The Application Package

1. The Application Package Wonder Philosophy 2019

2. What goes into your application package • Writing Sample • Personal Statement and/or Research Statement • CV (curriculum vitae) • Letters of Recommendation (3) • Post-Secondary Transcripts • Application Fees (or waiver) • GRE (for graduate programs in the US) • For non-native speakers of English: English Proficiency Exams (TOEFL, IELTS, or waiver) • Your online application form and school-specific questions

3. What are they? Things we will focus on in more detail later in the afternoon • Writing Sample • Personal Statement and/or Research Statement • Letters of Recommendation (3) • Financial costs of graduate applications Things we will talk about now • Your online application form and school-specific questions • CV (curriculum vitae) • Post-Secondary Transcripts • GRE (for graduate programs in the US) • For non-native speakers of English: English Proficiency Exams (TOEFL, IELTS, or waiver)

4. Your online application portal • Unlike undergraduate admissions in the US where you can use Common Application or Coalition or UC Admissions, etc. to manage your application form for multiple schools, most graduate programs use their own application system. • This means that you have to create an online profile for every single program that you want to apply to, and enter your biographical data for each of them. • This sucks. Any tips?

5. Start Early! ...Why? • Biographical information is not something that, if you wait longer to complete, they will be better. You just have to enter them and get over with it. • Some application portals might surprise you with specific questions or requirements that are nowhere to be found outside of the portal. • Some schools only accept paper versions of your transcript. • There are supplementary short answer questions, such as diversity questions (how can you contribute to the diversity of the program/university), employment history questions, research history questions, personal history questions, etc. • Your recommenders will also have to create accounts for all the schools and submit their letters individually! It’s also a long process for them. So you would want to invite them early.

6. Exercise: Make a list • https://tinyurl.com/applicationpackageexercise • Go to the website of a philosophy department you are interested in applying to. • Fill out the application requirements for that department on this form. • Note any department/school specific requirements on the additional notes, such as: word limit on writing sample, special submissions methods for reference letters, etc. • (optional, strongly recommended) Open an account on their application portal.

7. CV (curriculum vitae) • A CV is not a resume. Resumes are short (2-page) synopses of your experience and skills for non-academic job positions. • CV, on the other hand, is a longer synopsis (2 to several pages) of your educational, academic, research, and professional service background.

8. What to include on the CV for graduate schools • education • experience (presentations, summer school, research assistance) • accomplishments (awards, honors, publications) • activities (philosophy society, MAP chapters) • special qualifications (language proficiency, programming and markdown languages)

9. Sample CVs (please do not share outside of this workshop)

10. How to write a CV • There are excellent online guides to writing a CV. Those produced by a university’s career development office are particularly relevant. For example: • https://grad.ucla.edu/asis/agep/advcv.pdf • https://www.pomona.edu/administration/career-development/how-to/write-curriculum-vitae • https://grad.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/PDFs/CVsamples.pdf • Learn by reading others’ CVs! Go to the website of a philosophy graduate program you want to apply to. Find the personal website of their graduate students, and download their CVs. • Go to your college’s career development office or graduate resource center for editing help!

11. Post-Secondary Transcripts • Most graduate programs will ask for all your post-secondary transcripts, including transcripts from your undergraduate institution, summer schools, exchange programs, study abroad, etc. • If you have attended multiple post-secondary institutions, you might have to prepare multiple post-secondary transcripts. • There are three ways a graduate program might ask for your transcripts: • Official physical copies • Official electronic copies • Unofficial electronic copies (self-upload) • Your home institution might charge a fee for delivering a transcript (mine did), and might require processing time.

12. GRE General Test • Three parts: Verbal Reasoning (170 points), Quantitative Reasoning (170 points), and Analytic Writing (6 points). • Close to 4 hours and costs whopping $205 per test (with financial-based waivers available through ETS). • Most US graduate programs require the GRE for admission • GRE is optional for some programs (kudos to them!): University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, etc. • There have been talks about abolishing the GRE test within philosophy, because people argue that it does not measure philosophical aptitude (read about the decision by UPenn). However, change is slow. For the foreseeable future, GRE would still remain a requirement in graduate admissions.

