2016 Acceptance Thread

[brush]

Just now, Kel Varnsen said:

Hi, I'm claiming one of the UMD posts.

I'm currently debating between UMD and Indiana.  UMD is a bit lower ranked overall but they have a stronger program in my area of interest (mind and cognitive science).  If anyone has any thoughts on choosing between overall stronger programs and programs with strong specialties, I'd be interested in your input.

One thing you could do is compare placement records of each school within your specialty only and see which is better.

[bravesball]

11 minutes ago, Kel Varnsen said:

Hi, I'm claiming one of the UMD posts.

I'm currently debating between UMD and Indiana.  UMD is a bit lower ranked overall but they have a stronger program in my area of interest (mind and cognitive science).  If anyone has any thoughts on choosing between overall stronger programs and programs with strong specialties, I'd be interested in your input.

The advice I've generally heard is to care more about the rank within your area of interest.

[janeaude]

Congratulations to all those who got into Yale!!

For the rest of us, should we assume that all acceptances have been sent out (four are already posted on gradcafe) and we should presume a rejection at this point?

[puppylover]

Anyone heard back from Columbia yet?

[bravesball]

1 minute ago, puppylover said:

Anyone heard back from Columbia yet?

Nobody has posted anything about Columbia. They usually don't start sending anything out until March.

[puppylover]

Just now, bravesball said:

Nobody has posted anything about Columbia. They usually don't start sending anything out until March.

I'm literally losing my mind (duh) over not hearing back from any of the schools I've applied to but this is sort of a good news... Guess there's still hope!

[thomasphilosophy]

9 hours ago, Kel Varnsen said:

Hi, I'm claiming one of the UMD posts.

I'm currently debating between UMD and Indiana.  UMD is a bit lower ranked overall but they have a stronger program in my area of interest (mind and cognitive science).  If anyone has any thoughts on choosing between overall stronger programs and programs with strong specialties, I'd be interested in your input.

When you are trying to decide between two similarly ranked programs, I would advise choosing the one with the better fit. Just think: you will be spending 5-7(?) years of your life at this program, so it's really important that it is a good place for your interests. And when it comes time to go on the job market, coming out of a program that is really strong in your interests will pay off (whereas it will probably hurt you to come out of a place that didn't enable you to really develop your work). 

I have heard this type advice a few times from advanced PhDs and professors. Overall, the message is: go where you will thrive, and don't worry about a slight difference in Leiter ranking. 

[philoguy]

22 hours ago, Siegfried42 said:

I'm not sure about BC, but I was told to expect Georgia State's decisions around the 25th.

Siegfried, just curious where you heard this. Last update I received from GSU was a generic email saying that they hope to make a decision by Mar 3.

Edited February 21, 2016 by philoguy

[fiametta00]

hi all, for anyone waiting to hear back from stony brook, know that decisions have not yet been finalized. there have been conflicting reports (from different admins), so i asked the DGS instead. hope that's a relief for anyone else still waiting to hear back from them! 

[SamStone]

9 hours ago, janeaude said:

Congratulations to all those who got into Yale!!

For the rest of us, should we assume that all acceptances have been sent out (four are already posted on gradcafe) and we should presume a rejection at this point?

 

I feel safe (though, very disappointed even though it was a long shot) in presuming a non-acceptance. What I'm not sure about is whether Yale does a waitlist. If they do, then perhaps you shouldn't presume a rejection; but if they don't, then sadly, yes—it is a rejection. ...At least, that is how I'm thinking at this point. Does that seem like a fair assumption? And does anyone know if they do WL?

[jacbarcan]

18 minutes ago, SamStone said:

 

I feel safe (though, very disappointed even though it was a long shot) in presuming a non-acceptance. What I'm not sure about is whether Yale does a waitlist. If they do, then perhaps you shouldn't presume a rejection; but if they don't, then sadly, yes—it is a rejection. ...At least, that is how I'm thinking at this point. Does that seem like a fair assumption? And does anyone know if they do WL?

Usually a wait list. 

[TheJabberwock]

On 2/20/2016 at 10:40 AM, frege-bombs said:

I'm honestly not sure; nothing in the letter gave any indication either way. Sorry I can't be more helpful, and the very best of luck to you! 

No worries, thank you! And congrats again on your two acceptances so far!

[Siegfried42]

3 hours ago, philoguy said:

Siegfried, just curious where you heard this. Last update I received from GSU was a generic email saying that they hope to make a decision by Mar 3.

Yeah I received the same e-mail. In the past they seem to have made decisions earlier than that, though, and somebody in another thread mentioned he received his acceptance the 25th in 2015. The dates in those e-mails are often much later than the actual release dates to provide a cushion in case something holds up the adcom.

