Program Profile – Philosophy PhD

Published by Bill on May 9, 2013 in Graduate School.
Cogito Ergo Sum - I Think Therefore I Am.

Cogito Ergo Sum – I Think Therefore I Am.

A PhD philosophy professor of mine began every semester with the following story-

“A friend of mine is a ditch-digger; he digs ditches for a living. One day he got bored of digging ditches, so he went to school and got a Bachelor’s in philosophy; then he went right back to digging ditches. He got bored again, so he went back to school and got a Master’s in philosophy. Then he went right back to digging ditches. Finally, he went and got a Ph.D. in philosophy. He then went right back to digging ditches. I asked him, ‘Why would you spend so much time and effort getting a Doctorate in Philosophy if you were just going to dig ditches for a living?’ He responded, ‘So I’d have something to think about while I was digging ditches.’”

The moral of this story is if you want to make a lot of money don’t major in philosophy.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a professor of philosophy or religious studies is $71,210. While this salary figure is certainly nothing to scoff at or dismiss offhandedly, it is comparatively miniscule when viewed beside the earning power offered by other doctoral programs. Add in the fact that you will have to suffer through years of ignominy as a Teacher’s Assistant and Associate Professor ( all while your epistemological defense of Descartes languishes and your genius goes unrecognized) before you are even qualified to earn the median salary, and it is no wonder my old professor started every semester with the same cautionary anecdote. Additional information regarding the employment of philosophy PhD holders can be found here.

That is not to say that a PhD in philosophy could not provide you with the means for significant earning power; respected academics can supplement their incomes as private advisors, guest speakers, and even as published authors. Admittedly though, work as a private advisor and lecturer are going to be extremely difficult to obtain, and any published works of philosophy are likely to have a readership in the dozens, not thousands.

Before ranking the Top 5 Philosophy PhD Programs, in the interest of clarity, let’s briefly discuss how these programs were ranked. The rankings below were determined (from most important to least important)by the rate of employment for graduates, the institution’s ‘Quality’ rating by the National Research Council, students’ access to additional resources, and the research productivity of university faculty. If you have a different opinion about what factors are most important to you in a graduate program (size? cost? expediency?), I suggest you visit this graduate school ranking website.

Now that you have a better idea of the prospects a PhD in philosophy might qualify you for, let’s take a look at some of the top Philosophy PhD programs:

#1) Carnegie Mellon University

One of the premiere universities in the country, the Carnegie Mellon philosophy PhD program provides full tuition, along with health benefits and an additional stipend for teaching assistance, to all of its students. Among the Philosophy Department’s many areas of emphasis are Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Psychology and Philosophy of the Social Science, and the Philosophy of Science and Methodology and Formal Epistemology. Though Carnegie Mellon explicitly states that “no quantitative thresholds” are placed on candidates (meaning there are minimum scores required to be accepted), admission is extremely competitive.

#2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy is a PhD program only, meaning they do not offer a Master’s program. Interestingly, MIT does not require applicants to submit a GRE score in order to be considered for admission. For those of you who are well qualified enough and interested in expediency, MIT’s philosophy PhD program is only five years long.

#3) Princeton University

Princeton offers four PhD philosophy degree programs – the Standard Program, Logic and the Philosophy of Science Track, Classical Philosophy, and Political Philosophy. Like other elite universities, Princeton’s Department of Philosophy only admits candidates pursuing a Doctorate in Philosophy. Princeton requires students to submit a GRE score and a written work no longer than ten thousand words in order to be considered for acceptance. Aside from the more obvious benefits of attending a university like Princeton, the post-graduation employment statistics of their students are (not surprisingly) astounding.

#4) University of California – Berkeley

The University of California – Berkeley has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best countries in the nation, and their philosophy department is no exception. With a focus on Ancient Philosophy, Logic, and the History and Philosophy of Science, Berkeley’ philosophy PhD program is one of the most competitive in the country. As with many top tier universities, Berkeley reviews candidates on a case by case basis. Writing samples submitted for the purposes of admission are expected to be between 15-20 pages (double-spaced). Candidates applying for the Ancient Philosophy and History and Philosophy of Science programs will require special consideration.

