Opportunities in philosophy

https://www.reddit.com/r/askphilosophy/comments/1drdmep/opportunities_in_philosophy/

created by [deleted] on 29/06/2024 at 15:23 UTC

1 upvotes, 3 top-level comments (showing 3)

It sounds like a weird title because it is but I need to get better as a thinker, and more skilled. I want to become an academic when I'm older, I plan on going off to study philosophy with literature at uni, but I don't know what opportunities will really help me out to strengthen my CVs, personal statements, and over all skills.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Ty!!!

Comments

Comment by AutoModerator at 29/06/2024 at 15:23 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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Comment by 391or392 at 29/06/2024 at 20:50 UTC

3 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I have 3 things to say, and i will be perfectly and brutally honest.

First, I doubt that you seriously know what being an academic is really like, especially if you haven't even gotten an undergraduate degree yet (and I'm assuming you haven't applied via UCAS nor written your personal statement yet).

For this reason, I'd really encourage you to keep an open mind and have the humility to know that you are probably wrong: your idea of what academics do is probably way off.

Secondly, even if you know you would like to be an academic, I'd encourage you to keep an open mind and perhaps act like you are *not* going into philosophy academia as a profession.

Academia is notoriously competitive and unstable (at least until you overcome numerous challenges, which most people don't). Especially in the UK, funding is short, especially for hiring in these kinds of jobs.

I have no beef with you wanting to become an academic - and who knows, you might become one! Just keep an open mind and try to be realistic. To draw a somewhat bad analogy, this is like seriously planning on becoming an astronaut when older - great aspiration, but the odds are stacked against you.

Finally, I'd encourage you at this stage to just focus on your A-levels (if you're doing them). I'm not aware of any experience you can get directly related to philosophy at this stage (unless you have incredible connections (i.e., nepotism)).

I'd say just read around, do some supercurricular stuff, im assuming you do something like A-level English lit so maybe ask your teacher for recommendations.

Comment by mediaisdelicious at 29/06/2024 at 15:50 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Are you just asking how to improve your chances of getting into graduate school?