13. How to study for the GRE? • GRE is not easy, and it takes time to familiarize yourself with the question types. • We’re not very well-equipped to give GRE study tips, but here are some free resources: • 2 Official GRE practice tests: https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/powerprep • Magoosh vocabulary flashcards: https://gre.magoosh.com/flashcards/vocabulary • GRE Official Guide ($40) is also popular among test takers. Other test prep companies (Princeton Review, Magoosh, Kaplan) also have study guides. • Ask the seniors in your college to see if they have second-hand study guides.

14. English Proficiency Exams • If you’re not a native speaker of English, graduate programs might require you to also submit results of English Proficiency Exams (TOEFL or IELTS). • Most (not all!) graduate programs would waive the English proficiency exam requirement for students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in the US or another English-speaking country. • Notable exceptions: Carnegie Mellon University, UC Irvine (waived for admissions, not for teaching assistant appointment*) *this might change in the future

15. FAQ: How much is each component weighted in an application? • It varies from program to program. • The story you would usually hear is that the writing sample is the most important aspect of an application, as it is supposed to demonstrate your best philosophical thinking to date. The next down the list would be letters of recommendation and (philosophy) GPA. Then the personal/research statement and the GRE score. • Again, it differs from program to program, and programs might equivocate by saying that they are looking for well-rounded applicants… • This is a good question to ask the faculty panelists who’ve all served on admission committees.

16. FAQ: Is it true that a high GPA means someone can afford a low GRE score and vice-versa? • We don’t know the answer to the question so we sent out a survey to faculty members who’ve served on admission committees in various universities. • People’s opinion towards grades vary, though they seem to think that GPA is at least as important as the GRE, and usually more important. So it’s easier to get in with a high GPA low GRE combo than vice versa.

17. But how high/low is a high/low GPA? • We don’t know for sure, especially as departments/individual committee members have different views on grades. • What we do often hear is that admitted philosophy graduate applicants tend to have really high GPAs. Eric Schwitzgebel, a professor at UC Riverside, reported that in 2007, the median GPA of their matriculated students was 3.89. • Now this should not be a source for immediate panic. First of all, we lack data to show that this number is consistent across schools and over time. Secondly, this might not reflect a university’s preference for applicants of high GPAs, but perhaps philosophy applicants generally have high GPAs to start with (which might as well be true). • We do know by personal experiences that “you need to have straight A’s in philosophy to get into philosophy graduate programs” is not true. You can get into good programs with less perfect GPA. If anything, upper-level philosophy courses weigh more on your transcript than anything else. • This is a question worth asking the faculty panelists about.

18. Any questions?

19. Personal Statement Wonder Philosophy

20. What is it • Also known as “statement of purpose” “statement of intend”. • Some places ask for separate personal & research statements. • “Get to know you a little better” • To be fair, it is the only “personalized” aspect of your application • What I was told: no one is admitted because of their personal statement; some are rejected because of it.

21. Central things to cover • Explain what you’re interested in • Allow them to judge fit • Display your background knowledge and competency • Explain anything strange about your package • Show that you have a basic sense of what grad school looks like and you know what you’re getting yourself into. • Departments generally want to minimize attrition

22. Explain your research interest • Start with an overview of your academic background. • Did you major in philosophy? Any double-major? Minor? • Have you worked at all? (Part-time at Starbucks doesn’t count.) • What was your focus in the past? • What do you want to focus on in the future? – Broad strokes identifying fields. • Keep this part professional; no narrative needed. Highlight anything noteworthy. • Don’t spend more than 2/3 of a page (for a 2-page PS). If your background is simple, aim for 1/3.

23. Explain your research interest • Continue with a detailed description of your interest. This part should be 1/3-1/2 page long. • Focus on questions. Be specific but try not to take stances. • E.g., “I am interested in the veil of ignorance in modern collective action context.” Rather than “I think the veil of ignorance is the best framework to understand collective action.” • Try to convey some sort of continuity – that your research interest isn’t coming out of nowhere.