#5 New York University

Standing tall among these other nationally One of the most intriguing aspects of NYU’s Philosophy Department is that they offer a dual degree Doctor of Philosophy and Juris Doctor. Though reluctant to share many details regarding the PhD application process, NYU says an average GRE score and coming from a lesser known undergraduate school will not exclude a candidate from being accepted, provided other aspects of their application are strong. As a matter of policy, the university is hesitant to discuss how they review candidates, it seems that they place the most emphasis on students’ recommendations (preferably from philosophers or other, related areas of study) and writing samples.

There were not many surprises among the nation’s top PhD philosophy programs, but keep in mind the factors that we used to determine the rankings of these universities may differ from your own personal preferences; we certainly encourage you to research on your own, and ask us if you have questions!

Come back soon for a Top Philosophy PhD Programs – Honorable Mention article! Find more Program Profiles here.

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Ask Test Masters – United Nations Application Pt. 1

Published by Bill on May 3, 2013 in Admissions, Ask Test Masters, Miscellaneous and Uncategorized.
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Reader Devan Taylor asks,

“I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston, and I am interested in working for the United Nations one day. What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations? One program I am interested in is the M.A. in Humanities program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Are there other programs similar to this in Houston, TX, Austin, TX, or other cities in general?”

Dear Devan,

Great questions all around; let’s start at the beginning – “What graduate school programs would give me an edge when I do apply to work for the United Nations?”

If you are asking “Is there any single graduate program that will give me an edge regardless of what position I apply for?” the answer is foreign languages or linguistics, and to a lesser degree cultural studies. Fluency in two or three (or more) foreign languages will absolutely make a huge difference in the strength of your application, as will a demonstrable ability to pick up languages quickly. Among the many tests United Nations applicants must take is a “Language Examination.” Learn about the different exams you will have to take here.

The general occupational career groups employed by the UN include administration, conference services, human rights, jurists, legal affairs, logistics, political affairs, transport work, program management, and security, among other more specific career niches. Ideally, you want to present yourself as a candidate who could potentially contribute in several of these capacities. Combined with a fluency in one or more foreign languages, degree programs focused on international law, international business (the GRE can be used for graduate admission to business school as well – check out this article, “The New GRE – GMAT Killer?”), and political science would best serve to make you a viable candidate for a position with the UN; other, perhaps less obviously significant, fields of study might involve history, statistics, geography, or even sociology.

It’s a challenging task, but our advice is to identify the position you most desire and then do everything you can to mold yourself into the perfect candidate for that position, all while crafting a resume that presents you as someone who can function capably at multiple levels within the UN bureaucracy.

Something else to keep in mind is that obtaining a position with the United Nations is extremely competitive; you could apply and be turned down multiple times before being hired. One way to gain an advantage in the application process is to have related work experience. Did you know that you can volunteer or intern with the United Nations? If you excel at this sort of entry level work, it could potentially lead to a more permanent position. Another more tertiary option to being hired at the UN is to pursue a similar career path within the US government (the CIA is always hiring); this gives you the option of gaining valuable experience without spending months or summers suffering as an unpaid helper. If you have more questions about the actual process of applying to the United Nations, consult this Frequently Asked Questions guide provided by the UN’s Human Resources department.

This concludes part one of a two-part answer to our most recent “Ask Test Masters” submission. Join us next time as we discuss the specifics regarding admission to the university mentioned above and review other potential colleges and universities that might help you craft an excellent resume to work at the United Nations.

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

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GRE Verbal – Fill in the Blank

Published by Bill on April 20, 2013 in Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.

Did you know that Test Masters’ GRE course provides students with a(n) ______ method to solving those ______ fill-in-the-blank questions?

(a)   celebratory … facile

(b)   economical … sassy

(c)   melodramatic … scandalous

(d)   derogatory … petulant

(e)   effective … bothersome

If you answered (e), then you either know what you are about or have already taken the Test Masters GRE course. Test Masters is an industry leader in professional exam preparation; every Test Masters GRE course, whether online or in-class, comes with a ten point Score Increase Guarantee.

Check out the video below, which is an excerpt from the Test Masters GRE online course, for a little more instruction on how to go about correctly answering those tricky GRE vocabulary questions.

