Philosophy Scholarship
Denis Grosz
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Becoming a philosophy major may not be the right decision for many people. For some, however, it is an excellent field of study. Jokes are frequently made about what a philosophy major is going to do with their degree: become a barista, sit atop a hill and ponder the mysteries of the universe etc. In reality, a philosophy degree can be the ideal thing to prepare students to thrive in the complex world we live in. Philosophy majors have some of the highest GRE and LSAT scores of any major and they often earn more as well.
While philosophers sometimes discuss esoteric topics primarily of academic interest, it is the process of doing philosophy that can be invaluable. Irrespective of the actual topics they focus on, philosophers develop advanced critical thinking abilities, learn how to break down complex problems into workable elements, and learn how to look at issues from various perspectives. These skills are some of the fundamental building blocks for many careers inside and outside of academia.
The following list of notable people that majored in philosophy speaks for itself.
- Phil Jackson, NBA Basketball Coach, University of North Dakota
- Peter Thiel, Cofounder of Paypal & Venture Capitalist, Stanford University
- Carl Ichann, Activist Investor, Princeton University
- Sheila Bair, FDIC Chair, University of Kansas
- George Soros, Hedge Fund Manager, London School of Economics
- Gerald Levin, CEO of Time Warner, Haverford College
- Gene Siskel, Movie Critic, Yale University
- Ethan Coen, Movie Producer, Princeton University
- Carly Fiorina, CEO of HP, Stanford University
- Stewart Butterfield, CEO of Flickr, CEO of Slack, Cambrigde University
- Steve Martin, Comedian, Cal State Long Beach
- Alex Trebek, Game Show Host, University of Ottawa
- Susan Sontag, Filmmaker & Author, University of Chicago
- David Foster Wallace, Author, Amherst College
- Chris Dixon, Venture Capitalist, Wesleyan University
- Harrison Ford, Actor, Ripon College
- David Souter, Supreme Court Justice, Harvard College
- John Elway, NFL Quarterback, Stanford University
- Kim Thayil, Lead Guitarist of Soundgarden, Washington University
- Reid Hoffman, Cofounder of LinkedIn, Venture Capitalist, Oxford University
Please write an essay that addresses all of the following questions:
- How will your degree in philosophy prepare for a life after your studies?
- What do you plan on doing after you graduate?
- Why are you passionate about philosophy?
Winners and Finalists
June 2020
Winning Applications
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FAQ
The application deadline is May 22, 2020. Winners will be announced on Jun 5, 2020.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jun 5, 2020. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
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Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.