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This year’s seniors graduating with a major in philosophy have a variety of plans for life after Lafayette. The students credit the philosophy program’s flexibility and emphasis on critical skills with preparing them for law school, graduate school, the business world, travel and service, and journalism.
Four students will attend law school in the fall. They are Trustee Scholar Matthew Gately (Paramus, N.J.), who will attend Columbia; Marquis Scholar Michael Hamburger (Knoxville, Tenn.), who plans on attending Fordham University; Trustee Scholar Scott Wisniewski(Olyphant, Pa.), who is still deciding between Cornell and University of North Carolina; and Marquis Scholar Jennifer Ziznewski(Metuchen, N.J.), who is deciding among University of Virginia, Georgetown, Cornell, and Fordham University.
“Being a good lawyer requires critical thinking ability,” says Gately, also a major in government and law. “This is exactly the skill that is trained in philosophy classes. Logic, my first philosophy class, taught me a more efficient, critical way to think. Every class since has focused on presenting the arguments of great philosophers, which the students are then able to attack or defend. Unlike everyday debates, class discussions require students to focus on specific premises.”
“More than anything else, the philosophy major teaches students how to read and write critically while thinking outside the box,” says Hamburger, also a government and law major. “It encourages students to consider a myriad of explanations and situations they would not normally encounter, and it helps them to clarify and define their own beliefs and opinions. This kind of thinking is very beneficial when interpreting laws and defending or proposing legal theory.”
“I certainly would not have been as prepared as I am had I not been a philosophy major,” says Wisniewski, also a government and law major. “Being a philosopher has taught me how to think logically, intelligently voice my opinions, and has given me the knowledge of theories of ethics, which are advantageous to any student interested in the law.”
“I have known from the start of my college career that I wanted to attend law school and knew that a major in philosophy would benefit me,” says Ziznewski, also an English major. “My background in formal logic helped me to perform well on the LSAT, which secured my admission to competitive schools. I feel more than prepared to tackle dense legal readings thanks to the rigorous work I’ve had in my philosophy courses.”
Mike Kaczmarczik(Elkins Park, Pa.), who is also pursuing a B.S. physics, plans to attend graduate school for an advanced physics degree. He will focus on high-energy astrophysics.
Tania Wedmid (Bound Brook, N.J.), also a mathematics major, emphasizes that students with backgrounds in philosophy are valued in the business world. She plans to pursue a marketing research position in New York City.
“The amount my two majors collide with each other is amazing,” she says. “Basically logical and analytical skills are gained, which are useful for many positions in the business world.”
Like Wedmid, Claire Retterer (Lititz, Pa.) is also a mathematics major. Unsure of her plans, she would like to join a non-profit organization like AmeriCorps. She may also travel to Asia to teach English.
Benjamin Ahrens (New York, N.Y.) will work through the summer as a surf and swim instructor on Long Island to finance a yearlong trip abroad. When he returns, he will enter the journalism field.
“Philosophy has given me a good style of writing and a clear way to organize my thoughts,” he says.
Other graduating philosophy majors include Andrew Kopelman (New York, N.Y.), also an English major; Grant Rizvi (Essexville, Mich.); Nicholas Scopelliti (Throop, Pa.); and Yana Shulman (North Haledon, N.J.).
Chosen from among Lafayette’s most promising applicants, Marquis Scholars like Hamburger and Ziznewski receive a special academic scholarship and distinctive educational experiences and benefits. This includes a three-week, Lafayette-funded course abroad or in the United States during January’s interim session between semesters or the summer break. Marquis Scholars also participate in mentoring programs with Lafayette faculty and cultural activities in major cities and on campus.
Selected from among Lafayette’s top applicants, Trustee Scholars like Gately and Wisniewski have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement in high school. Lafayette provides them with an annual minimum scholarship of $7,500 ($8,000 effective with the Class of 2009) or a grant in the full amount of their demonstrated need if the need is more than $7,500.