how popular is Philosophy?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No different than History or English. It’s a decently popular major that’s having decline. It’s not gender studies or Russian where a niche are entering it.

+1 I actually think Philosophy has had an upswing in recent years.

This. I do think there’s an increased visibility of the usefulness of this major across many fields (especially in the context of uncertainties AI brings to the job market), which is leading many students to find it, choose it, and enjoy studying it.

It's also strategic. Kids know it's detrimental to apply as a STEM major, so apply as a Philosophy or History major. That is not to discount the quality of analytical thinking and writing gained by studying those disciplines, but kids are very pragmatic these days about how to approach college admissions. I assume that is what motivated this thread in the first place!

OP kinda! he will def be a Phil major - or at least zero chance he'll do STEM or take another math class if he can help it - but the way his ECs line up , he could also be strategic and try for Anthro or similar. I feel like at some schools Phil is becoming overly popular.

I think Phil is pretty popular now. I'd go the Anthro route, personally.

Hard for boys to be convincing with anthro. They are seeing through the Anthro play lately.
If he's involved with a lot of different "groups" including sports, Sociology might be better. Fewer males too.

If a strong case can be made for Anthro or Sociology, it would be good strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No different than History or English. It’s a decently popular major that’s having decline. It’s not gender studies or Russian where a niche are entering it.

+1 I actually think Philosophy has had an upswing in recent years.

This. I do think there’s an increased visibility of the usefulness of this major across many fields (especially in the context of uncertainties AI brings to the job market), which is leading many students to find it, choose it, and enjoy studying it.

It's also strategic. Kids know it's detrimental to apply as a STEM major, so apply as a Philosophy or History major. That is not to discount the quality of analytical thinking and writing gained by studying those disciplines, but kids are very pragmatic these days about how to approach college admissions. I assume that is what motivated this thread in the first place!

OP kinda! he will def be a Phil major - or at least zero chance he'll do STEM or take another math class if he can help it - but the way his ECs line up , he could also be strategic and try for Anthro or similar. I feel like at some schools Phil is becoming overly popular.

What ECs line up for Anthro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Philosophy is a popular major choice at my son’s all boys school.

Same at our private. Very popular with guys and girls at our HS. My DS said it's the new Econ for males at his school as a very popular non-STEM major interest.

[Anonymous]

I know it’s the current reality, but I kinda hate that the system is set up where kids have to play these games when applying.

[Anonymous]

At our school the boys have been doing philosophy camps and organizing symposiums for years and a large number are declaring it as their major. It's very popular! Def not undersubcribed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No different than History or English. It’s a decently popular major that’s having decline. It’s not gender studies or Russian where a niche are entering it.

+1 I actually think Philosophy has had an upswing in recent years.

This. I do think there’s an increased visibility of the usefulness of this major across many fields (especially in the context of uncertainties AI brings to the job market), which is leading many students to find it, choose it, and enjoy studying it.

It's also strategic. Kids know it's detrimental to apply as a STEM major, so apply as a Philosophy or History major. That is not to discount the quality of analytical thinking and writing gained by studying those disciplines, but kids are very pragmatic these days about how to approach college admissions. I assume that is what motivated this thread in the first place!

OP kinda! he will def be a Phil major - or at least zero chance he'll do STEM or take another math class if he can help it - but the way his ECs line up , he could also be strategic and try for Anthro or similar. I feel like at some schools Phil is becoming overly popular.

What ECs line up for Anthro?

a research paper that was awarded a national prize (for students).

[Anonymous]

You need a record of achievement in whatever prospective major you choose in order for your choice to make a difference. You cannot just check philosophy or classics or anthropology with nothing to back it up and then expect to move the needle.

[Anonymous]

PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) has been around a long time at schools like Oxford, and is becoming more popular in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need a record of achievement in whatever prospective major you choose in order for your choice to make a difference. You cannot just check philosophy or classics or anthropology with nothing to back it up and then expect to move the needle.

100% this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No different than History or English. It’s a decently popular major that’s having decline. It’s not gender studies or Russian where a niche are entering it.

+1 I actually think Philosophy has had an upswing in recent years.

This. I do think there’s an increased visibility of the usefulness of this major across many fields (especially in the context of uncertainties AI brings to the job market), which is leading many students to find it, choose it, and enjoy studying it.

It's also strategic. Kids know it's detrimental to apply as a STEM major, so apply as a Philosophy or History major. That is not to discount the quality of analytical thinking and writing gained by studying those disciplines, but kids are very pragmatic these days about how to approach college admissions. I assume that is what motivated this thread in the first place!

OP kinda! he will def be a Phil major - or at least zero chance he'll do STEM or take another math class if he can help it - but the way his ECs line up , he could also be strategic and try for Anthro or similar. I feel like at some schools Phil is becoming overly popular.

What ECs line up for Anthro?

a research paper that was awarded a national prize (for students).

National History Day

Our private counselor also gave DC a long list of things - many volunteer opps and some things to do a school.
It's good for a kid interested in history but less about written texts and more about connecting different disciplines. More on exploring human societies and cultures.

[Anonymous]

I was a philosophy major in addition to a science, and it's a hard major. You have to be really good at analytical reasoning as well as being a good writer and extremely good reading comprehension. Kant et al. are denser than any dense science article I have ever encountered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a philosophy major in addition to a science, and it's a hard major. You have to be really good at analytical reasoning as well as being a good writer and extremely good reading comprehension. Kant et al. are denser than any dense science article I have ever encountered.

+1

[Anonymous]

It's hard because the pretentious young and old men are so off-putting. Lots of clashing egos and many are just really weird. The conservatives have a secret set of ideas that they keep amongst themselves.

You'll end up in law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No different than History or English. It’s a decently popular major that’s having decline. It’s not gender studies or Russian where a niche are entering it.

+1 I actually think Philosophy has had an upswing in recent years.

This. I do think there’s an increased visibility of the usefulness of this major across many fields (especially in the context of uncertainties AI brings to the job market), which is leading many students to find it, choose it, and enjoy studying it.

It's also strategic. Kids know it's detrimental to apply as a STEM major, so apply as a Philosophy or History major. That is not to discount the quality of analytical thinking and writing gained by studying those disciplines, but kids are very pragmatic these days about how to approach college admissions. I assume that is what motivated this thread in the first place!

OP kinda! he will def be a Phil major - or at least zero chance he'll do STEM or take another math class if he can help it - but the way his ECs line up , he could also be strategic and try for Anthro or similar. I feel like at some schools Phil is becoming overly popular.

What ECs line up for Anthro?

Ours did an ethnography of a local indigenous group with a teacher, and helped write a paper that received awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a philosophy major in addition to a science, and it's a hard major. You have to be really good at analytical reasoning as well as being a good writer and extremely good reading comprehension. Kant et al. are denser than any dense science article I have ever encountered.

+1

+2

I was a philosophy major, too! I highly recommend it, but it was hard.
I enjoyed it, and got a job in IB out of school. It's a good choice for someone who wants to go into law (especially), or business, or many other fields.

I think these unconventional choices work even better for students who are articulate, confident, and can shine in interviews - explaining why they studied what they studied and how it applies to the opportunity.
Some kids want to lean on their achievements a bit more (which is fine- I have a DC like this) and aren't comfortable "defending" their resume.
Just my two cents- good luck to all.