graduatecat97
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Posts posted by graduatecat97
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I am in an English M.A. program right now, and my undergrad degree was in English literature. I am thinking about different directions for a PhD in a couple of years, and philosophy is one of them.
I do not have any formal philosophical coursework or experience, however. I've explored some ideas and books, and videos too, and it seems to be quite a fulfilling field.
Long story short, how realistic or unrealistic would it be for me to apply to philosophy PhD programs in a few years given my background as an English major? Has this been done before? If so, what would it take for me to be competitive? Do philosophy grad students usually have one or two topics of interest (like ethics or epistemology for instance) and apply to programs of that fit? Any suggestions? Perhaps I would just stick to English PhD programs.
Preparing for PhD program entry in a couple of years
in Literature, and Rhetoric and Composition
Posted · Edited by graduatecat97
Hey all,
I am currently in an MA in English program as a first-year student. This is a new chapter after I just graduated undergrad. I am really leaning towards applying to PhD programs perhaps in the application cycle after this one. I need to know:
How should I prepare, and what should I do now, to be the most competitive candidate possible? I am fortunate enough now to have a graduate assistantship, and am attending a program that is not super well known but has a nice university. What is it going to take for me to set myself apart from other applicants, as I work towards my master's degree? I really want to go to a top-tier program, but know admissions are extremely difficult. I want to use my MA experience to make me a more competitive candidate.
...Conferences, publications, working at a library off-campus, test scores, volunteering, etc. -- what is the best way to bolster my track record so that I can get into an elite PhD program in the future? It may either be a PhD program in English, or Literature, or Rhetoric/Composition (I've not decided the exact focus yet) for reference. I'm not really trying to be program-elitist as my undergrad was a state school but if I'm going to full send the doctoral route, for job market purposes, I really should be in a highly known program.
Thanks.