2015 Applicants Assemble!

[a_for_aporia]

Nice list you've got there, a_for_aporia. What are your areas of interest?

 

Currently procrastinating hard for Monday deadlines. Given the amount of stress I'm enduring while submitting applications, I can only imagine what it'll be like while waiting to hear back.

 

Thanks, you too! My AOI is Ancient. What topics in philosophy of logic are you working on and/or interested in? 

Edited December 13, 2014 by a_for_aporia

[philstudent1991]

So a few months back there were some people reapplying that were wondering how long schools held on to GRE scores. I am curious about this, if anyone now has the first hand experience to enlighten us.

[jjb919]

So a few months back there were some people reapplying that were wondering how long schools held on to GRE scores. I am curious about this, if anyone now has the first hand experience to enlighten us.

 

I worked at a graduate admissions office while completing my MA. Standard practice is to hold on to GRE scores and letters of recommendation for up to 1 year. At that point they are disposed of. This being said, some offices have better organizational and archiving practices than others, so it is possible that a admissions office may not be able to find your GRE scores even within that 1 year window. If you find yourself in the position of reapplying, give a call and ask them to find your old GRE scores to make sure they have them.

[philstudent1991]

^That is unfortunate, since a typical MA takes two years.

[isostheneia]

Thanks, you too! My AOI is Ancient. What topics in philosophy of logic are you working on and/or interested in? 

 

There are a few topics I'm interested in. The primary one is tracking philosophical conceptions of logic over the past ~250 years. There's often assumed to be a pretty big break between how folks like Kant and Hegel conceived of logic, and then folks like Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. I think there's more continuity than is often realized. There's been some good recent work comparing Kant and Frege, but I think Hegel has an interesting role in there as well. Part of this interest involves the significance of symbolism - what we today would recognize as logic looks very little like what folks from the history of philosophy recognized as logic. A lot of that has to do with Frege's emphasis on using a Begriffsschrift, and I think it's interesting why that's important for his project.

 

I'm also interested in logicism and neo-logicism, or more generally the relation between logic and math. A lot of this pertains to the relation between metatheory in logic and foundations in math.

 

Overall, there's a tradition in thought about logic that conceives it as something like "the form of thought as such." Taking this conception as a starting point, an understanding the relation between mind and world would thus put heavy emphasis on the significance of logic. So logic is interesting in connection with general conclusions and methodology of epistemology and metaphysics.

[MorganFreemanlives]

There are a few topics I'm interested in. The primary one is tracking philosophical conceptions of logic over the past ~250 years. There's often assumed to be a pretty big break between how folks like Kant and Hegel conceived of logic, and then folks like Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. I think there's more continuity than is often realized. There's been some good recent work comparing Kant and Frege, but I think Hegel has an interesting role in there as well. Part of this interest involves the significance of symbolism - what we today would recognize as logic looks very little like what folks from the history of philosophy recognized as logic. A lot of that has to do with Frege's emphasis on using a Begriffsschrift, and I think it's interesting why that's important for his project.

 

I'm also interested in logicism and neo-logicism, or more generally the relation between logic and math. A lot of this pertains to the relation between metatheory in logic and foundations in math.

 

Overall, there's a tradition in thought about logic that conceives it as something like "the form of thought as such." Taking this conception as a starting point, an understanding the relation between mind and world would thus put heavy emphasis on the significance of logic. So logic is interesting in connection with general conclusions and methodology of epistemology and metaphysics.

OH YES.  Bradley's Principles of Logic and Bosanquet's Logic or the Morphology of Knowledge. it is surprising exactly how much Russell borrows from these two in creating what is now modern logic. Russell's treatment of Hypothetical judgments carrying no existential import contra meinong is straight from Bradley.

 

im glad to see others who are interested in 19th century logic.

[a_for_aporia]

There are a few topics I'm interested in. The primary one is tracking philosophical conceptions of logic over the past ~250 years. There's often assumed to be a pretty big break between how folks like Kant and Hegel conceived of logic, and then folks like Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein. I think there's more continuity than is often realized. There's been some good recent work comparing Kant and Frege, but I think Hegel has an interesting role in there as well. Part of this interest involves the significance of symbolism - what we today would recognize as logic looks very little like what folks from the history of philosophy recognized as logic. A lot of that has to do with Frege's emphasis on using a Begriffsschrift, and I think it's interesting why that's important for his project.

