my chances for in any way I can (besides doing anything immoral).

This is a really interesting discussion though! I know that there may be some who disagree with my decision, even if they had all the information I have.

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by incredulous_stare

[Kantattheairport]

On 4/16/2018 at 7:39 PM, Descartes blanche said:

Where did you end up going this cycle? Did you get off the NYU waitlist !?

Hi, sorry, I forgot to respond to this - unfortunately not, so I won't be going anywhere this cycle.

[Duns Eith]

21 hours ago, Kantattheairport said:

Hi, sorry, I forgot to respond to this - unfortunately not, so I won't be going anywhere this cycle.

Sorry to hear.

You gonna apply next year?

[GuanilosIsland]

On 4/19/2018 at 10:03 PM, Kantattheairport said:

Hi, sorry, I forgot to respond to this - unfortunately not, so I won't be going anywhere this cycle.

I hope that isn't getting you too down. The fact you got on their waitlist is freaking insane, and I'm sure you'll have great success next cycle.

[Kantattheairport]

On 4/21/2018 at 5:37 AM, Duns Eith said:

Sorry to hear.

You gonna apply next year?

 

On 4/21/2018 at 10:58 PM, GuanilosIsland said:

I hope that isn't getting you too down. The fact you got on their waitlist is freaking insane, and I'm sure you'll have great success next cycle.

Thanks friends. I won't pretend to not be disappointed, but I Skyped in with NYU the day before the deadline, and even though I didn't get in in the end, it was very encouraging (apparently I'd had a much better chance of getting in off the waitlist than I had realized, and was very much in the running at that point). So my inclination is to apply again next cycle, though of course I will first want to inform and consult with my letter-writers.