i am currently studying philosophy as an undergrad (i think i'm technically a junior). anyone have advice as to what i might do now to increase my chances of acceptance to grad school (or a "better" grad school)?
2007-03-01 06:49:22 · 3 answers · asked by amfg75 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
1) Get your languages down. French or German are tested (for reading ability) at the PhD level, and many PhD programs have been getting increasingly picky about language preparation in their applicants. Fluent reading ability in one or the other will enhance your application.
2) Do everything in your power to impress your current professors with your academic potential. Be a serious student, and a go-getter. Contribute to discussion in your classes. Be passionate about your work. Remember, your current professors will be writing your letters of recommendation, and these can make or break your PhD applications.
3) Present at conferences. Undergraduate student conferences are fine. You needn't shoot for presenting at the annual meeting of your scholarly association -- that's tough to do. But if your department offers any opportunities to present papers, do it.
4) Publish an article. Look to undergraduate student journals for this. Some will be interdisciplinary, and that's fine. If you find one specifically for your field, even better.
5) Probably most importantly, learn to write extremely well.
Learn the ins and outs of research. And learn to construct a literate and informed extended scholarly argument. Take your current professors' advice regarding your writing. Especially in philosophy, students tend to write dense and turgid prose. Strive for clarity and elegance. The better your writing is, the stronger your letters of recommendation will be. I promise.
Best wishes to you!
2007-03-01 08:05:06 · answer #1 · answered by X 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a junior too, and I plan to apply to medical school in a little more than a year from now. Graduate school is competitive so you need to get really good grades, do an internship or two, find out the admissions requirements of the university you plan to attend (by either visiting their website or talking directly with an admissions counselor), if you plan to enter a certain field you should be studying for the test that you must take in order to get into your desired field, etc. That is about the only advice that I can give you because I haven't made it to graduate school yet.
2007-03-01 07:05:48 · answer #2 · answered by lil_bit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your major I think. I also believe you need to take the GRE.
2007-03-01 07:12:08 · answer #3 · answered by dk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