What do I need to do to achieve my goals?

[PaleoConPrep]

Now that I've been admitted to St. John's, I'm trying to create a plan to achieve my main goals. My ultimate goal is to get a PhD in either Classics or European History from a top program like UChicago, Columbia, Princeton, etc. with the PhD I hope to become a college professor. If a job as a professor isn't available, I'd like to become an independent scholar and start a Paleoconservative Protestant magazine, do podcasts etc.( sorta like what William F. Buckley did, or what Tom Woods is doing now) St. John's will give me a very solid foundation in the Humanities, and it's in the top2% for producing PhDs. My question is, what do top PhD programs in Classics and European History want to see from undergrads? What do I need to do to get into these programs? St. John's offers Greek, but no Latin. So I'll probably have to either do Latin over the summers or do a post-bac if I want to get into Classics.

[Anonymous]

The most important thing is doing research with a professor and being coauthor on published papers. Same for independent research, which can be published in undergrad journals. Aim for the highest GPA possible (whatever you need to make it into PBK).

[Anonymous]

Top PhD programs want to see glowing recommendations from faculty whom they respect and they want to see a research agenda that looks interesting and important. Writing will be a central part of your career, so an impressive writing sample could help. Presenting or publishing scholarly work, while certainly not required at this stage, can also be a big plus. Bottom line: the best candidates for top PhD programs are applicants who look like they might make real contributions to the discipline.

[Anonymous]

Get to know your advisor well.

[Anonymous]

You might possibly want to contact Sean Kelsey in the philosophy department at Notre Dame. His undergrad was at Thomas Aquinas College, a Catholic Great Books program, in California. Ph.D was at Princeton in ancient philosophy. He is definitely a conservative, and you two might have a lot in common!

[Anonymous]

I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

[PaleoConPrep]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean serfs or Smurfs?

[Anonymous]

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

NP here. Paleo, what attracted you to this ideology and to preppy culture in particular? I'm genuinely curious and don't mean this in a snarky way; I know several self-professed paleocons who are incredibly happy with Trump.

[Anonymous]

This question will be a good one for your classics and history professors. You should write every day, even if it's simply keeping a journal about what you are reading. Read extensively-including all the books your professors mention in class but don't assign. Read books filled with ideas that you hate. Develop a strong peer network of smart, hardworking people, and have respect for them. Academics rely heavily on their peers to push us to do our best work-start practicing that as an undergrad. Be creative and intellectually flexible. It can be a strength to work from a particular theoretical framework, but only if you take ideas outside that framework seriously.

[Anonymous]

Different parents, a trust fund, and/or a convenient and effective mode of time travel.

[Anonymous]

You need to drop this whole unrelenting "I am a Paleoconservative Prep Man" and just...go with the flow. It is good to know your values, but it's simply not healthy to be so wrapped up in your personal "brand"/identity.

I almost wonder if it's a control issue or OCD or anxiety or something.

[Anonymous]

You will love St. John's College. Your earlier post reminded me that in Plato's Republic, he describes democracy as only one step above anarchy. Good luck!

[PaleoConPrep]

Anonymous wrote:

PaleoConPrep wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you wanted to go to Hampden-Sydney and become a lawyer and politician. Out of curiosity, what changed your mind?

Well I had Idealized Hampden-Sydney as this "Southern gentlemen's" school. After doing some research and speaking to friends who know people there, I discovered that HSC is ful of kids who party, drink/get drunk, and don't care about learning. I wouldn't fit in at a place like that. I love prepdom, but I'd call myself a preppy scholar. I'm a quiet scholarly type who enjoys reading classical literature, studying political philosophy and theology, and listening to classical music. As far as politics is concerned, I'm no longer interested in ever running for any public office. This is for two reasons. First of all, over the last few months (while closely observing the election) I became much more of a realist about our political system. Donald Trump is WAY WAY WAY to the Left of me, and he's treated like a monster. Imagine what the media and the public would do to me: a fairly intellectual guy on the Far-Right. I'd have ZERO chance of winning anything. The other reason I'm no longer interested in political office is because I've totally rejected democracy as a competent form of government. I agree with H.L Mencken's view that democracy is a system in which inferior men dominate their superiors. I am now a Monarchist ideologically. I'd support a return to the old order. My ideal form of government would be a Protestant monarchy with strict social classes: aristocracy, clergy, warrior/military, merchants/white collar workers, and serfs/blue collar workers. I also support a return to traditional gender roles.(I hate all forms of Feminism) I firmly believe that "equality" is a pipe dream. No one is ever equal. Hierarchy is a natural part of society. Seeing as I'm radically anti-democratic, I'd be a massive hypocrite if I ever ran for anything. I don't want to waste my life pandering to the masses. I'd be very content with a quiet life of scholarship.

NP here. Paleo, what attracted you to this ideology and to preppy culture in particular? I'm genuinely curious and don't mean this in a snarky way; I know several self-professed paleocons who are incredibly happy with Trump.

An anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian Monarchist/aristocratic ideology is the logical conclusion of Conservatism. Democracy is by definition an egalitarian ideology, and therefore Liberal. I hate these talk radio hosts who turn the Founding Fathers into Demi-gods. I believe the founders/framers were great statesmen and excellent writers, but I oppose what they stood for. I guess I'd tolerate a Republic with a VERY limited franchise, ut Monarchism/aristocracy is preferable. If you want to get a clearer understanding of my ideology, look into Paleoconservatism and the Dark Enlightenment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleoconservatism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism

BTW, I'm not necessarily unhappy with Trump. I was just making the point that he's WAY to the Left of me.

[PaleoConPrep]

Anonymous wrote:You need to drop this whole unrelenting "I am a Paleoconservative Prep Man" and just...go with the flow. It is good to know your values, but it's simply not healthy to be so wrapped up in your personal "brand"/identity.

I almost wonder if it's a control issue or OCD or anxiety or something.

oh come on