You probably think you're too good to apply to an MA program...

[agirlhasnoname]

Sorry about the snarky title, I was going to post "MA Program you should apply to" but figured many might not read the post because of, well, it's up there in the snarky title.

Really, though, if you're applying out of undergrad consider applying to MA programs as well. You've got to be good to get into a program, but there are a LOT of really smart, talented, excellent people out there applying along with you--many more, in fact, than there are funded spots at philosophy programs. No one is entitled to get in. No matter how awesome you are, how many publications in professional journals you have, no matter who wrote your letters, and no matter how many cats you have that are named after philosophers, you might not get in. (Okay actually depending on the quantity of cats you could be a shoe-in. At least if I were in charge I'd choose you.) 

But that's the way it goes. And it sucks, but you should know it. Hear this, really: in many ways it is a crapshoot because there are hundreds of things that have ZERO to do with your merit or your letters or your GRE score that factor into selecting a class of students with diverse interests that in some way match the strengths of the department you're applying to. Sorry to sound so dismal, but I found a weird kind of comfort in that last bit during my two rounds of applications so I figured I'd share. If you don't get in, it is not because you categorically suck.

Getting in is kind of like winning the lottery. Except this is a lottery that you and a bunch of other people had (to nearly kill yourselves working) to qualify for. But the point is, I guess, besides your talent, it takes a fortuitous confluence of a number of things--almost like magic, or lottery-winning--some of which have very little to do with you at all for you to get a funded spot in a PhD program. This is supposed to be kind of a pep talk. I guess this is the only pep talk I can give for the situation. Of course none of this is to say that you shouldn't put a lot of work into your application materials--DO--it is only meant to temper the sting of those "letters of regret" that may float into your inbox come January. !!! You are intelligent. You are fantastic. You are not worthless. (This is me patting the back of a future contingent you.) 

Now I'm sorry to have frightened you, but I guess that stuff up there is part stuff I did hear and part stuff I would've liked to have heard when I was applying to schools. I thought it would be helpful. 

I came here initially to post about Miami University (of Ohio, which is NOT in Florida)'s funded terminal MA program. Up front: I'm biased. I went there. Just got my diploma in the mail yesterday, actually. That also means I'm qualified to talk about it. So that's what I'm going to do. FYI, no one made me write this nor is Miami showering me with dollars for doing it (haha as though philosophy departments have dollars to shower people with). I wanted to write this post last year around this time when I was applying but I didn't have the time. I didn't hear about Miami until a professor mentioned I should check it out in January after many of my other applications were already in. Good thing, too, because I got rejected from everywhere except Miami and Stonybrook's unfunded MA program. 

So it's a small department--being a terminal MA program--but it is EXCELLENT. The faculty are smart, they're supportive, they mentor you in teaching, they're available (a perk of smallness), they root for you, they want you to become a better writer and make the program conducive to that (more on that in what follows). It is a great place to be.

The curriculum is thoughtfully put together; you'll spend the spring semester of your first year reworking a paper that will then be your writing sample the next year. You'll get better at revising and talking to others about their work AND you get a polished piece for your writing sample out of it. Don't get me wrong, applying is still a long, stressful process but at least you'll have a sample you put a lot of effort into that's been read and looked over by many others' eyes (both grad students and professors). So yeah, if you do the work while you're there, you'll get a great education in the history of philosophy and you'll be well prepared to go on and get a PhD. 

Also there is a WILD (for the discipline) proportion of women on the faculty and they are all fantastic. Guess what's important if you're a young woman in philosophy? Seeing other women in philosophy kicking ass at being women in philosophy. It's good for everyone, really. But extra special if you're a woman who (most likely, given the dearth of women in philosophy departments) hasn't seen too many--if any--women occupying that particular position before. 

So you know how to use google--I'm not going to tell you about everyone's interests and what courses are offered. Just know: it is better than great to get paid to go to school and study philosophy and talk about it with a bunch of people who (likely quite different from undergrad) want to be there too because they enjoy it. I know the PhD right out of undergrad is the dream for whatever reason, but getting an MA beforehand is REALLY beneficial (I've found so far, which I have left understated in this exceedingly long post) and it's better to have the option to do the MA and to get to continue to do philosophy with other people for two years and then have to apply again and (hopefully) move again than it is to just be done 'til next year if this round doesn't work out. Whew that was a run-on. Apologies. It is very late.

Ask if you have more questions. I just wanted to post about how great Miami is because there's usually not much information about terminal MA programs on here much less ones that offer funding. I also don't feel like I had a bunch of information my first time applying--so I wanted to pass what scraps of wisdom I've gotten along to you all. SORRY THIS POST WAS SO LONG! Also, take care of yourself during this process. Showers and food and sleep are important! (the latter two more than the former)

 

Also, for cred I had choices this round and I'm now studying philosophy at Vanderbilt. 