 

I'm also interested in logicism and neo-logicism, or more generally the relation between logic and math. A lot of this pertains to the relation between metatheory in logic and foundations in math.

 

Overall, there's a tradition in thought about logic that conceives it as something like "the form of thought as such." Taking this conception as a starting point, an understanding the relation between mind and world would thus put heavy emphasis on the significance of logic. So logic is interesting in connection with general conclusions and methodology of epistemology and metaphysics.

 

Interesting. By "the significance of symbolism" I assume you mean the much heavier use of symbolism in the period you mentioned, namely, the past ~250 years? I ask because (a) symbolism in logic has been in use for much longer than 250 years, and (b ) the symbols themselves aren't really important -- what's important is what the symbols stand for.

Edited December 16, 2014 by a_for_aporia

[reixis]

One of my letter writers missed yesterday Penn's deadline. Any advice on how to proceed? I read on Schwitzgebel's blog that admissions committee are usually lenient with later letters, but I am not sure whether that is a rule of thumb.

[overoverover]

One of my letter writers missed yesterday Penn's deadline. Any advice on how to proceed? I read on Schwitzgebel's blog that admissions committee are usually lenient with later letters, but I am not sure whether that is a rule of thumb.

It's probably fine, but try to get them to submit the letter ASAP (but you probably already are doing that!). I don't think there's any reason to worry so long as it's submitted promptly.

[isostheneia]

OH YES.  Bradley's Principles of Logic and Bosanquet's Logic or the Morphology of Knowledge. it is surprising exactly how much Russell borrows from these two in creating what is now modern logic. Russell's treatment of Hypothetical judgments carrying no existential import contra meinong is straight from Bradley.

 

im glad to see others who are interested in 19th century logic.

 

Absolutely! I think it's a pretty small field in general. Though I haven't read the books you mention, so I take it you'd recommend that I do.

 

 

Interesting. By "the significance of symbolism" I assume you mean the much heavier use of symbolism in the period you mentioned, namely, the past ~250 years? I ask because (a) symbolism in logic has been in use for much longer than 250 years, and (b ) the symbols themselves aren't really important -- what's important is what the symbols stand for.

 

Totally, I didn't mean that Frege pioneered the use of symbolism in logic (since it goes back to Aristotle at least). I'm interested in the sort of elucidation Frege thought we could receive regarding the structure of thought by translating ordinary language into symbolic propositions. I think there's an intuitive answer that goes something like "Well, it's easier to see what's going on - what is being quantified, what the predicate is, etc." But I think the answer is both more complex than that and is somewhat important for his overall project. You're totally right though, it's not like the symbols themselves are important in any given symbolic proposition.

[NathanKellen]

One of my letter writers missed yesterday Penn's deadline. Any advice on how to proceed? I read on Schwitzgebel's blog that admissions committee are usually lenient with later letters, but I am not sure whether that is a rule of thumb.

Write to the grad admissions head at Penn and just let them know that the letter is unfortunately late. They're professors - they know how other professors can be. Just try to get it in ASAP and apologise and you should be fine.

[reixis]

Thank you for the advices! I sent an e-mail to the person responsible for philosophy graduate admissions. I am waiting for her answer.

[PreciselyTerrified]

One of my letter writers called U Penn about the deadline, and the administrative assistant told him the deadline for letters of recommendation isn't until January 4. The December 15th deadline is just for applicants.

Edited December 17, 2014 by PreciselyTerrified

[Page228]

Submitted one of my applications last night. I was not aware of a length requirement for the personal statement prior to filling out the form... until the little box for the personal statement said "4500 character maximum." (I assumed I would be uploading it.) I cut about 300 words and submitted.

 

I noticed a stylistic error in the second paragraph today. It could have at least hidden itself in the middle. Sigh.

 

(Ideally I wouldn't bother looking at things I already submitted, as that can only lead to negative feelings, but I have to cut it down even more to meet a 500 word limit for another application.)

 

Thoroughly annoyed. I need tea.

[isostheneia]

I feel ya. Thought of something I should've included in my statement of purpose a few hours after turning in one of my apps. Nothing crucial, but would've been good to mention.

 

Also going through a constant debate whether to use "my current philosophical interests" to acknowledge that they may change or "my philosophical interests" to sound confident. These apps have a way of making minutia seem tremendously important.

