This was a post outlining a basic time-line of the career path of the academic philosopher. Some of the facts here are a bit off which I have tried to correct in my notes on this post. Over all it seems dead on.
Split into 5 phases as follows:
Phase One: The Undergrad Days
Phase Two: Applying to Graduate School
Phase Three: The Graduate Student Years
Phase Four: The Job Hunt
Phase Five: Attaining Tenure
Phase Six: Tenure
Phase Seven: Death
http://philosiology.blogspot.com/2011/04/myth-philosophers-especially-academic.html
Some notes from my investigation.
Phase One: The Undergrad Days
If one is serious about philosophy then one needs to look into how competitive philosophy grad school is. The authors suggests that this is an easy time in the life of a philosopher. If this philosopher is to go straight into a top PhD program this is not an easy time. Many 4.0 students do not get into a top 10 program.
This can be one of the most frustrating times because one has limited background in philosophy. Every paper I thought about publishing as an undergrad, I brought to my professors. In every case I found that my "unique idea", had been said more eloquently 50, 300, or 1500 years earlier by a previous philosopher. While this didn't discourage me from thinking, it unnerved me enough to devour books by the hundreds. Many undergraduates feel the stress of the academic career early on.
Phase Two: Applying to Graduate School
If one wants to ensure that one gets into grad school it has been suggested that unless you have an outstanding record and application with no blemishes, one should apply to at least ten schools. This will cost at least a grand if not more.
The Gre is the least weighted part of the application, but it is still important.
If one does not get into a PHD with funding, many MA programs offer considerable opportunity to help pay for your education. Even so this This second way into a PhD through an MA is likely to cost around 40 grand (ouch!).
Phase Three: The Graduate Student Year
Publishing and conferences are a must especially if one is going from an MA to a PhD. Beware that one must be published in respected journals for this to count.
Phase Four: The Job Hunt
The job/post-doc hunt should actually start before one has officially graduated, or at least while one still has funding.
I have heard that the ratio of PhD's in philosophy to teaching positions is 1/2. I am unsure about this number but I would assume it is a low ball coming out of the 90's boom. It is probably far more competitive now.
Many philosophers end up teaching at community college level jobs at this point.
Phase Five: Attaining Tenure
Publish or perish!
Phase Six: Tenure
Many people at this point are asked to take a turn as the chair of the department. At this point it is possible that a handful of undergraduates have read your work, but even so that recognition is rather lack luster.
Phase Seven: Death
Something not mentioned in the post is that many of the great past philosophers were not great in their time. For many it is only after they have died that theirs works are able to attain a strong following.
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