2016 Rejection/Plan B Thread

[smwinterfeldt]

I also received a rejection from Northwestern a couple of days ago. They weren't a top choice, so I'm not devastated. But it would have been good to start this part of the process with an acceptance. Still have 10 schools to go, though!

[Schwarzwald]

Great news, I just got accepted into vast swathes of anxiety and self doubt. Technically, that's 1 acceptance, no rejections, so we're off to a good start.

[LLeuven]

Rejection from Emory. Not altogether unexpected. 

[offyerhst]

7 minutes ago, LLeuven said:

Rejection from Emory. Not altogether unexpected. 

Same here.

Edited February 1, 2016 by offyerhst
Edit

[dgswaim]

Can I just put "implied rejection" for all of my applications? 

[Schwarzwald]

Got an email today from LA that was like "We don't have your transcripts, but honestly, we probably don't need them."

[thatsjustsemantics]

15 minutes ago, Schwarzwald said:

Got an email today from LA that was like "We don't have your transcripts, but honestly, we probably don't need them."

LA? Although I'm leaning towards interpreting this as bad news, it's ambiguous -- how could they not care about evaluating your grades, if you paid the fee?

[jacbarcan]

20 minutes ago, Schwarzwald said:

Got an email today from LA that was like "We don't have your transcripts, but honestly, we probably don't need them."

3 minutes ago, thatsjustsemantics said:

LA? Although I'm leaning towards interpreting this as bad news, it's ambiguous -- how could they not care about evaluating your grades, if you paid the fee?

 

They should still have unofficial transcripts and I'm sure they're just thinking that no one really lies about grades since they double check after admittance. 

Did they say that they don't need them as of now unless you're admitted or did they say that they don't need them at all? If it sounded more like the former, I wouldn't worry any more than normal. If the latter, I hate to say it too that it sounds bad since they'll need them eventually. 

[Schwarzwald]

10 minutes ago, thatsjustsemantics said:

LA? Although I'm leaning towards interpreting this as bad news, it's ambiguous -- how could they not care about evaluating your grades, if you paid the fee?

 

2 minutes ago, jacbarcan said:

 

They should still have unofficial transcripts and I'm sure they're just thinking that no one really lies about grades since they double check after admittance. 

Did they say that they don't need them as of now unless you're admitted or did they say that they don't need them at all? If it sounded more like the former, I wouldn't worry any more than normal. If the latter, I hate to say it too that it sounds bad since they'll need them eventually. 

It was a def "as of now" situation, my post was cheeky. I had to share, mostly because when I read the first line I had a mini panic attack, but the rest of the email clarified. 

[jacbarcan]

Gotcha. You're good. At least, you got some sort of contact. (Jealous.)

[philosophe]

6 hours ago, Schwarzwald said:

 

It was a def "as of now" situation, my post was cheeky. I had to share, mostly because when I read the first line I had a mini panic attack, but the rest of the email clarified. 

Yeah, I think I'd freak if I got that email. They clarified that they only needed your unofficial for now? I can't remember if I sent them officials... I think I did. Their app was really vague and said that the unofficial might be ok "depending on department."

[Schwarzwald]

50 minutes ago, philosophe said:

Yeah, I think I'd freak if I got that email. They clarified that they only needed your unofficial for now? I can't remember if I sent them officials... I think I did. Their app was really vague and said that the unofficial might be ok "depending on department."

They require official transcripts, just not completed undergraduate transcripts. For the record, this is for LMU not UCLA.

[philosophe]

20 minutes ago, Schwarzwald said:

They require official transcripts, just not completed undergraduate transcripts. For the record, this is for LMU not UCLA.

Oh! I definitely thought you meant UCLA. Good luck w/ LMU -- it's in such a nice location. 

[Schwarzwald]

12 minutes ago, philosophe said:

Oh! I definitely thought you meant UCLA. Good luck w/ LMU -- it's in such a nice location. 

haha, yeah. I started to realize in my head that UCLA definitely has claim to the simple "LA" tag over LMU to most people. G'luck with UCLA! 

[majorshake]

Shall I assume that if I haven't heard from Penn State about anything, then I'm rejected?

 

I saw in the acceptance thread that a few people got interviews already

[Siegfried42]

Hey guys. I'm applying to dual degrees in law and philosophy and so submitted applications to both the law schools and the graduate schools of each institution. Since Duke recently sent out admissions for its Ph.D. program, and I did not receive anything, I'm assuming I was rejected. Though I have not yet heard from the law school yet, I have a good chance of being admitted - law admissions are far more predictable than are those for philosophy. Do you guys think it would be okay to e-mail them (the law school) and ask to consider me for the funded J.D./M.A. instead, even though I have not officially heard back anything? Or should I wait until I receive an official rejection for the Ph.D?