 

Incidentally, have other folks already turned in apps with January deadlines, or are you still working on them? I know I'm definitely in the latter camp.

[Page228]

I would probably drop the "current" as it's implied, and they know that interests can change. But that's just me, and I don't know anything about anything. I've certainly faced plenty of similar decisions!

 

I have two applications due January 15, which I hope to submit before the holidays are over.

[isostheneia]

I would probably drop the "current" as it's implied, and they know that interests can change. But that's just me, and I don't know anything about anything. I've certainly faced plenty of similar decisions!

 

I have two applications due January 15, which I hope to submit before the holidays are over.

 

Thanks. That's what I used for most of my applications so far. Still have another seven due between January 2 and 15 though, so the end of the beginning isn't quite yet here for me.

[Page228]

Oh, I'm not as close to done as I may have made it sound. It's just that my chosen universities in the UK technically don't have deadlines until the summer. I am also trying to get the remaining five of those done during the holidays, since deadlines for funding are generally in January/February.

[Infinite Zest]

Submitted one of my applications last night. I was not aware of a length requirement for the personal statement prior to filling out the form... until the little box for the personal statement said "4500 character maximum." (I assumed I would be uploading it.) I cut about 300 words and submitted.

 

I noticed a stylistic error in the second paragraph today. It could have at least hidden itself in the middle. Sigh.

 

(Ideally I wouldn't bother looking at things I already submitted, as that can only lead to negative feelings, but I have to cut it down even more to meet a 500 word limit for another application.)

 

Thoroughly annoyed. I need tea.

 

I've caught a handful of typos in my writing sample since I've submitted it to my first two schools. Oh well, that's life.

[overoverover]

I feel ya. Thought of something I should've included in my statement of purpose a few hours after turning in one of my apps. Nothing crucial, but would've been good to mention.

 

Also going through a constant debate whether to use "my current philosophical interests" to acknowledge that they may change or "my philosophical interests" to sound confident. These apps have a way of making minutia seem tremendously important.

 

Incidentally, have other folks already turned in apps with January deadlines, or are you still working on them? I know I'm definitely in the latter camp.

 

I submitted all of mine at the same time, including those due in January. I figured if my sample was good enough for, e.g., University of Southern California, it was good enough for everyone. 

[isostheneia]

I submitted all of mine at the same time, including those due in January. I figured if my sample was good enough for, e.g., University of Southern California, it was good enough for everyone. 

 

Makes sense. As I was tidying up my sample for last week's deadlines, I noticed a way of clarifying a concept that I use for a few pages, so I'm going to see if I can fix it up a bit more. Plus tailor my statement of purpose to my remaining schools. But I agree, once the first deadline is past, there shouldn't be too much more to do on the other apps.

[isostheneia]

Also, has anyone seen this? 

 

 

It's Rick Grush of UCSD talking about the admissions process, both at San Diego and in general. A fair amount of what he says is probably common sense for folks on TGC, but there's a lot of useful info as well. If you're willing to watch nearly two hours of him talking about grad apps.

 

His overall position on how best to approach philosophy applications is roughly that the weights of the various parts of an application vary considerably from person to person, so the best way to ensure that you get in to any given program is to improve all aspects of your app as much as possible. Personally he doesn't seem to place much weight on letters of rec or statements of purpose.

Edited December 18, 2014 by isostheneia

[Nastasya_Filippovna]

sometimes I think- dear lord- this is the intelligentsia version of American Idol!

[a_for_aporia]

Also, has anyone seen this? 

 

 

It's Rick Grush of UCSD talking about the admissions process, both at San Diego and in general. A fair amount of what he says is probably common sense for folks on TGC, but there's a lot of useful info as well. If you're willing to watch nearly two hours of him talking about grad apps.

 

His overall position on how best to approach philosophy applications is roughly that the weights of the various parts of an application vary considerably from person to person, so the best way to ensure that you get in to any given program is to improve all aspects of your app as much as possible. Personally he doesn't seem to place much weight on letters of rec or statements of purpose.

 

Thanks very much for posting this! I ended up watching the whole thing. Really informative. 

[a_for_aporia]

Has anyone else noticed that Brown's placement record is pretty abysmal? They have a bad record for a top-50 program, let alone for a top-20. Is this a good reason to not apply to their PhD program? I'm genuinely interested in opinions, since I was planning on applying to Brown this year. 

 

Placement record here: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Philosophy/grads-placement.php