Philosophy 2010

[philosophygrad]

This is for anyone applying to Philosophy graduate programs during the 2009-2010 academic year. Please share acceptances, rejections, wait-list notifications, and so on.

Best of luck to everyone applying!

Comments

Introduction and List

[anonymous]

Hi All,
I'm a senior at a well known liberal arts college. My major is an interdisciplinary social science/philosophy program. I'm interested primarily in political philosophy, with additional interests in the philosophy of law, ethics, and the philosophy of social science. I have a 4.0 gpa, 1540 GRE, and 3 strong LOC from philosophers who are known, but not "stars" (actually, one of them is a political theorist, but he writes on philosophical topics). My writing sample is going to be on the burdens of judgment in Rawlsian political liberalism.
Here's my tentative list, open to suggestions. This is a list of dream schools, my plan is to apply again next year if I get shut out:
Harvard
Michicagan
NYU
Princeton
Stanford
UNC, CH
University of Arizona
Oxford
Yale
Brown

I'm also applying to a few political theory schools (probably Harvard, Princeton, Chicago)

Am I missing a school I should be including? Does anything seem out of place?

Thanks!

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

Oops, *LOR

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

at least NYU, Princeton and Yale are "throw aways". They are too nepotistic and if you dont have well known letter writers you wont get in. Dont waste your money on the apps unless you enjoy that sort of thing.

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

How did you come by this information?

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

I have first-hand evidence that Princeton is not like this. The sample is very, very important at Princeton (i.e., it's more important at Princeton than at other schools insofar as a great sample can completely trump a low GPA or not completely stellar letters). Here is some second hand evidence this NYU isn't like this either: Lots of grad students at NYU don't have much pedigree at all coming into NYU. Here are some of the schools grad students at NYU came from: New College of Florida (x2), Northeastern Illinois, University of Nebraska and Texas Christian (this doesn't include any international students; it should be said, though, that it's plausible that many of the letter writers for those students aren't well known in the states).

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

sure there are exceptions, but they are not very likely to be made in these couple of years when the competition is at an all-time high because of the economy. Just trying to paint a realistic picture, not be harsh. If you're really mad by what I said, you're probably (justifiably so)just worried about your own chances there.

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

Let me restate my main point: your claim that Princeton is nepotistic is false. While it's true that most people who get in there have a certain level of pedigree, the reason they get in is not because their letter writers are well known, or friends of Princeton faculty, or whatever. It is plausible that they (the ad com) can get more evidence about one's ability by reading really good letters from people they know have high standards, see a lot of really good students, and produce good work themselves. But that isn't objectionable in itself. That seems quite reasonable. They also, however, put a tremendous amount of stock in the quality of one's writing sample. They are confident in their ability to see philosophical talent for themselves. The main message is that it is really bad advice to tell people not to apply to these places if they don't have famous letter writers. This is to confuse the role famous letter writers play. They help for sure, but that is because they can often provide better evidence of ability than a not-so-

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

stop fucking shit up for other people. also, stop putting everything to "the economy".

Re: Introduction and List

[anonymous]

http://xkcd.com/386/