Philosophy Admissions 2008

[tofunoodle]

Hey, I know I'm probably jumping the gun here, but I couldn't resist starting up a who_got_in entry over for Philosophy 2008 at Livejournal:

http://community.livejournal.com/who_got_in/66785.html

Feel free to head on over there and post what schools you're applying to, what results you've received, what you're drinking to keep yourself sane while you wait, etc.

[Diotima]

After reading a few of the forum topics on here, and checking out the livejournal comments from 2007, I've noticed what seems to be a scarcity of ancient philosophy students...

Anyone applying to study ancient philosophy for 2008?

[tofunoodle]

After reading a few of the forum topics on here, and checking out the livejournal comments from 2007, I've noticed what seems to be a scarcity of ancient philosophy students...

Anyone applying to study ancient philosophy for 2008?

No way, that stuff's old news! :-)

Seriously, though, I've heard ancient is a good niche because there are so few really good students who do it to go around. Programs like Toronto, Cornell, Princeton, and Arizona have great faculty strengths in those programs and could have special funding available, but there just aren't that many people who have a good background in Greek and/or Latin and the other "bona fides" to be taken seriously as ancient philosophy specialists. If you are one of those people, you might be in a good position to get into one of those schools. Or so I've heard.

[Diotima]

Well that is good to hear. My years of peripatetically chanting declensions and conjugations might just pay off. : ) I've applied to a couple of those schools, so we shall see.

[nurye27]

Congrats to those who got in at Pitt!

I applied there too, but based on the fact that I haven't heard anything from them, I guess I didn't make it.

Anyway, does anyone know if there is something like a quota for international students at philosophy programs or any other program in general? I'm an international applicant myself, and I was just wondering...

[glaukopis]

Hi Diotima,

I'm also interested in ancient philosophy. I haven't applied to philosophy programs this year, because I'm afraid that my credentials in both philosophy and ancient language are inadequate, but I'm trying to build them in hopes for next year. I've 4 years of Greek, 2 years of Latin, and a good deal of philosophy under my belt (a double major in classics and philosophy an undergraduate) -- but no experience of philosophy after Kant. I'm nervous that my lack of general knowledge of post-Kantian philosophy is a disadvantage. May I ask what your background is? It will help me to set up this next year in an MA program as a way for me to become an attractive ancient philosophy student.

[Diotima]

Hi Glaukopis,

You seem fairly qualified to me. I think a Classics & Philosophy double major is a definite plus for you if you want to do ancient...there's nothing better you could have done! In terms of improvement I think it really just depends on what you want to study. Obv, if you want to focus on mediaeval philosophy you would need more Latin. What area interests you? In terms of your philosophy background, well, one of my professors used to say, "Post-Kantian philosophy? Its bullshit coefficient is far too high", and I pretty much agree, although I must put in a good word for Nietzsche. I imagine you focused your philosophy courses on ancient and mediaeval philosophy, and maybe some topical courses? As long as you've solid preparation in the areas you would propose to study in graduate school, I don't think they'd care if you hadn't much modern and post-modern philosophy, at least in continental programs, if it didn't relate to your topic at all.

My details:

- Hons. BA: Political Theory and Philosophy, 3.98 GPA

- Languages: German (fluent), Greek (advanced), Latin (advanced), French (intermediate)

- GRE: 760v, 700q, 5.5w

- A few undergraduate awards in political science; summa cm laude; some teaching experience; TA for 2 classes; philosophy research assistant

- Studied Ancient Philosophy at Oxford for my third year

- 4-month internship in the Prime Minister

[yannbd]

Has anyone heard from BU, Columbia, UMass (PhD) or Tufts (MA) ?

Do they notify everyone, admitted or not ? May I have to wait untill the closure of the admissions (or of the waiting list) to have an answer if ever I'm not in ?

I'm not American and I'm not familiar with the admissions process.

Thanks for answering if you have information (anyway it would help me not to overstress...).

[ejv]

Hey Diotima,

I saw that you were accepted to Edinburgh. Was this for the PhD? If so, were you offered funding? I ask because I am a U.S. student, was accepted for the PhD, and have apparently missed the Feb. 28th deadline for the scholarships that fund most non-EU students. Any tips?

Thanks.

[Diotima]

Hi ejv,

No, I applied for the research MSc. There were only a few funding opportunities for non-doctoral students, though doing the research programme as opposed to the taught programme helped. The note I got with my admissions packet indicated that we should hear details of scholarships and studentships around the end of March-beginning of April. I'll let you know if I hear anything. Maybe after that time they will know how much they are giving and could offer you some? You could try looking for governmental or charitable scholarships, like through your local Rotary club, or apply in your second year for Marshalls etc. Would you still go if you weren't offered any funding?

[ejv]

Diotima,

Congrats.

I've been looking at Marshall and Fulbright, but it would have to wait until '09, I've been told that I can defer, if that's what I decide.

Hopefully you get a favorable funding decision. Did you apply for the ORSAS?

Please let me know, via post or by email/PM on your general info RE: funding, when the time comes.

Edinburgh looks like an amazing program.

Cheers.

[religiousphilosopher]

Did anyone apply to Toronto? If so,have you heard from them yet?