Greetings! Since I run the "Philosophy Admissions" spreadsheet, I am trying to gather somewhat more empirical information about how many programs, on average, grad students are applying to in a given application cycle. I am also trying to get an idea of the barriers folks are encountering as they apply since part of the paper/proposal is arguing for specific changes in what schools include on their websites and for more transparency from departments concerning elements like funding. After I have this information I'll be working with folks in my home department to put together a recommendation for best practices to send to the APA specifically as it concerns the barriers and trends.(However this isn't intended to be exclusive of US schools--for better or worse the APA is one point of intervention, but it isn't the only relevant entity in this conversation)
This survey is intended to be completed for only one given year (though I have an optional section for folks to add in how many schools they have applied to in a previous application cycle!) and no specific information will be shared beyond the X% of applicants ran into Y barriers, X% of applicants applied to Z number of schools this year, Q was a trend in what folks wish was different, etc.
Feel free to direct any questions/concerns to Linds Whittaker (
Lmwhitta@uw.edu)