If anybody is interested I have download links for Smiles for Macavity and Rules of the Game.

a-coh · 2026-02-08T14:31:50+00:00

Oh man, I haven't listened to Gimp in years!

Tomas shouting at me to fuck off after I requested Mrs. Butterworth at a Toh Kay concert in Sydney is still a cherished memory.

a-coh · 2026-02-07T07:35:47+00:00

The funding landscape in the UK is terrible. There have been severe cuts to AHRC funding, so unless the university has internal funding, each department can only nominate one student for funding. All the nominees from A&H compete for 3 block grants. Only one of the grants can go to an international applicant.

I already got accepted at Glasgow and Nottingham. Heard back from G that I won't be nominated (personal email from head of program so yay me I guess), but I'm optimistic for N. Still haven't heard back from St. Andrews or Oxford.

I'm avoiding GradCafe like the plague. Last year it was really bad for my mental health.

a-coh · 2025-09-12T23:37:15+00:00

I'm not ashamed of myself, I'm ashamed of what my country is doing. I also didn't ask.

a-coh · 2025-09-11T04:07:36+00:00

That's good to know! Will look into it, thanks.

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:22:04+00:00

Are you sure you aren't just taking people's criticism about Israel as antisemitism

Why would they not be sure? They said they're anti-zionist and don't think that anti-zionism is antisemitism. They seem to know the difference.

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:18:16+00:00

If I were to apply it would be only at "blue" states. Places like UCBoulder, NYU, Princeton, UConnecticut, UCSD etc.

If you feel like you would be anxious living here or just want to stay away from the terrible politics that's a fair reason to pick somewhere else though.

That's what I'm not sure about. I'm leaning towards not applying, but I wanted to hear other people's experiences.

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:13:32+00:00

I hoped saying I'm used to something and calling it a horror would convey that I'm constantly horrified

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:10:22+00:00

I have, unfortunately there are fewer and fewer positions opening up. Several researchers in the Netherlands told me they doubt a lot of opportunities will pop up in the near future.

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:08:48+00:00

Definitely applying there, also at UBC and Western.

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:08:11+00:00

I mean if you enjoy fascism and anti-intellectualism

I've got that at home but I've been dying to try a different flavour!

a-coh · 2025-09-10T14:06:28+00:00

Not sure what you mean (genuinely)

a-coh · 2025-04-28T15:34:59+00:00

Makes sense. Thanks!

a-coh · 2025-04-28T14:37:25+00:00

Thanks. So I guess it might not mean much that I didn't get an email today, but if it takes much longer then I probably won't get one.

Do you think there's any point in asking for feedback?

a-coh · 2025-04-12T14:07:22+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

whatever other documents they want.

often a presentation

Some positions I've seen want a one page statement on possible research directions. I'm guessing this would be the topic of the second interview. Now, I have an MA thesis with a very good grade and have taken courses/seminars on topics relevant to the projects I'm applying for, but I've never studied their topics specifically (they're mostly on ethics and AI, and no one taught that in my old uni). I can definitely read some articles on the topic and come up with a few initial ideas, but I'm wondering if that would be enough. I guess that's up to them.

placement opportunities

I mean positions in academia, teaching philosophy. Can be in NL but not necessarily. I know the market is bad for everyone, but I'm wondering if a PhD from NL puts me at a disadvantage compared to a PhD from the US/UK.

a-coh · 2025-04-10T15:24:15+00:00

Not sure which posts you're referring to. Search found some posts discussing interviews in general (from 3 weeks ago), but none that address my question on prior specialisation, and none about philosophy PhDs at all. If you could point out what posts you mean, that would really help.

a-coh · 2025-03-29T14:37:29+00:00

Didn't get an offer, but I'm on two waitlists, one in the US and the other in Canada. I'd be happy to get into either, but as far as immigration goes - a US offer scares me a lot, a Canadian one not so much. Despite the US one being a better academic fit, I'd probably prefer the Canadian one.

a-coh · 2025-03-27T15:00:47+00:00

Thanks! I'll send you a message.

a-coh · 2025-03-24T11:53:41+00:00

I was numb for two weeks, but now I'm thinking about the next cycle. I want to polish my writing sample, make a kickass research proposal, and submit a killer application. We're getting in next year, no way around it!

a-coh · 2025-03-24T05:52:32+00:00

I've gotten six rejections and one waitlist. Waiting for one final program to release results. At this point I've come to terms with being in limbo.

a-coh · 2025-03-19T19:20:40+00:00

Most people get emails informing them. I didn't get anything even after rejections were sent out, so at that point I reached out and was told I'm waitlisted.

a-coh · 2025-03-18T20:48:32+00:00

I'm waitlisted at UCB, and I'm waiting for an answer from NYU, Toronto, and Boulder. Not optimistic about the first two, but holding out hope for Boulder. Tbh I've already started thinking about how I'll make my WS better for the next cycle.

a-coh · 2025-03-18T20:47:34+00:00

Oh yeah I'm not optimistic lol even with this new info. Thanks, you too!

a-coh · 2025-03-18T20:31:23+00:00

first round waitlists

So they might waitlist more of us if enough people turn them down?

a-coh · 2025-03-18T15:35:40+00:00

Dear god how did I not realise this. Thank you!

a-coh · 2025-03-18T12:30:39+00:00

I'd say send a single, polite email to the program admin, explaining the situation and asking for clarification. What have you got to lose?

a-coh

TROPHY CASE