See more excerpts from Test Masters online course on the Test Masters YouTube channel.

Remember, if you want to do well on GRE Verbal, study your GRE Vocabulary!

 

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GRE Reading Comprehension – Primative Behavior

Published by Bill on April 18, 2013 in Example Problems, Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.
tamrian

Realistic lithograph by artist Kevin Hayler

“It’s Not GREek” is happy to present its readers with yet another GRE Reading Comprehension example problem. Consider the short passage below, the question and answer choices, and try to determine the correct answer on your own before moving on to the solution. Let us know if you have questions about this passage, or GRE Reading Comprehension in general!

Passage: In the 1960’s, long-term studies of primate behavior often used as subjects tamarians, small monkeys that were thought ideal because they require only small cages, breed frequently, and grow quickly. Field studies were not used because they were costly and difficult. Tamarians were kept caged in male-female pairs, because otherwise, serious fights erupted between unrelated females. On the basis of the fact that breeding occurred, tamarians were viewed as monogamous.

The view taken by the researchers concerning the monogamy of tamarians depended on a questionable assumption. Which of the following could have served as that assumption?

(A)   The suppression of fighting between related females serves to protect their common genetic inheritance.

(B)   Adult male tamarians contribute to the care of tamarian infants.

(C)   The social system of tamarians requires monogamous pairing.

(D)   Male tamarian monkeys do not display aggressive behavior in the wild.

(E)    The way the tamarians were kept in cages did not affect their mating behavior.

Solution: Here we are presented with a short passage discussing the presumed mating habits of tamarians; the question asks us which questionable assumption supports the view that tamarians are monogamous.

The passage states, “Tamarians were kept caged in male-female pairs”; of all the answer choices, the belief that “the way the tamarians were kept in cages did not affect their mating behavior” is thus the most questionable assumption that could have served to support the belief that tamarians are monogamous. By being kept in cages containing only one male-female pair, the researchers in effect forced them to be monogamous- the tamarians had no opportunities for infidelity. If tamarians were studied in the field, the scientists might have observed different breeding habits. The other answer choices do not address the most obvious flaw in this study, the way male-female pairs of tamarians were housed, and thus, the correct answer is (E).

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Interested in more GRE Reading Comprehension questions and other GRE question types? You can find them here!

Test Masters offers the most comprehensive and successful GRE course available; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee.

 

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Sometimes it is GREek: Panacea

Published by Bill on April 13, 2013 in Miscellaneous, Preparation and Revised GRE.
Panacea

This symbol, which is of a staff entwined with snakes, is known as the Rod of Asclepius; it has been associated with the art of healing and medicine since the time of the Greeks.

“It’s not GREek!” loves to discuss new words that are likely to appear on the GRE.  We aim not only to give you a new word to memorize, but also to provide you with some background and etymological history to help you remember it.  At the end of the post, we will also give you a sentence with a few other new words to add to your flash cards.  By following this weekly series, you should be more prepared than ever to tackle the sentence completion, sentence equivalencies, and reading comprehension questions on test day.

This Week’s Word: Panacea

A panacea is a cure-all; medicinally, it is a remedy for any and every illness, evil, or disease. Panacea can also mean an answer or solution to a complex or convoluted problem, or more specifically a solution to any problem.

Panacea is often used in a negative or sarcastic context, as in, “The governor thinks this proposal will act as a panacea for the budget, even though it will slow growth with new taxes.” The reason for this is because, unfortunately, there is no such thing as a panacea.

Panacea finds its etymological roots in the Greek pan-, meaning ‘all,’ + akḗs, or ‘a cure.’ As a prefix, pan- is especially important to remember as meaning ‘all’; you will almost certainly see other words that employ it on test day, like pandemic, pantheism, or even Pangaea. Though used today in a largely negative sense, as an illusory, erroneous, or deceptive solution, in ancient Greece, Panacea was revered as a goddess of healing.

According to Greek mythology, Panacea, one of four daughters of Asclepius (the god of the medical art), possessed a poultice or potion which she used to heal the sick; this poultice was an effective cure against all maladies. This, of course, brought about the idea of a panacea in medicine, a single cure for any illness.