 

 

[bar_scene_gambler]

I appreciate the time you took to write this, and it's great to hear that you're succeeding, but I was wondering if you could answer a few questions. First, what are you doing your research on? Because obviously that makes a big difference when applying to schools. If you're doing, say, feminist philosophy or pragmatism, then you're going to have a better shot at getting into Vanderbilt than someone who was interested in doing work on Eastern philosophy or something of the sort (though obviously you'll have a hard time getting in at most places with a sole interest in Eastern Phil).

Second, what were the minutia of your application like (by which I mean your GPA, GRE, and such)? They're minor in the overall scheme of things, but they'll help you survive the first cut during the admissions process.

And last, what universities (besides Vanderbilt) offered you a spot? Were they funded or unfunded? I'm just curious about where else you were accepted, given all of the information you've provided. 

[gatewayselect]

You've got to be good to get into a program, but there are a LOT of really smart, talented, excellent people out there applying along with you--many more, in fact, than there are funded spots at philosophy programs. 

 

To sort of emphasize the point in another way, not only are there a lot of very talented undergraduates you are competing with... but you're competing against these MA students as well, which is all the more reason to apply to MA programs. An undergraduate is going to be severely disadvantaged to a student who has had two extra years of studying philosophy, and nothing but philosophy (when you consider an undergraduate has a lot of other course subjects to be concerned with). MA programs are much more professional in nature. You're getting paid effectively to study philosophy, and the program is going to work with you over the course of a year or so in producing a writing sample. The odds are stacked against undergraduates when there are MA students out there.

[tnkertom]

As a graduate of Miami Ohio's MA program myself, I want to second what sarahmagdalene has to say about it, and add some of my own thoughts.  First, since they're so hard to get away from in the academic game, here are my states: 3.9 undergrad GPA, 3.9 MA GPA, 1400+ GRE (I only took the test once, at the end of undergrad, and have used the same score every time I applied).  My research interests are German Idealism, phenomenology, and psychoanalysis.  The first time I applied to PhD programs, I was 0/9, so the next year I applied to MA programs, and got into Miami with a generous funding package.  Last spring, I was accepted by 7/14 of the PhD programs I applied to.

 

Miami's program is designed to give students a deep background in the central figures of Continental philosophy, and they do their job extremely well.  They are one of the few MA programs that offers full funding to a high proportion of their admitted students, and the professors there are extremely active in their fields (which means well-connected, too).  If you're interested in studying Continental philosophy, then it's really a good idea to apply to this program in case you don't make it into a PhD program on the first try.  You'll come out of it with a much better chance the next time around, and a wealth of knowledge and experience that I would not be willing to trade for avoiding the trauma of my first round of rejections from PhD programs.

Edited October 15, 2013 by tnkertom

[MattDest]

I would like to register my own positive experience with an MA Program, the University of Missouri, St. Louis (it's mentioned on PGR). I'm finishing up my second year and applying out simultaneously, and the faculty have all been incredibly helpful in the process. I've gotten feedback from four different professors on my writing sample, two of them have commented on my personal statement, and each of them has given me feedback on which programs to apply. 

 

The program itself was well worth it. I got funding for each semester I was there (roughly $3,000/semester if you get a full time appointment)). It was a major positive for me that I got to get experience teaching my own courses, designing syllabi, etc. The seminars were all fairly small, and were rigorous and discussion-based. Each professor I have had certainly knows their stuff, and are almost all willing to do independent studies if you are interested in something in particular that is not offered. I've personally done independent studies on Epicurus, Decision Theory, and looking to do one on social epistemology.  BIG PLUS: You can also take classes at Saint Louis University, and Washington University for free if you have the tuition waiver + funding. 

 

It's also a very active and close-knit department. There are weekly outings, and we often go out even more than that. Most of the professors are pretty active, and attend a lot of the functions. I think it's well worth considering doing an MA before committing to a PhD, and I highly suggestion UMSL. Here's the placement record (and you can see the department website): http://www.umsl.edu/~philo/MA%20Program/Placement/index.html

[deloozin it]

having gone to the University of Miami (and yes, I made sure it was Ohio's!)'s web site, i was disappointed to see not too much info, and the info that was available was pretty lackluster.  for those two alumni, could more be said about the courses and set-up for the MA particular to the university?

[tomjonesy517]

Hi, I am very interested in Miami Ohio's philosophy MA. Do they accept people whose undergraduate majors were not in philosophy, but who would like to continue their education into philosophy? I want to get my MA before heading into a PhD program. Are there any admissions statistics available?

[tomjonesy517]

Also, not to double post here, but does anyone know the page range for the writing sample? Is it shorter than for PhD programs or still around 20 pages?

[thelonious23]

Going through an MA (Tufts) allowed me to get into a terrific school that I would have had a very hard time getting into from my little state school. My fellow students also had excellent placement at some of best schools in the country. If you don't have a pedigree, apply to a range of PhD programs and MAs. It can be a very good and helpful experience.