<p>Who reads the recommendations and etc.? Does the graduate chair of the department do any of it?</p>
<p>I'm applying to Michigan if that matters.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Does the graduate chair of the department do any of it?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>For the philosophy Ph.D program, at least, the director of graduate admissions distributes the applications to a given set of readers. These readers are almost always professors. During the final stages of the process, I believe the last few applications are reviewed by all professors and discussed in committee.</p>
<p>Generally there is an admissions committee formed every year with different professors. The graduate director is not necessarily part of this committee. The adcoms read through everything and decide as a group who to admit.</p>