Greetings! I'm new to this forum entirely. I plan on applying for 2015 and was getting an early start on researching the application process.
Undergrad: I am graduating from a small and probably relatively unknown state college. Due to soul searching my way through nearly the entirety of my undergraduate career, my GPA is far less than stellar. 2.92 cumulative, and about 3.5 in Philosophy after this semester. The 3.5 would be higher, but I took one phil class long before becoming a major and did extremely poorly out of pure laziness and lack of interest. I also got some B's. I had the good fortune of meeting a Professor who took an interest in my Philosophical ability. She convinced me to major in Philosophy, and later suggested I apply to Grad school. It took me half the semester mulling over it to make a decision, but I have decided that I definitely do want to apply.
Other stuff: I have yet to take the GRE, and I plan on studying as much as possible for it. I plan on perfecting the paper I am presenting to the department on Wednesday (our degree requires either a portfolio or a senior presentation to graduate) to use as a writing sample. It is on a fairly esoteric topic (Marx/Benjamin on alienation). I hope that doesn't count against me. It is, however, my best writing sample candidate as I produced it research-wise independently under the loose guidance of a professor.
Interests: My interests currently include German Idealism, modern philosophy (esp. Berkeley), 19th and 20th century philosophy, Marxism, and secondary interests in Philosophy of Art, Existentialism, and Symbolic Logic. I would also like to study friendship further, a la Kant and Aristotle. Figures I am currently interested in are Marx, Benjamin, Adorno, Berkeley and Kant.
I haven't quite decided what schools I am applying to (I plan to apply to at least 12), although I already know my top choice school is University of Toronto. The department there really seems in line with my personal interests, and I'd love to work with Rebecca Comay who lists Marx and Marxism and Benjamin and Adorno under her research interests. I will be focusing on applying to schools with strengths in the "continental" side of Philosophy rather than the Analytical side.
