Advice for Next Year's Applicants

[Table]

I thought it might be nice if we had a thread collecting advice for next year's applicants while the process is still fresh in our minds. Looking back now, what would have saved you time and pain?

I started my process by making a spreadsheet to keep track of all the schools I was applying to, which was enormously helpful. Information to include on your spreadsheet: deadline, whether GRE's are required, whether official paper transcripts are required, and anything additional a particular school might require (for example, a "statement of personal history" in addition to a statement of purpose). Be sure to check deadlines and requirements both the phil department's AND office of grad admission's site. Several of us have encountered discrepancies here. 
I also kept track of whether I had set up my letter-writers, sent in the app, etc. on my spreadsheet. 

I wish I had made all my files as small as possible at the very beginning. Early on, I encountered upload limits of 2mb and 1mb, and I had some trouble getting a readable scan of my transcript that was under that. The last app I filled out (Pitt) had a limit of 600kb, which my writing sample was over. Figuring out how to get it under probably took me about 4 hours. (seriously)

​You want your files to be as small as possible for two reason. Like I said, some apps have pretty low upload limits. Even if you could upload a bigger file, though, the smaller your file is, the easier it is to open it on the receiving end. 

 

TIPS FOR LOWERING THE FILE SIZE OF YOUR PDFS:
Scans:

• Scan in greyscale and at the lowest possible DPI that will produce a readable file. I think 170 worked for me. Try several different ways of scanning (change contrast, noise reduction, etc.).
• It was MUCH easier for me to fiddle with my scanner's features and scan in a small file than to scan a larger file and try to reduce it on my computer. If you're using a mac, preview's reduce file size feature is basically guaranteed to render it unreadable.
• There are many PDF-size reducers online, which may work for this, but I didn't try them. You may want to be wary of uploading your transcript to these services, though, especially if it has your social security number on it.
• Some apps require scans of the back side of your transcript, so be sure to get that too.

Text-only PDFs (exported from a word processor):

• Use a font that's on all computers for your writing sample, personal statement, and CV (because you'll want to use a serifed font, that means really either times new roman or georgia). It turns out if you use a non-standard font, it needs to be embedded in the PDF file, which takes up a fair amount of space.
• Preview's reduce file size feature and online PDF-size reducers try to reduce the size of your PDF by lowering image quality, so they will not work on a text-only file. 
• Adobe Acrobat Pro's file size reduction tool is more sophisticated and worked for me. There's a free trial if you don't have it.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Table

[idol.chatter]

I completely agree on the spreadsheet. I just had a Word document with all my info, but it worked effectively the same way. I included all the links to the applications, my different passwords for different apps, exactly what had to be included in the app, deadlines and cost of applications, along with a list of what order I intended to apply to the programs. This took time to compile, but was extremely beneficial. 

 

I didn't run into any size issues with uploading documents, but that's great info if you have that problem. 

My advice would be to start really early thinking about and preparing a writing sample. I waited until the last minute, just assuming I'd have a great paper saved up by then, and have had to submit some less-than-stellar work as my writing samples. I think it's now one of the weakest parts of my applications. Maybe that's common knowledge for everyone else, but I flaked in that area, and it's my biggest regret regarding applications. 

[complexbongo]

Adding on to lowering file sizes for PDFs. If you have Adobe Acrobat Pro (I think also the regular version has the same feature), there is an option File > Save As... > Reduced-Size PDF. It's beautiful. 

[MattDest]

Wow, great advice. I'll add some of the things that worked for me. 

 

Spreadsheet: I also created a spreadsheet for my applications on Google Docs. I had the same sort of information, plus a little more (when their earliest acceptances were posted). When I finished working on an application, I changed the row color from white to yellow, indicating that my part was done and I was waiting on letter writers. Once I got notified that they had all been submitted, I changed it to blue. Now, as the acceptances/waitlists/rejections roll in, I'll change the row colors accordingly. It makes it really easy to get a "big picture" type of progress update. 

 

Nitty-Gritty Application: I would get all of your materials collected in one area, and then complete all of the applications in one time period. This makes it easier on your letter-writers (who don't have to wait for each individual school that you apply to), and on yourself (you don't have to remember which applications are still incomplete). 

 

Transcripts: Order transcripts all at once. Do not order them when you are applying to each school. Instead, make sure you have your schools narrowed down early and print off a copy of each school's address to have them send it to each school that requires it. I just sent my transcripts to every school that I applied, because I didn't want to have to deal with the process over again. But if your school charges a lot or you'd rather not go through the hassle, just look at the guidelines for each school. 

