Northern Illinois University
Department of Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

John Schindler

How did NIU Philosophy help prepare you for your doctoral program/career in philosophy?

It’s no exaggeration to say that the NIU faculty’s advice and comments on my papers revolutionized my philosophical thinking and writing. NIU encourages an exceptionally high standard of clarity in students’ writing and thinking. While writing my sample in a one-on-one independent study, my supervisor’s many rounds of comments on my many rewrites and revisions urged me to develop a writing process that could meet NIU’s high standards. I feel extraordinarily lucky to have undergone this trial by fire before beginning my Ph.D., in which I could hit the ground running with the rudiments of philosophical method already in hand. Indeed, it’s possible that had I not attended NIU, I would never have learned some of the skills that I did.

NIU also laid the foundations of my knowledge in several areas of contemporary philosophy. Already during my first week at NIU, my coursework and discussions with faculty cleared away several misconceptions. Over the next two years, NIU’s survey courses acquainted me with the landscape of analytic philosophy, the aptly-named comprehensive exam developed a wealth of knowledge about the philosophy of language, and my independent study forced me to research a single topic more carefully and thoroughly than I ever had before.

Finally, during many hours of philosophical discussions, my superb classmates imparted to me not only their stimulating thoughts but greater concern for being a respectful interlocutor.

What do you feel is special about NIU Philosophy?

NIU’s MA program is a very friendly and close community. The grad student office is a hub of philosophical life; most days, I could count on finding one of my classmates there to talk philosophy with, or simply to provide mutual motivation while writing an essay. But NIU students don’t just philosophize together: they regularly go bouldering in the NIU gym, grab lunch or dinner, play card and video games, and celebrate holidays together. The community is geographically close, too: students live neither far from school nor from each other.

NIU students bring to the philosophy program an eclectic variety of past experiences, backgrounds, and paths into philosophy. Many, if not most, majored in another discipline as undergraduates. Some leave successful careers in unrelated fields to pursue their passion for philosophy. The NIU MA program’s demographic is thus quite unlike most philosophy programs, in which many of the students have studied philosophy their entire adult lives. Sometimes NIU students’ past lives find their way, directly and indirectly, into their philosophy; if not, they spawn fascinating stories and lively conversations.

Why would you recommend NIU Philosophy to applicants to MA programs?

If you plan to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy, NIU will provide you with the knowledge and mentorship you’ll need to be successful in your Ph.D. applications. NIU consistently sends students to top programs, and NIU faculty collectively have many, many years of experience mentoring students on their way. You’ll receive time-tested advice on every step of the bewildering application process, from choosing a writing sample topic to advice on which schools to apply to. Moreover, observation of my classmates indicates that NIU students are exceptionally well-prepared for the doctoral programs they matriculate into.

Of course, you might not know whether you want to apply to Ph.D. programs. There’s no better way to find out than by experiencing life as a philosophy graduate student in NIU’s MA program—an experience similar in most respects to Ph.D. life. If you attend NIU simply to deepen your knowledge of philosophy, NIU’s course offerings will give you broad exposure to analytic philosophy.

NIU’s MA program stands out in that its highly skilled faculty can be extremely generous in their devotion to their MA teaching—not something you will usually find at schools that also have Ph.D. programs. Finally, DeKalb’s cost of living is hard to beat. As mundane as they may be, financial considerations decisively favor NIU over other high-quality—but much more expensive—MA programs.