tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post7429261299608499434..comments2024-03-25T11:49:21.281-07:00Comments on The Splintered Mind: Applying to PhD Programs in Philosophy, Part V: Statement of PurposeEric Schwitzgebelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11541402189204286449noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-62163662200865155322021-11-12T17:40:12.834-08:002021-11-12T17:40:12.834-08:00I'm inclined to recommend silence about what y...I'm inclined to recommend silence about what you plan to do after the PhD -- safer that way, in case some committee members have the reaction you're concerned about.Eric Schwitzgebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274774112862434865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-84236394550038484442021-11-12T17:30:25.906-08:002021-11-12T17:30:25.906-08:00Is it considered disqualifying not to express an i...Is it considered disqualifying not to express an intention to seek professorships in the future? I'm passionate about studying philosophy in an ongoing way and I'd be happy to end up in a teaching position, but I understand that getting those jobs is even harder than getting into grad school. There are a lot of jobs I would be happy to pursue with a philosophy background (including writing, which is what I currently do), and I could explain this in my statement — but I'm wondering if that will be seen as evidence that I'm not qualified or ambitious enough.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-38198916826927869702021-11-10T13:43:19.434-08:002021-11-10T13:43:19.434-08:00The question, I was having a debate with a peer of...The question, I was having a debate with a peer of mines and he claims that Philosophers are synonymous as writers. I do not believe this to be true. Can someone provide an answer? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-44367705553213137892021-11-08T13:44:10.182-08:002021-11-08T13:44:10.182-08:00I would probably mention it as a strength, on the ...I would probably mention it as a strength, on the assumption that it connects with your interest in philosophy. Show how it fits with your philosophical interests, making you an attractive potential student.<br /><br />I would think the normal expectation in applying is that you submit all of your transcripts, so it's possible that it would be inappropriate not to submit PhD transcripts, though I could imagine circumstances under which it might be appropriate to keep that private.Eric Schwitzgebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274774112862434865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-87726217008606232932021-11-07T23:29:25.841-08:002021-11-07T23:29:25.841-08:00If one has a PhD in another discipline and wants t...If one has a PhD in another discipline and wants to take another PhD in Philosophy would it be proper to ignore mentioning the first unrelated degree to avoid attracting attention on that; or to what extent should one mention it in the SOP for the Philosophy admission? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04224631508145755626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-10903062798936047572020-11-03T10:48:28.507-08:002020-11-03T10:48:28.507-08:00Allison: Lots of applicants do have Master's a...Allison: Lots of applicants do have Master's already, so it's not unusual. You'll want to focus mostly on your Master's experience but probably a brief discussion of your undergrad experience would be relevant too.Eric Schwitzgebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274774112862434865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-69960763375537331762020-11-02T18:22:05.892-08:002020-11-02T18:22:05.892-08:00Thanks for this post. Are there any changes you wo...Thanks for this post. Are there any changes you would suggest a personal statement if one already has a Master's in Philosophy?Allison Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02500345177540049437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-71676480894624881322019-12-10T13:16:40.618-08:002019-12-10T13:16:40.618-08:00It's fine to include personal details in the s...It's fine to include personal details in the statement of purpose. I would recommend erring on the side of being brief, factual, and neutral in tone rather than long, dramatic, and overwrought. (Sometimes applicants write inspiring personal stories in the statements, so it's not impossible.)Eric Schwitzgebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274774112862434865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-88553565481209541012019-12-04T07:59:52.688-08:002019-12-04T07:59:52.688-08:00Again, thanks for all your posts on the grad proce...Again, thanks for all your posts on the grad process. They often are very similar or identical to the advice of my undergraduate adviser (also the chair of that very small but excellent dept), which has made me significantly more confident about my prospects. Anyway, I am aware that SOPs should not be too personal and frankly I hate writing about myself. However, in my case, my research interests developed out of a combination of my personal life experiences with particular institutions/practices and my specifically philosophical interests. I felt like I had to include those details in order to make clear that I am an intrinsically motivated scholar, that I can work independently, and that I am truly passionate about my studies. When I philosophize, I am trying to make sense of or come to terms with what truly disturbs me. Do you have any thoughts? I kind of wish I could include more details, but I am applying to UC Riverside! Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26951738.post-4876129640955251762019-12-02T11:20:33.475-08:002019-12-02T11:20:33.475-08:00Yikes, I'm sorry to hear that! It's disap...Yikes, I'm sorry to hear that! It's disappointingly common. Here's one approach. First, find (if you don't already have one) an advisor who is supportive and most of whose students finish. And second, think of your dissertation as your *longest* work rather than thinking of it as your *best* work, as I describe in this post:<br />https://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2018/07/think-of-your-dissertation-as-your.htmlEric Schwitzgebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274774112862434865noreply@blogger.com