Reddit mentions of Heidegger For Beginners

Hey there!

I am mentoring a couple undergrads right now who are considering the same thing. I recommend starting to network now, if you can, in addition to what was said below (and what I am going to say now).

If you are interested in feminism, go to Fem/Rhet at Stanford this fall. If you are interested in technology, go to Computers & Writing next Spring/Summer in Pullman, Washington. Remember my name on here, message me, and I'll make sure you meet folks (providing you are sincere and professional--which is always important). If you can swing it, go to the CCCC conference as well, but I'd make sure you have a mentor who can show you around and make sure you make it to the evening events too.

Don't be afraid to meet academics in the field. The best ways I've met people (previous to becoming one of them, of course) was working registration at conferences or other so-called "service" jobs. If people thought I did good work they'd give me a helping hand when I needed something later on. Also don't be afraid to friend us on Facebook providing that you say relatively professional things regarding school most of the time. Rhet/Comp people are friendly.

When you start your grad program it's okay if you don't know everything, but don't complain about what you don't know. There is a whole series of books on philosophers and critical theorists to check out if you are "behind" in that area: http://www.amazon.com/Heidegger-Beginners-Eric-Charles-Lemay/dp/1934389137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372193006&sr=8-1&keywords=heidegger+for+beginners

When you are in grad school make sure to get experience in all three "areas" needed for tenure some day: research, service, and teaching. All three will benefit you on the job market. I also had a lot of administration experience which made it much easier to get hired. I got that through working in the writing center (and eventually being promoted to direct it) and then getting a WPA job before graduation.

Go to a good school, but understand that there are different kinds of good schools and that academics move around all the time. My Masters program was a good program that had "big names" at it. They all left within a year or so of me finishing that degree, so I'm glad I didn't stay for PhD. My PhD program had neither, really, but was good for me for a variety of other reasons (mostly not having to drive or fly home to constantly take care of my parents--only child here, sometimes we don't have a choice). Sometimes programs can be great without having a single "big name," but they are harder to find. Lastly, sometimes "big names" are jerks--getting out there and meeting people and listening to what they have to say about folks in the field is the only way you have of finding this out. Don't take ANY ONE PERSON's opinion as final--listen to what lots of people have to say about a program or person.

Lastly, get somebody to read your statement of purpose for grad school. That is a very important document. Understand that while you don't have to know exactly what you plan to write now, we want to know that you have interests that fit with the folks in the program. It also has to "read" right, "sound" like you had somebody read it, and fit in a relatively tight genre.