24. Explain your research interest • Following are some of the things you can mention (if applicable) • How your non-traditional academic/professional experience will help your philosophical endeavor. • Whether you’ve attended special summer schools/exchange programs and how that has helped your interest. • If your undergrad thesis/MA thesis/writing sample referenced someone in the target department, you should mention it (briefly).

25. What if you don’t know what questions interest you? • MA programs usually care less about this. • Some programs don’t care, in which case you should still throw out something that has interested you and explain that you’re still exploring. • You’ll need to demonstrate greater familiarity with professional philosophy elsewhere in your PS. Also, a great writing sample helps. • Some programs do care and there won’t be anything you can do to find out.

26. Explain anything strange in your package • If you can’t spin your academic/work experience as something that’s philosophically helpful, still mention it & also explain why you still have the background you need. • E.g., if your major was in engineering and now you want to do Aristotelian ethics, you can talk about sitting in philosophy classes outside of curriculum and attending philosophy events. • If the connection is sparse, don’t stress it.

27. Explain anything strange in your package • If your GPA/GRE is low or it took you a long time to finish undergrad (say, >5yr) and you have good reasons for them (e.g., test anxiety, health problems, financial burden)… • The best thing to do is to ask your letter writers to explain it. • If they can’t or you don’t trust they’ll do a good job, you can explain it in your PS. • Don’t dwell on it. State the facts and move on. • Some places will still pass you on and there isn’t a lot you can do.

28. Diversity statement • Some places (e.g., Berkeley) ask for a separate diversity statement. Some places explicitly ask you to mention diversity status in your PS or provide spaces in their application portals for something like this. • If they give a tight word limit and ask you to “state any” minority status you might have, they’re looking for a list and you don’t need to provide a narrative. • Here are some things you might state: • Latinx, African American, indigenous, first generation, financial hardship, veteran status, documentation status (AB540) if in California, international • Disability, (trans)gender identity, and sexual orientation are a little trickier. You should decide based on your own level of comfort. • If nothing applies to you, feel free to leave it blank.

29. Diversity statement • If they want a full statement and it’s mandatory, then they’re looking for a broader range of things, usually including extracurricular activities as well. • E.g., maybe you helped out at a local soup kitchen during undergrad. • You can try to spin it as relevant to your research goal (especially if you’re into value theory). Don’t over-do it though. • It’s also completely okay not to, especially if the diversity statement is separate from the personal/research statement. Don’t leave out information just because it doesn’t fit in a narrative.

30. Tailoring: the what • Tailoring is the practice of explaining, in specific and concrete terms, why you’re applying to this program rather than other programs. • It can be time-consuming with very minimum value in return. (It won’t hurt.) • My advice: tailor for a couple places that’re your top choice. Also tailor if it’s a small program or program with non-traditional focus.

31. Tailoring: the why • Basically, tailoring tells the department that, if they give you an offer, you will go. • This may be surprising, but some places (especially small programs) may reject students with greater qualifications because they believe these students wouldn’t come anyways (and so they shouldn’t waste acceptance spots). • You want to show: you know what they’re about and you know what you’re getting yourself into.

32. Tailoring: the how • Go on their website and read it thoroughly. Look for any: event series, programs, collaborations, etc. • E.g., maybe the department holds annual lecture series in “bridging the analytic/continental gap”. Maybe the department has an ongoing collaboration with the African Studies department. • Take special notice to the “announcement” page as that lists things the department is trying to brag about. • In your statement: mention the program, 1-2 things that are unique/special/impressive about it, and why you may benefit from it.

33. Tone • Try to keep it professional and “matter-of-fact-ly”. • Any achievement you have should be stated in your CV and bragged about by your letter writers. If you have to mention them in the PS, mention briefly. • Stay away from too many passion words. • (Unfortunately, this is a gendered expectation. But as the world currently is, it’s usually advantageous to “talk like a man”.)

34. Bottom line • It might feel weird to write, but it’s good practice for academia. • However: I have heard of many students accepted “in spite of” their statements. So, don’t sweat too much.

