FAQ FOR PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS TO THE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT
What are the most important parts of my application?
The most important parts of your application are the writing sample and the statement of purpose. You can expect these to be read carefully. The writing sample is our best clue as to your philosophical abilities. The area of philosophy that you write about is much less important than that you demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rigorously. Your statement of purpose should explain your academic interests and why you think that they would best be served by our philosophy department.
But what about the GRE?
We make no cuts based on the GRE alone. We know that there are people who do not perform well on such tests, for various reasons, and who would nevertheless make excellent philosophers. Nevertheless, we do look at these scores, and if they are low, we expect the rest of the application to assure us that they are not a reliable indicator.
I did not get interested in philosophy until late in my undergraduate career. Is this a problem?
Not necessarily. We look primarily for philosophical aptitude. Most applicants who have a stronger background in philosophy have an easier time giving evidence of their philosophical aptitude, and we do advise those who have not studied much philosophy to look into terminal master's programs. But we welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds, and we have accepted students who show great promise in philosophy despite a relatively weak background in the field.
I am an international student. Is this a problem? Is there a minimum TOEFL score required?
We have and have recently had several students from abroad, including students from Colombia, Germany, Greece, South Korea, and Turkey. There is no minimum TOEFL score, but we are concerned that our international students be fluent when they arrive, to get the most out of the program. Not only the TOEFL but also the writing sample and statement of purpose help to indicate this, as do letters of reference. The university offers additional training for international students before they begin serving as teaching assistants, but our students need not worry about this until after their first year.
What if I want to work with Professor So-and-So in the PNP program? Do I have to be in the PNP program to do this? What is the relationship between the philosophy department and the PNP program?
All of the core faculty and graduate students in the PNP program are also in the philosophy department, and philosophy students who are not in the PNP program are welcome not just in the courses offered by PNP faculty but also in PNP colloquia and such. We expect our PNP students to be interested in philosophical matters outside of PNP, and we expect our philosophy students outside of PNP to be interested in matters inside of PNP. These things said, one admissions committee handles the decisions for both the "regular program" and the PNP program, and that committee typically admits into the regular program students who are likely to write dissertations with faculty outside of PNP, as this provides balance to our student body and to our faculty's workloads.
Are students in the PhD program fully funded?
Yes. We do not admit students unless we are prepared to continue funding them for at least 5 years (subject of course to satisfactory progress). The 2006-2007 stipend for graduate students is $16,500 for the 9-month period from September to May. In addition students may apply for, and generally are successful in receiving, summer funding.
Are there any additional fellowships for which I can apply?
Yes. We strongly recommend suitably qualified applicants to apply for the Chancellor’s Fellowship program and/or the Olin Fellowship. These are prestigious awards that bring with them additional funding. Philosophy students have been successful in these competitions in the past.
Can I apply to do a master’s degree at Washington University?
Yes. We focus on the PhD program and do not often accept students for the MA. But we do make exceptions for promising applicants when we can accommodate them without compromising the work we do with our PhD students.
Are students pursuing a terminal MA funded?
No. Master's-only students receive a scholarship to cover one half of their tuition costs, but they are on their own for the other half of tuition costs and for their living expenses.
I am thinking about applying to the philosophy department. Should I schedule a trip to campus?
This is strongly recommended. You should contact us in advance and we will arrange for you to meet with faculty and some current students – as well as to sit in on one of our graduate classes, if you wish.
I have been offered a place on the philosophy department. Can I come to campus to look around?
We bring all applicants to whom we have made offers to campus. (Of course, we cover the travel, housing, and dining expenses.)