[MVSCZAR]

40 minutes ago, Siegfried42 said:

Yeah I received the same e-mail. In the past they seem to have made decisions earlier than that, though, and somebody in another thread mentioned he received his acceptance the 25th in 2015. The dates in those e-mails are often much later than the actual release dates to provide a cushion in case something holds up the adcom.

By March 3rd can mean anything, though. It can mean now or it can mean March 2nd. Either way, Tim O'Keefe, the guy who sent us the email, seems open to answering questions if anyone wants to email him and ask. I suspect we'll be hearing back from very many schools this week, though. 

[lisamadura]

I'm curious about Boston College. One reported acceptance via snail mail, no rejections or waitlists (that we know of). Am I right about this or did I miss something? 

[Kel Varnsen]

5 hours ago, thomasphilosophy said:

When you are trying to decide between two similarly ranked programs, I would advise choosing the one with the better fit. Just think: you will be spending 5-7(?) years of your life at this program, so it's really important that it is a good place for your interests. And when it comes time to go on the job market, coming out of a program that is really strong in your interests will pay off (whereas it will probably hurt you to come out of a place that didn't enable you to really develop your work). 

I have heard this type advice a few times from advanced PhDs and professors. Overall, the message is: go where you will thrive, and don't worry about a slight difference in Leiter ranking. 

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[philoguy]

2 hours ago, Siegfried42 said:

Yeah I received the same e-mail. In the past they seem to have made decisions earlier than that, though, and somebody in another thread mentioned he received his acceptance the 25th in 2015. The dates in those e-mails are often much later than the actual release dates to provide a cushion in case something holds up the adcom.

Gotcha, thanks for the info. Looking forward to my first feedback, as I have yet to hear from the other schools to which I applied (all terminal MAs).

[pecado]

6 hours ago, thomasphilosophy said:

When you are trying to decide between two similarly ranked programs, I would advise choosing the one with the better fit. Just think: you will be spending 5-7(?) years of your life at this program, so it's really important that it is a good place for your interests. And when it comes time to go on the job market, coming out of a program that is really strong in your interests will pay off (whereas it will probably hurt you to come out of a place that didn't enable you to really develop your work). 

I have heard this type advice a few times from advanced PhDs and professors. Overall, the message is: go where you will thrive, and don't worry about a slight difference in Leiter ranking. 

Or better yet, do not even consider that "Leiter" man on your life at all, like every philosopher did in the past.

[dgswaim]

Well, looks like the best I can hope for from Maryland at this point is another waiting list.

 

BTW (fwiw), I don't know if anyone out there has gotten into (and is weighing whether to attend) UC Irvine LPS, but I've been at a conference with Kyle Stanford over the last few days and had beers with him last night, and dude is super cool. Seems like he'd be fun to work with and like he maintains a cool department atmosphere as chair. Kinda wish i'd applied......

[dgswaim]

Saw someone just posted an acceptance to LSU. Feel free to message me if you have any questions, whoever you are!!!

[torpedofish]

I got a phone call from Yale an hour ago or so (I had to calm down some before coming on here as I was actually hyperventilating at some point. But !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I've still not quite recovered. This has to be one of the happiest moments of my life, if not the happiest one. (And that after I spent most of yesterday utterly depressed and heart-broken about a presumed rejection from them.)

[gughok]

3 minutes ago, torpedofish said:

I got a phone call from Yale an hour ago or so (I had to calm down some before coming on here as I was actually hyperventilating at some point. But !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I've still not quite recovered. This has to be one of the happiest moments of my life, if not the happiest one. (And that after I spent most of yesterday utterly depressed and heart-broken about a presumed rejection from them.)

Congratulations! Any hints as to whether they're still calling people?

[torpedofish]

1 minute ago, gughok said:

Congratulations! Any hints as to whether they're still calling people?

Thank you! No idea, unfortunately. Though the fact that they split calls for their small number of offers over 2 days suggests it's not done in one quick sweep. At the same time, I don't want to draw out anybody's agony by giving possibly unwarranted hope - I know the pain all too well from yesterday. I'm sorry I don't have anything useful to say :/  I'm crossing my fingers for you. 

[gughok]

1 minute ago, torpedofish said:

Thank you! No idea, unfortunately. Though the fact that they split calls for their small number of offers over 2 days suggests it's not done in one quick sweep. At the same time, I don't want to draw out anybody's agony by giving possibly unwarranted hope - I know the pain all too well from yesterday. I'm sorry I don't have anything useful to say :/  I'm crossing my fingers for you. 

No worries, all hope is unwarranted in the grand lottery that is graduate admissions, but that doesn't stop us! Besides, I'm sure there's something Platonic to be said of how much more (illusorily) elated you felt at receiving the news after deep disappointment from a presumed rejection. Congrats again!

[jacbarcan]

Congratulations! That's so exciting!