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Tips for applying to grad school after years in industry?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a prospective graduate student asks:

I'm thinking about going back to school after taking several years to pursue a career in software engineering. I'm not sure what to put in my application materials. I'm working on rewriting one of my old papers, and I've been doing a lot of reading to re-familiarize myself with the field. How do I explain the gap, and am I at a disadvantage because of it? Any advice for people looking to re-enter academia in general?

Great questions. I suspect that a career in software engineering would be attractive to many people on admissions committees, what with the rise of generative AI. But this is just speculation and I'm not very well-situated to give advice here, as I've never served on a grad admissions committee.

Do any readers with more experience here have any tips to share?

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14 responses to “Tips for applying to grad school after years in industry?”

  1. one clear step

    Short and simple: apply to Masters’ programs.

    Reply
  2. Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer

    I concur with one clear step. I came back to philosophy after 10ish years away. It was not an issue for me with the admissions department.

    Reply
  3. anon

    You should address the gap explicitly in your application letters. One issue here is that you will need good reference letters from professors you’ve worked with in the past. And those may be very difficult for you to acquire given your time away from academia.
    On a more personal note, why leave the private industry for graduate school? If you intend to work in academia, I wouldn’t recommend it. Surely you must be aware of how dismal the job prospects are. I’m always a bit shocked by people leaving good-paying jobs for graduate school in philosophy. Makes no sense to me.

    Reply
  4. been there

    It’s probably a good idea to take an independent study course with a well-known philosopher who works in an area that interests you. It may cost you a little, but if you do it for one credit as a continuing ed student, it probably won’t be too much on a software engineer’s salary. This could get you both a rec letter and a writing sample, whereas your college work, and old connections there, may be too stale.
    You’ll need to overcome skepticism about your commitment to philosophy, but that’s addressable.
    On this point I was struck by anon’s statement: ” I’m always a bit shocked by people leaving good-paying jobs for graduate school in philosophy. Makes no sense to me.”
    To some of us, it makes total sense. You’ll have to convince the admissions officers that you’re like “some of us” in just that way. Which I suspect you are, so it shouldn’t be too hard.

    Reply
  5. anon

    I also had a career in computer programming for 10 years before entering back into academia. When I applied, I was rejected from all my PhD applications, but was accepted into a couple Master’s programs. I’ve since received my Masters and am now in a PhD program. Unless you have strong recommendations from tenured philosophy professors and a very strong writing sample, I would advise that you focus your search on Masters’ programs.
    At the same time, my experience applying to PhD programs might be different from yours. I wanted to study the history of philosophy, so my background in software wasn’t relevant and didn’t help. But if you choose to apply to a program with a subject matter related to your experience in industry (e.g. AI ethics, Logic and Computation), then you will probably have a better chance.
    One last thing: On reflection, I am very happy I did my Masters before entering my PhD. If I went into PhD directly, I would not have had enough time to both (1) take a survey of philosophical traditions and (2) choose a specific research area for my dissertation. The Masters will give you a good chance to figure out exactly what it is you want to study.

    Reply
  6. take anon seriously

    I started an academic job at a reputable place, but it doesn’t pay very well. I expect to end my first year with 0 savings left after feeding myself and my family, and if I’m not careful, I may end of losing money. I’m not sure things will get better in the near future. My salary will rise, but so will the demands of my kids.
    Not saying that you shouldn’t try to get back into academics. Whenever I focus on my job (except when dealing with admin), I am happy. On my way home, less so, as I feel like a failed parent. So there are definitely costs and benefits. So it is at least worth thinking about the costs too.

    Reply
  7. anon

    been there, I stand by my statement. To many people, I think studying and doing philosophy in graduate school and beyond looks awfully enticing and romantic from the outside. That all fades away once you get into the PhD and become aware of the realities of academic work and the job market. You ought to be warned of the dangers and drawbacks of pursuing this career path, especially if you already have a good paying job. Everyone likes to talk about how romantic doing philosophy is and that you should follow your dreams. No one has the guts to warn prospective or incoming graduate students of how brutal the field actually is. I don’t think you can argue that.
    People leave the private sector for academia and some are successful. All I’m saying is we need to be realistic. I know people who left good paying jobs for a Phd program at an unranked school, who have no publications and basically no job prospects. It’s kind of sad.