35. Writing Sample Wonder Philosophy

36. Basics • It should be a philosophical paper, except in rare circumstances. • The paper should present an original argument defending an original thesis. • Length: some ask for ~20 pages; some ask for ~5000 words (which is ~12 pages). • It’s unlikely you can cut a paper in half by shortening sentences alone. You will need to cut the argument(s) in half. • Writing sample has the most potential of turning tides with your application (one way or another)

37. How to start • Pick a paper from a philosophy class where you got an A. • Pick base on: topic align with your interest; your own satisfaction with paper; your relationship with prof • Schedule a time to ask profs whether the paper is good enough to be a writing sample. • If they say no, believe them and move to the next paper. • Revise as much as time allows.

38. In what follows • Type of thesis & argument • Standard of writing • Paper topic • Revisions!

39. Argument • Your argument is *the* most important aspect of your paper. • (This isn’t always true in undergrad.) • Everything else should be geared towards presenting the argument in the best way. That is: • Choose a thesis that showcases the argument • Write in the clearest way possible so your argument comes across • Pick the paper with the best argument rather than the topic most close to your area • The best way to know whether an argument is good enough is to ask a professional philosopher.

40. Thesis • Ideally, your thesis should be new & exciting. • Realistically, this is hard to do as an undergrad. • Straight out of undergrad, you might consider: diagnosing/resolving an existing debate. • It’s easier to write something semi-original without having surveyed the entire literature. • If you already have a master’s, the standards are usually slightly higher.

41. Writing • Write as clearly as you possibly can: short sentences, simple words, clear & logical structure. • This applies to all topics, including continental philosophy. • Cite contemporary work. This is a way to show background knowledge and familiarity with the field. • For a 20-page paper, aim for at least 15-20 citations. • This does not apply if the paper is: close interpretation of a historic figure, making a logical/technical contribution (e.g., prove a theorem), or in a very narrow field. • It should take you at least 3 months to write a good draft, possibly longer. Plan accordingly.

42. Topic • The sample does not necessarily have to be the same as your intended focus. • Choosing something adjacent is usually good enough. • E.g., feminist theory paper for LGBT studies. Political philosophy paper for meta-ethics. • Smaller & more specialized programs care about it more than mainstream programs. • You should still choose the paper with the best argument.

43. Revisions • Revise as much as you possibly can. • The best way to do this is asking philosophy professors to read it and give comment. • Note that it usually takes at least 2-3 weeks for a professor to get back to you. Plan accordingly. • You can also ask your philosophy-major friends or graduate students (if you know any).

44. Revisions • Note that asking someone to comment on your paper is asking for a huge favour. If you want actually good comments, you’ll need a certain level of rapport with the person. • The best way to get useful feedback is to be clear about what feedback you’re looking for. • You should look for clarity feedback rather than philosophical challenge. • What I’ve found: university “writing centers” that target undergrads are usually not good for these purposes. Same holds for generic “writing help”.

45. Revisions • If you can’t get many people to read your whole paper, what you can do is ask if you can explain it to them. • I’ve found that verbally explaining an argument to someone is the best way to find out 1) if it actually stands, and 2) how to best present it. • It’s more important that the person has generic academic background than specific philosophical background. • Expect to go through at least 2-3 revisions before coming to a good draft.

46. Questions?

47. Reference Letters a.k.a Letters of Recommendation Materials synthesized from Mike’s post on Wonder Philosophy and Eric’s series on The Splintered Mind

48. What are reference letters? • Your reference letters are letters solicited by you, from faculty typically within your undergraduate institution. • The letters give admissions committees a window into your qualities as a student and as a burgeoning academic researcher. • Your reference letters are an opportunity for others to speak on your behalf and to vouch for your ability to perform well in a graduate program in philosophy. • Graduate programs typically ask for three reference letters.

49. Who to ask? • It is generally good to solicit philosophy professors to write them, since one of the roles of the letters is to vouch for your ability to perform well in philosophy. • It is generally good to seek out letter writers who are familiar with your work, as well as (if possible) with your outlook and learning process, since the other main role of the letter is to speak on your behalf. • Usually, this means finding letter writers who have taught philosophy courses that you’ve taken and done well in (gotten an A in), as well as senior or honors research/thesis advisors (if applicable).

50. “What if I don’t feel like anyone in philosophy is familiar with my outlook or my learning process?!” “What if I can’t think of enough people who are familiar?!”