<p>*If this thread needs to be in a completely different forum, please move it. Thanks!</p>
<p>So I really wanted to apply to the Davidson Fellows award for Philosophy - </p>
<p>But I have no idea where to even begin looking for my "mentor" and "professional in the field".</p>
<p>And since we're talking about "philosophers" here, wouldn't "mentors" and "professionals" be the same people?</p>
<p>It just seems more difficult to find a mentor for philosophy than say... science or math.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Most mentors, whether it be for research or fairs or whatever, are usually college professors. Speaking with a teacher who may have contacts would be the easiest way to approach this, as he or she could provide a good recommendation to facilitate a good response.</p>
<p>However, if you have to approach a professor on your own, compiling some information (your goal, your plan, your thesis) in a presentable manner would encourage your potential mentor to accept you. </p>
<p>Looking for mentors in your area could get tricky. Search for professors in your intended field explicitly stating whether they’re accepting student-mentor research. Remember, in most cases you are probably a liability to them, and they are doing you a favor. Show that you’re mature enough to handle yourself.</p>
<p>Here’s how I understand it:</p>
<p>You need someone to help you with revision, topic-selection, research, and moral support. This person is your mentor. I suppose it could be an English teacher or anyone with a major or minor in philosophy. If there are no professors in your area (we don’t even have a philosophy instructor at our community college) call local law firms; many lawyers are philosophy-majors.</p>
<p>As for your professional, the Davidson Fellowship wants someone in the field to assess your work, (i.e. is it really any good?). You have to present a novel approach, a prestigious performance, or a (beaver home) good, philosophy paper. I can’t think of any way this person could have any position except a faculty member (PhD) who is any variety of professor or lecturer. Look at schools which aren’t too far away, and look at the research interests of the faculty. When you find someone whose research interest matches the theme(s) of your paper, e-mail some basic information and ask if he or she might be able to help you. You need this person to look over your ideas, recommend primary and secondary sources on your topic(s), review your final draft and recommend revision, and finally he or she will assess the quality of your work.</p>
<p>I’m working on my submission for this year–it’s my last year of eligibility and I decided I could only learn from the process. It seems to me though that the Davidson Fellowship is looking for Graduate-level work from high school students so they can support those who will truly change their fields. It doesn’t look like the Fellowship has a history of much recognition in this field, recognizing mainly $10,000 and honorable mention students (While there was a Davidson Fellow, I don’t think there has been Davidson Fellow Laureate ($50,000 winner) recently). </p>
<p>I talked to one of the previous winners via facebook, and it sounded like he just worked with his debate coach and submitted it to a professor. If you think about it though, in comparison to the other fields, philosophy is perhaps the fairest. Consider how the necessary environment and resources for music, topological mathematics, cancer research, and the other areas.</p>