 

Letter-Writers: Ask them as early as you can. In an ideal situation, they can give you advice about where to apply.  Once you have narrowed down the list of schools (preferably with their help), send them a list of schools with the application deadlines. Don't pester them endlessly, they have done this before and they know how important it is. 

[Hopephily]

This is a nice idea.  

 

I, too, used a spreadsheet (excel). I think I would have been overwhelmed without it.  Some of the columns included the application URL for each school, login/pw info, a box where I maintained the status of my letter writers (e.g., request sent vs. submitted), special notes for the quirky applications, the kinds of transcripts required, as well as a column for the status of GRE scores.  

Edited January 10, 2014 by Hopephily

[philstudent1991]

do the gre in the summer and dominate it. really research what schools to apply to and don't be an idiot and just apply to the top 10. also don't apply to schools that are unranked or whatever as safeties if you wouldn't go to them. no point applying somewhere you wouldn't go. ask for letters early, and start your sample early. in my case, I made an original sample for the process and had professors review it with comments, a process that I started in maybe September.

[Cottagecheeseman]

The advice I wish I had known is submit your applications as early as possible. That way you can make sure it is complete, all mailed documentation has arrived, and so forth well before you know it has to be complete. I wish I had done that, now I'm sitting there hoping that all my docs got to USC and Miami on time. You don't need to submit it crazy early, but at least like 10 - 15 business days before the actual deadline.

Also, spend the summer before working on stuff while you have time. I procrastinated all summer enjoying not being in school, and then when september hit me it was crazy busy getting stuff together, taking and studying for the GRE, and starting to rewrite my writing sample.

Also I was going to repeat some of the advice here, they know whats up listen to them!

[NathanH]

Writing Sample:I started my writing sample really really early. I wrote a 40 page paper for a class where the professor really liked me and set no upper limit for the final paper. And then the next semester I revised that paper for a philosophy of religion class and got that prof to write a letter for me. But still, this paper does not even look like the WS I finally submitted. One year before graduation, I started my thesis writing class and do another semester of research about the topic and leave the paper behind at which point I completely restructured the paper with new arguments. Finally, I spent another two semesters just revising my paper and my prof keep giving me feedback. At the end, I have probably revised the paper 10-12 times, and it has nothing in common with the first paper....

 

GPA: I don't have a great cumulative GPA (3.75ish) but I doubt the adcom will make a big deal about it unless it is under 3.5 or 3.3. However, major GPA plays a huge role in admission. I saw in all program that GPA is more important than GRE in evaluating your potential as a Ph.D candidate. Moreover, in some programs I saw that they even take major GPA over your WS. According to the statistics I gathered, a major GPA over 3.8 will be good and 3.9+ will be an advantage. 

 

GRE: I took my GRE in sophomore year when it was 1600 instead of 340. Math was ridiculously easy back then. I spent one month preparing for it and got 1550/1600 as a result. Again, according to the statistics that I gathered, verbal in the 90th percentile will be perfect for most programs. I took it in sophomore year because I did not want it to interfere with my WS so that you can dedicate as much time to philosophy as possible. Don't depress just because you get a low score in Quant section, nobody cares unless it is below 60th percentile (unless you go for logic, phil of mathematics, etc.)

 

Letter writing: talk to them as early as possible, and leave the impression that you really count on them to writing the letter. Don't suddenly ask them out of the blue. Give them your CV, PS, and WS, GPA, GRE so that you can have materials to support their claims about your academic excellence. Don't ask for profs who don't appreciate your work or profs that don't know much about philosophy. 

 

PS or SoP: Be professional and succinct. It is nothing like undergrad PS. Look at the programs' strengths before you ramble on your passions about subjects that they do not care about. 

 

 

Competition now is pretty crazy. Some of my professors did not get into any program the first three years they applied (during the 1990-2000 period, and it is worse now). It will be good to have some alternatives like law school or getting a job first.

[MattDest]

 

 

GPA: I don't have a great cumulative GPA (3.75ish) but I doubt the adcom will make a big deal about it unless it is under 3.5 or 3.3. However, major GPA plays a huge role in admission. I saw in all program that GPA is more important than GRE in evaluating your potential as a Ph.D candidate. Moreover, in some programs I saw that they even take major GPA over your WS. According to the statistics I gathered, a major GPA over 3.8 will be good and 3.9+ will be an advantage. 

 

GRE: I took my GRE in sophomore year when it was 1600 instead of 340. Math was ridiculously easy back then. I spent one month preparing for it and got 1550/1600 as a result. Again, according to the statistics that I gathered, verbal in the 90th percentile will be perfect for most programs. I took it in sophomore year because I did not want it to interfere with my WS so that you can dedicate as much time to philosophy as possible. Don't depress just because you get a low score in Quant section, nobody cares unless it is below 60th percentile (unless you go for logic, phil of mathematics, etc.)

