MA to PhD

[1000Plateaus]

So I'm in a strange situation. I was admitted to a PhD program in philosophy for the 2012 school year, but was still working on my MA thesis (at the same Dept). Long story short (you can read the details here:  my PhD offer was revoked because I failed to finish my Master's in time.

 

I am almost finished my MA thesis, but am now nervous about having to re-apply to the same PhD program. A recent PhD grad from my same program mentioned that because it has taken me an extra year to finish my MA degree, that does not look favourably on me in terms of getting strong LOR. In my defence, I said that I had chosen a very difficult MA topic, and that it was too ambitious (the scope was that of a dissertation, not a thesis), so naturally it has taken me longer to complete.

But I'm still worried that the fact that it's taken me longer to finish my thesis has 'underwhelmed' my supervisor, and that when I do ask him to write on my behalf for the PhD program (for a second time), his letter won't be as strong as it could have been.

Am I paranoid, here? Or does my friend (the PhD) have a point? Have I tarnished my chances of being re-admitted into the program (given that I was offered admission once already)?

[Guest |||]

Some schools do say that taking longer to finish the masters than expected, can sharply decrease chances of of progressing to the ph.d program

 

 

 

however no one here can top the advise of, go to the program director, tell them your situation and how it ended up the way it is, and see what they have to say.

 

or at least, so is my opinion