After studying philosophy intensively for a while, some students might consider continuing their formal education in philosophy by going to graduate school. The merits of doing so should be weighed against other considerations.  For although graduate study in philosophy can be very enriching and worthwhile, it’s not for everyone.  Jobs in academia are few and far between and those that are to be had will pay significantly less than jobs in many other professions. Therefore, the first step in going to graduate school is deciding whether graduate school is for you.  For help with this decision, click on the link “Things to Consider before Applying to Graduate School” in the sidebar. 

Having weighed the pros and cons of going to graduate school and having decided to take the plunge, the next step is to decide which schools you should apply to.  Although applying to many schools can be effective, it is better to be selective and to apply only to schools where you would very much like to study and which would be likely to give your application serious consideration.  It’s important when choosing graduate schools to think about “fit.”  Getting into a top-ranked graduate program that has nothing to offer someone with your interests will lead to frustrations both in graduate school and afterwards when looking for a job.  To help you sift through the many different options available to you, click on the link “Planning for Graduate School.”

Once you have compiled a list of graduate schools, you will be ready to take the next step, which is to determine what you must do satisfy their entrance requirements.  Some might require GRE scores, for example, and others might not.  In fact, it could happen that none of the schools you are interested in requires GRE scores, in which case you will be able to dispense with that standardized test altogether.  Chances are, however, that you will have to take the GRE.  If so, click on the link “GRE Preparation and Information” to learn more.

The last step in applying to graduate school is to put together your application.  You should treat every application as if it were your one shot at getting into graduate school—another reason to apply only to those schools where you would really like to go.  Although differences between application procedures do exist, there are enough similarities to warrant a few general words of advice concerning the application process.  Click on the link “Getting an Application Together” to learn more.

Although not a step in applying for graduate school, looking for sources of funding in the form of loans, fellowships, and grants, is no less important for most people thinking of going to graduate school. For help obtaining funding for graduate school, click on the link “Paying for Graduate School.”

If you would like to speak to someone about graduate school, please feel free to contact Dr. Giuseppe Butera or Dr. Michael O’Neill in the Department of Philosophy at gbutera@providence.edu and moneill@providence.edu.  Feel free also to contact anyone else in the department of philosophy. We’ve all been there, as the saying goes, and we would be happy to offer you our assistance.