Philosophy Graduate School Chances

Graduate School
1

<p>Does a philosophy major from a regional south university have any shot at a top graduate program in philosophy? My school is ranked in the 20's in the regional south category. I attend this school because I have a full scholarship via tuition exchange.</p>

<p>My statistics/honors are as follows:
- Major: Philosophy
- Minor: Asian Studies
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Honors/Deans List
- 100% Scholarship (Via Tuition Exchange)
- Study Abroad: Oxford University (Kant & Formal Logic)</p>

<p>I will be applying to the following schools (none of which require the GREs [to my knowledge], since they are all in the UK):
- Oxford University
- University of St. Andrews/University of Stirling Joint Program
- Cambridge University<br>
- University College London
- King's College, London<br>
- Birkbeck College , University of London<br>
- University of Sheffield<br>
- London School of Economics<br>
- University of Nottingham<br>
- University of Reading
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Edinburgh<br>
- University of Leeds<br>
- University of York<br>
- University of Birmingham<br>
- University of Durham<br>
- University of Exeter<br>
- University of Glasgow<br>
- University of Manchester </p>

<p>I would also like to mention that I am currently a Junior (on track to graduate with top honors). I plan on attending Middlebury's Summer Language School (Chinese) before graduation. My primary interests in philosophy are logic, Kant, Classical Chinese philosophy, and comparative philosophy.</p>

<p>Please let me know if I have any shot at the aforementioned universities.</p>

2

<p>I’m sure you have a good shot at everything on your list, but you should be absolutely certain that you want to go for a PhD in philosophy. You’ve heard the horror stories, I’m sure, but I’ll repeat one anyway.</p>

<p>I’m just paraphrasing this story, so the statistics may be off, but just about 10% of the University of Michigan philosophy PhD grads from between 2000 and 2010 have secure jobs. As I’m sure you know, Michigan has one of the best departments in the United States (and the world). Michigan accepts about 10-15 people each year, so that’s 1-2 people per class. </p>

<p>Additionally, most of these secure jobs are not at “ideal” universities for philosophy professors. </p>

<p>But again, I’m sure you know the dangers. Maybe things are better in the UK, especially at Oxford and Cambridge. </p>

<p>One additional thing: It’s probably going to be hard to find a department willing to advise you if you want to research both Chinese philosophy and logic. It’s going to be a one-or-the-other scenario in most of the “top” schools, unless you can find a department with a professor who specializes in Eastern logic. I’m not too educated about Eastern philosophy, but I’m pretty sure that hardcore formal logic is more of a Western thing.</p>

<p>The point: Decide what, exactly, you want to study. Your personal statement about your research plans is as important as anything else, and it may make or brake your chances at any given school in your list.</p>