 

Edit: JD/MA apps go through the law school instead of the graduate school

Edited February 5, 2016 by Siegfried42

[502845824]

Should I assume that I've been rejected by Duke? I haven't heard a peep from them. If so then count me at 0a/0w/1r out of 13...

[anthrostudentcyn]

hey all, i'm joining this thread even tho i'm not really philosophy (kinda history/philosophy of science/med anthro/ confused in terms of discipline)

 

pretty sure a phd won't happen for me this year. already thinking about my schools for next year. 

[majorshake]

Looks like Penn State and U.Chicago are out for me. 

Balls. 

[502845824]

8 minutes ago, majorshake said:

Looks like Penn State and U.Chicago are out for me. 

Balls. 

Balls indeed. I was aiming for Chicago with a focus in ancient, but I apparently lost out to someone with an MA in ancient  At least judging by the post in the acceptance thread. From what I can tell so far, it looks like MAs are just gonna completely annihilate me. Not that MAs are bad. It's just...balls. 

Edited February 7, 2016 by oldhatnewtricks

[majorshake]

7 minutes ago, oldhatnewtricks said:

Balls indeed. I was aiming for Chicago with a focus in ancient, but I apparently lost out to someone with an MA in ancient  At least judging by the post in the acceptance thread. From what I can tell so far, it looks like MAs are just gonna completely annihilate me. Not that MAs are bad. It's just...balls. 

I (almost) have an MA.. still didn't do me any good

[502845824]

Just now, majorshake said:

I (almost) have an MA.. still didn't do me any good

Damn! It's like you have to have a PhD just to get one

[Cecinestpasunphilosophe]

1 hour ago, oldhatnewtricks said:

Balls indeed. I was aiming for Chicago with a focus in ancient, but I apparently lost out to someone with an MA in ancient  At least judging by the post in the acceptance thread. From what I can tell so far, it looks like MAs are just gonna completely annihilate me. Not that MAs are bad. It's just...balls. 

Sorry =(

I really would encourage you to consider MA programs in Classics or Ancient Philosophy (I'm not sure how many of these programs exist, but I know Western has one - a couple of my friends have gone through it, and really appreciated the experience: http://www.uwo.ca/philosophy/graduate/ma_ancient_philosophy/index.html). In my discussions with profs working in Ancient, they generally seem to really appreciate candidates with strong preparation in Latin/Greek and an interest in cross-disciplinary work. Also, don't give up hope! I was rejected by almost every Ph.D. program I applied to last year (hence why I began my MA in the first place) - there's always hope for next time! 

[502845824]

16 minutes ago, Cecinestpasunphilosophe said:

Sorry =(

I really would encourage you to consider MA programs in Classics or Ancient Philosophy (I'm not sure how many of these programs exist, but I know Western has one - a couple of my friends have gone through it, and really appreciated the experience: http://www.uwo.ca/philosophy/graduate/ma_ancient_philosophy/index.html). In my discussions with profs working in Ancient, they generally seem to really appreciate candidates with strong preparation in Latin/Greek and an interest in cross-disciplinary work. Also, don't give up hope! I was rejected by almost every Ph.D. program I applied to last year (hence why I began my MA in the first place) - there's always hope for next time! 

Ah! You found me! that wasn't supposed to happen  Congrats! I'm really not too bummed. Chicago wasn't a very top choice, and I knew realistically I didn't have a great shot. About all I've got going for me is that I know Greek and Latin. I can't stack up to someone who has done an MA in classics! I've applied to a couple of MAs, so I'm mostly just waiting on those I threw in a couple big-name PhDs just to see if I could get lucky. 

Edit: By the way, I'm happy a fellow Kierkegaard fan got in! I'm so jealous of your interests. I have to ask, are you considering doing anything with theology or going into the priesthood? I saw Notre Dame on your list, and I have a good friend doing an MA in theology there right now. He's the biggest Kierkegaard nerd I've ever met!

Edited February 7, 2016 by oldhatnewtricks

[Establishment]

19 hours ago, Cecinestpasunphilosophe said:

Sorry =(

I really would encourage you to consider MA programs in Classics or Ancient Philosophy (I'm not sure how many of these programs exist, but I know Western has one - a couple of my friends have gone through it, and really appreciated the experience: http://www.uwo.ca/philosophy/graduate/ma_ancient_philosophy/index.html). In my discussions with profs working in Ancient, they generally seem to really appreciate candidates with strong preparation in Latin/Greek and an interest in cross-disciplinary work. Also, don't give up hope! I was rejected by almost every Ph.D. program I applied to last year (hence why I began my MA in the first place) - there's always hope for next time! 

Damn, this sounds rad. I want to apply even though I already have an MA in philosophy.