 

Do you have data for these claims, or are these just your personal observations? It seems really odd to say something about programs universally preferring GPA to GRE - how could we possibly know this? Also, while I don't think one should despair over a poor Quant section, this idea that "nobody cares unless it is below the 60th percentile" seems weird. The only program I know offhand that releases specific GRE info is UCSD, and the averages of their quant score are in the 72% range. I imagine other top programs have higher averages. (ETA: My own Q score is near this, and I'm not really losing sleep over it. But, I just don't think people should write off the Q section either.) 

 

I have a really hard time believing that some programs will hold your major GPA above the WS. Source?

Edited January 11, 2014 by MattDest

[Table]

GPA: I don't have a great cumulative GPA (3.75ish) but I doubt the adcom will make a big deal about it unless it is under 3.5 or 3.3. However, major GPA plays a huge role in admission. I saw in all program that GPA is more important than GRE in evaluating your potential as a Ph.D candidate. Moreover, in some programs I saw that they even take major GPA over your WS. According to the statistics I gathered, a major GPA over 3.8 will be good and 3.9+ will be an advantage. 

Like Matt, I'm curious about your sources here. I would be very surprised to find that major GPA is more important than GRE for all programs, given that only about half of the programs I applied to even asked for it. 

 

 

Letter writing: talk to them as early as possible, and leave the impression that you really count on them to writing the letter. 

 

I'm not totally sure what you mean by this. Maybe you just mean that once someone has agreed to write a strong letter for you, you should make sure it's clear that you're counting on them to actually do it. I agree, though I would expect that to ordinarily be understood.

It sounds, though, like you're suggesting that when people first talk to potential letter-writers, you give the impression that you really need them to agree to do it, like you don't have any other options. I think that would be a very bad idea. You want to leave plenty of room for someone to decline if they would write an at-best lukewarm letter. 

Edited January 11, 2014 by Table

[Table]

Nitty-Gritty Application: I would get all of your materials collected in one area, and then complete all of the applications in one time period. This makes it easier on your letter-writers (who don't have to wait for each individual school that you apply to), and on yourself (you don't have to remember which applications are still incomplete). 

 

Transcripts: Order transcripts all at once. Do not order them when you are applying to each school. Instead, make sure you have your schools narrowed down early and print off a copy of each school's address to have them send it to each school that requires it. I just sent my transcripts to every school that I applied, because I didn't want to have to deal with the process over again. But if your school charges a lot or you'd rather not go through the hassle, just look at the guidelines for each school. 

 

I want to add to this that for all but one of my apps, I could set up my letter-writers to do their thing before I submitted the application. 

On the transcripts note, you may be tempted to wait for your fall term grades before sending out transcripts to your apps with later deadlines. If you want to do this, be 100% sure that there's enough time after you'd receive your grades, and that the registrar is actually sending out transcripts during winter break. If it's doable, you should still only send out transcripts in 2 chunks: one chunk at the beginning of the term, and one chunk as soon as you get your fall grades back. As soon as you get them back, seriously. It's too easy to lose track of something like that around the holidays. I did and had some unnecessary stress.

 

My advice would be to start really early thinking about and preparing a writing sample. I waited until the last minute, just assuming I'd have a great paper saved up by then, and have had to submit some less-than-stellar work as my writing samples. I think it's now one of the weakest parts of my applications. Maybe that's common knowledge for everyone else, but I flaked in that area, and it's my biggest regret regarding applications. 

 

If I was doing it again, I would talk to professors earlier about my writing sample. I considered a few papers, and I tried to revise them all into more writing-sample-y shape before asking professors to read them to see which would be a good sample. That was stupid. It took me way too long, and I also now worry about my sample being less polished than it should have been. 

[Happydays2]

As someone applying Fall 2015, I really appreciate this thread and everyone who has contributed. Best of luck everyone applying this year!!

[mrs_doubtfire]

This thread is a really good idea. I wish I had seen the advice on how to make documents smaller when I was applying. I spent hours scanning my transcripts, saving them as JPEGs (cause I thought this would reduce the size), only to find that School X will only let you upload PDFs. Uploading documents was my least favorite part of the application process. 

 

I also wish I had a spreadsheet; it would have made life much easier. I would have realized that some of the programs I was applying to require official transcripts and would have saved $15 on rush delivery. 

 

Based on the threads I've seen here, I get the impression that you 2014 applicants are much more organized than the 2013 applicants. Keep it up. It's too early to start a thread about visits, but when the time comes, I'll drop in to share some things I wish I had known or did during my visits to programs.

[dfindley]

if I actually get accepted, the best advice would be to pursue your personal interests in philosophy and develop your own work.