One of my graduated advisees is presently in the middle of waiting for responses to all of his applications for entry into Ph.D. programs for philosophy. He recently brought my attention to a "Grad School Admissions Wiki" that helps students to learn when others have been admitted to certain schools (or rejected, or wait-listed). Basically, it works like the "Job Market Wiki" (for philosophy) that I think is out there too (I think I saw it on Leiter's page at some point, but I can't remember). The Grad School Wiki basically tries to get hopeful applicants information faster than they typically tend to get it from the schools themselves. It also seems to function as a support system, and also has forums dealing with many questions regarding the whole process. Go below the fold for more information on it.
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The address for the forum is here:
http://www.thegradcafe.com
Once there, click on "results/search". Then when the page comes up, type in "philosophy" into the search box. That will narrow the results only to students reporting on admissions/rejections to philosophy graduate programs.
It seems pretty useful, but I'm curious whether others have had more experience with it. If you have, is this a resource that we should pass on to our students, who in my opinion need every piece of information they can get their hands on, especially at this time of the year (the month before the dreaded April 15th)? Any drawbacks about this resource that anyone knows about?
One huge drawback is that there have been numerous 'hoax' posts this year - there is very little screening process on the submissions. However, it's still a useful resource, but some postings have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
ReplyDeleteMore useful is the Livejournal community whogotin: http://community.livejournal.com/who_got_in/66785.html
The great utility of these sites is that they make vivid a message I try to send students but many seem not to believe: It's awfully hard to get into a decent philosophy grad program. There are lots of entries where people have put up their GPA's and GRE's and it's unsettling to see students 3.9+ GPA's and 700+ GRE's getting loads of rejections.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteThis is very true. I am often distressed by how little it seems that my own students (most of them) listen to me when I tell them that they simply aren't working at the level that is required to have a good shot at a graduate program. They quickly fall under the very incorrect assumption that "A" work in undergraduate endeavors is enough to sail into graduate school (at least into any notable ones).
It's just not true. Perhaps sites like this will bring that message home a bit more clearly.