Sample Sentence:

Pitying pulchritudinous Pat’s pathologically pink pimples, Peter purloined putrid purple poultices, possibly perceiving potentially prettifying panaceas.

Miss the last “Sometimes it is Greek?” Check it out here! Want more GRE vocabulary? Click here for the free Test Masters GRE vocabulary list with over 2,000 words!

 

 

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Ask Test Masters – Is the GRE Okay for Business School?

Published by Bill on April 11, 2013 in Ask Test Masters, Graduate School and Revised GRE.
ASK TM

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Ethan recently asked Test Masters’ Twitter, “More B-schools are accepting GRE scores in lieu of GMAT now. For top schools, do you think it’s safe to go GRE?”

Ethan,

“Is the GRE okay for business school?” is a great question; the short answer is yes. The revisions to the GRE were done with the specific intention of making the GRE a test that can be used for a wider range of graduate admissions, with particular attention given to MBA admissions. As of 2006, GMAC (makers and administrators of the GMAT) severed their non-compete contract with ETS; in turn, ETS redesigned the GRE so that the GRE could compete for a larger share of the graduate school admission exam market, and they have succeeded admirably in that purpose.

In 2009 Harvard became the first really prestigious university to begin accepting GRE scores in place of GMAT scores, and most universities have since followed suit. There are a few hold-outs, but more and more of US News’ Top 100 Business Schools are accepting the GRE as well as the GMAT. You can learn more about it in this article, “The New GRE- GMAT Killer?”

Hope this helps!

The Test Masters Team

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GRE Math – Angles You Should Be Familiar With!

Published by Bill on April 10, 2013 in Example Problems, Graduate School and Preparation.

The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section (aka GRE Math) is foundational in the sense that many of the questions can be answered with the creative use of basic mathematics; this means you will be asked a lot of different questions types that are ultimately foundational in nature. Getting back to the basics is an important part of the concepts and strategies employed in the Test Masters GRE Online course. Check out this sample clip below, in which a Test Masters instructor explains some of the basic properties of angles you should be familiar with.

Test Masters is an industry leader in test preparation innovation; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee. You can learn more about Test Masters here.

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GRE Scores May be Down, but Competition is UP!

Published by Bill on April 7, 2013 in Admissions, Graduate School, Miscellaneous and Uncategorized.

Our mantra at “It’s Not GREek” is “The score you want is the score that will get you into your graduate school of choice.” Though every student has different goals and ambitions, this means that you do not need to get a perfect score on the GRE to get into a good graduate program; you do, however, generally need to score above average to have a chance at being admitted to your program of choice. This self-evident, sagacious wisdom has come under scrutiny recently as the average GRE score for American test-takers has dropped to, well, below average. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, recently released data outlining the average scores of domestic and international test takers.

*Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/21/ets-releases-data-gre-averages-country

 

It is apparent that a truly significant number of undergraduate students and undergraduate degree holders in the United States are considering applying to graduate school; as Bachelor’s degrees are now the workplace standard rather than the exception, people are seeking to stand out from the crowd by pursuing advanced degrees.  The most important consequence of this is, though the average GRE score is down, competition for admission into graduate school is up.

The sheer volume of potential applicants is staggering; simply put, there are not enough spots available for the number of interested or potential graduate school applicants. This is true without even mentioning the challenge competing for spots at prestigious universities with well qualified international students poses to prospective American graduate students. Given the new GRE average score for US test takers, suffice it to say, it is no longer enough to score ‘above average’ on the GRE.

It might be tempting to look at these scores and breathe a sigh of relief, thinking, “Well, look … my score is above average.” Well, suck in that sigh and let out a groan, because the admission standards for prestigious universities have not been lowered to accommodate the drop in GRE scores for the average American test taker. Quite the opposite, in fact; competition for a spot in an excellent graduate program has never been fiercer (as evidenced by the exponential growth of potential applicants).

The simple fact of the matter is ‘above average’ no longer means what it used to; at least when it comes to the GRE. With nearly 320,000 annual GRE test takers in the United States, averages may be down but competition is UP! 

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Test Masters is an industry leader in test preparation innovation; every Test Masters GRE course, whether it is online or in-class, comes with a 10 point Score Increase Guarantee. You can learn more about Test Masters here.

 

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