(photo: Feti’s Painting Portrait of a Scholar) If you’ve read Professor Nick Smith’s guide for undergraduates considering law school, then his Inside Guide to Academic Success article (see below) is required, secondary, reading! As Professor Smith points out, academic success is about applying oneself, pragmatically, to his or her studies.  There’s no secret sauce or strategically practicing all night cramming […]

Should I Go To Law School? I spent myundergraduate days studying philosophy, linguistics, and psychology and, as I’ve told many close friends (and anyone else who wants to listen), Philosophy provides an excellent academic and pragmatic (yes I mean practical) foundation for countless careers and professions. One profession that is closely associated with studying philosophy as an undergrad is Law. Philosophy provides excellent training […]

Photo: University of New Hampshire Philosophy Dept. @ Hamilton Smith Hall Reader Question: I’m a student that needs to decide on a Major. Besides my credits being in a complicated mumbo jumbo from transfers and other what-have-you’s I’m a normal student. I was doing some searching about philosophy majors and found your article on “Why I Should Major In Philosophy”. So you have […]

(The following is a guest post from Gradspot.com – a resource for soon-to-be and recent grads making the transition from college to the real world.) (photo via wwworks) With commencement season around the corner, seniors are starting to look at potential post-college cities like they once looked at schools. Where is the best party scene? The best food? The greatest opportunities […]

A recent article in Wired Magazine by Jonah Lehrer entitled, “The Brain, Revealed” points out the massive research project underway to map the entire human brain.  The project is funded by one of the founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen.  And with any large contribution to a particular scientific endeavor one usually gets a research building named after them, so the […]

(photo: thanks to the Pittsburgh Post) I come from a very giving family, as is the case for most recent immigrants.  My mother and father, while lower middle class, have always provided their children with whatever was in their means.  As a small child, my parents purchased hi-quality clothes and shoes for us, paid for braces, prepared wonderful meals, purchased […]

Ten Big Tips for Recent College Graduates Graduating from college is a big adjustment for most students as s/he has to trade-in an insulated, academic, environment for the so-called “real world.”  The transition from student to working adult is critical, especially in regard to getting your personal finances off on the right foot.  The foundation a recent grad lays in […]

I came across some old philosophy books in my study this morning and it got me thinking about the value of an undergraduate degree in philosophy.  And I can already hear the jokes, so please keep them to yourself!  At first glance, a Bachelor of Arts degree (Why Major in Philosophy) in philosophy provides no real practical application in the […]

A college professor once told me that most adults finish all serious reading by the time they reach the age of 23.  He went on to say that most professions, even ones that require a four year degree, do not require the worker to engage in prolonged or critical reading.  And while I’m sure there are exceptions to the statement, […]

Thanks to my cousin Mike for pointing out this article/commencement speech by the late writer David Foster Wallace.  Wallace hits on a few themes in the article, but he’s mostly focused on biological preservation via putting one self first, worship (not just the religious or spiritual kind), and awareness/consciousness.  In sum, though, I think Wallace is making a simple point: […]