peoni

Question:: Essay question for MLA application is "tell about an experience/person/event that has been important to me in my development". To be completely honest, the most important experience I have had was developing two chronic illnesses during my time in the military. During this year of being mostly bed ridden, I had the oppertunity to read more than I ever had in my life. I ended up finding a passion that I want to devote my life to researching --heuristics and cognitive biases. Additionally, being sick helped me to really focus my priorities--What did I really want to get out of life? I realized that I had previously chosen jobs and majors based on "what sounds cool" (physics, political science, officer in military) instead of "what can I spend hours and hours reading and never get bored. Is this an ok thing to write about? Will admitting that I have two chronic illnesses hinder my chances at getting accepted? Or, if I frame it correctly, be interpreted as something that I have overcome that helped me to really focus in on what I want to accomplish and do in life? Note: I won't actually write it like a sob story, I just am worried that is how it might come across, like I am looking for sympathy, when in fact I am just trying to honestly tell one of the most significant events in my life so far. Background: I am applying to UPENN's Masters in Liberal Arts program. The reason I am applying there is because (1) its the only interdisciplinary program I could find that lets me combine philosophy, cognitive science/physch, and artificial intelligence (2) great school and close to home and (3) My grades and differing undergrad major (poli sci and physics) wouldn't allow me enterance to a PhD progam at the current time. My end goal is to get my Masters, and then apply to either Cambridge or Oxford, both of which have research institutes that focus on the combination of these areas.

Just out of curiosity, what is your intended focus?

I am interested in going to graduate school with a focus on cognitive biases in artificial intelligence and global risk scenarios. Some people have directed me towards library/information science. Would you guys agree this is correct? I'm assuming the connection with library science is how cognitive bias affects one's research about the mitigation of global risk (like existential risk scenarios). I have zero background in this field, but I am trying to figure out how to pursue it academically/professionally. So if anyone has any idea if this "is a fit" for an information science program, albeit an unusual one, I'd be really interested to hear your take. Has anyone heard of anything like this at all in info/library science? Thanks! Any insight would be greatly welcomed, as I am very new to all of this!

I am looking to begin a career in cognitive biases in artificial intelligence development and global risk scenarios, however I have absolutely zero experience in the subject (other than devoting most of my free time to reading research articles) . I have a B.A. in Physics and Political Science from Rutgers. After I graduated, I became an Signals Intelligence Officer in the Marine Corps, which I have been for the past 4 years. I am exiting the Marines this summer and am looking to try to move into academia and research. First Problem: I am not sure which program is right. Oxford definitely has this focus in its philosophy department. But obviously I need more choices. I imagine that philosophy, information science, or sociology might be appropriate—but recently a professor I contacted said that political science or environmental studies might be more appropriate? Second Problem: My zero experience. Ideally, I would like to get into a PhD program. But I am willing to apply to a masters prog to get more experience in this field. However, I am not even sure a masters program would accept me since my undergrad majors don’t apply. What do people do in cases like this? I feel like this would be a lot easier if I was an undergrad still and had an academic advisor to guide me in the process. But that is why I am reaching out to you all! If anyone can provide any advice or helpful points of contact, I would be extremely grateful. I don’t personally know anyone in the field and am somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of beginning anew. Thanks!

I am looking to begin a career in cognitive biases in artificial intelligence development and global risk scenarios, however I have absolutely zero experience in the subject (other than devoting most of my free time to reading research articles). I have a B.A. in Physics and Political Science from Rutgers. After I graduated, I became an Signals Intelligence Officer in the Marine Corps, which I have been for the past 4 years. I am exiting the Marines this summer and am looking to try to move into academia and research. First Problem: I am not sure which program is right. Oxford definitely has this focus in its philosophy department. But obviously I need more choices. I imagine that philosophy, information science, or sociology might be appropriate—but recently a professor I contacted said that political science or environmental studies might be more appropriate? Second Problem: My zero experience. Ideally, I would like to get into a PhD program. But I am willing to apply to a masters prog to get more experience in this field. However, I am not even sure a masters program would accept me since my undergrad majors don’t apply. What do people do in cases like this? I feel like this would be a lot easier if I was an undergrad still and had an academic advisor to guide me in the process. But that is why I am reaching out to you all! If anyone can provide any advice or helpful points of contact, I would be extremely grateful. I don’t personally know anyone in the field and am somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of beginning anew. Thanks!