    Reply
  8. Assistant Professor

    Different opinion: apply to PhD programs directly, and explain in the personal statement how your practical experience in industry informs your desire to philosophical work (assuming that there IS a connection between your work and your interest in philosophy). That is a compelling application for the right kind of PhD program and isn’t a “gap” as much as the next step on your trajectory.
    Consider also contacting faculty at the programs to which you might apply to talk about your interests, why you think their program would be a good fit for you, and whether they think you might be a good fit for them. Note the application requirements of programs – some require specific prior training or credentials in philosophy and others don’t – ask them about this.
    FWIW I was in a different industry from the OP for years before deciding to pursue a philosophy PhD without any prior degree in the field (though having done some relevant coursework previously) and I got into all the programs to which I applied except one, which offered me a spot in their MA program. This included a program that had an explicit requirement for a prior philosophy degree that was willing to waive it in my case. I say this not because I am so great, but to illustrate that what the OP is trying to do IS a viable pathway that need not cost the price of a paid MA degree (not that being underpaid for the duration of a PhD doesn’t have its economic costs, especially after leaving an industry job that presumably pays well enough).
    Of course, a benefit of an MA is confirming that you want to spend the next 5+ years in a doctoral program, but arguably if you got into a program and didn’t want to finish it, you could then graduate with a terminal MA.

    Reply
  9. Associate Professor

    I applied for PhD programs seven years after getting my BA. I got into only one program — perhaps because of the time-lapse, perhaps not — but it turned out to be a good fit. During my time working outside of academe, I read a lot of philosophy. To show that I’d been keeping up and what I’d keep keeping up with, I wrote an all-new paper for my application writing sample.

    Reply
  10. Either/Or

    To add to the voices of caution, a point about time and aging.
    If you have spent ten years coding after a bachelors, you are probably 32. This is not too old to go to graduate school: it won’t cause committees to rule you out and a successful career is not impossible. That said, it can be hard to start a PhD or MA at 32 and still live a good life in other respects.
    When you begin a graduate program, you will be a 32 year old amidst mostly people in their early 20s and mid 20s. There will be many house parties that resemble undergraduate drinking parties: cheap beer, cheap food, late nights. Attending these isn’t mandatory, but it’s the heart of graduate student social life. You may have trouble fitting in or have no desire for that kind of fun at your age.
    Graduate school (like law and medical school) is expected to be all-encompassing. If you have comfortable routines supported by your comfortable salary, you’ll be entering a strange world where you will be expected to attend conferences all weekend, seminars in the evening, and talks on Friday evenings that lead into drinks. Showing up at optional talks, seminars, etc., is part of how you get good recommendation letters and build your reputation in the profession. Skipping this to keep up with your cooking, exercise, hobbies, outside friends, or outside romantic relationships will put you at a disadvantage.
    A PhD will take 5-6 years. A MA will likely not save you time if you do that first. Let’s say you finish graduate school in 6 years, you’re now 38. At this point, you will probably fail to find a job or end up an abused, underpaid adjunct. But even if things go well, you’re looking at 1-3 years in fellowships or adjuncting positions before landing that first TT job. Then, it’s another 5-6 years on the tenure clock. Tenure in the humanities is possible to miss, especially at the universities you’re probably dreaming about. So, it’s possible that at 45 you’re sweating whether you’ll get tenure.
    Now, ask yourself if all this is compatible with other important parts of life besides career. Getting married and starting a family is hard in this scenario. Caring for aging parents is hard. Saving for retirement is hard. Keeping up with friends and family outside of philosophy is hard; don’t forget the several cross-country moves it would take to go from MA->PhD->adjuncting gig->TT job.

    Reply
  11. Or/Either

    Either/Or
    I have to disagree about the graduate school parties … they are as you describe, yes. But they are not the heart of graduate school. I went to very few parties as a grad student … I am one of the few in my cohort (+ or – 3 years) who has a (quite) successful career. The heart of graduate school, which many of my peers failed to realize, were the colloquia. That is how you enter the profession. You learn to understand talks, and present work, to hear leaders in your field, etc.

    Reply
  12. Assistant Professor

    Responding to some of the assumptions built into Either/Or’s post: it is true that someone going for a PhD after X years in another job will be X years older than fellow students who went straight through from undergrad or a master’s program. And yes that means X years older when on the job market, going up for promotion (if you land a job in the first place), etc. But this isn’t to say that those X years older means that you won’t “fit in” or that you will be at a professional (or personal) disadvantage. Having a work ethic and some stability (that can come with prior work experience and income) can be really useful in grad school. The flexibility of grad school is also something one might appreciate (rather than squander) more after working in a more structured environment. I met my partner, sustained friendships, had a kid, finished my dissertation faster than the rest of my cohort, and got a TT job (also unlike the rest of my cohort) probably because I was some years older, not despite being older. I was more than fine. It isn’t all doom and gloom! But being realistic about what grad school does and doesn’t get you is important for everyone of any age to consider before embarking on it.

    Reply
  13. Either/Or

    Great points by Or/Either and Assistant Professor.
    I should say I agree that it’s possible to skip the house parties without much harm to one’s prospects. Missing the socializing after talks (usually over drinks) would hurt more but not fatally.
    I agree that older students have some advantages. Feeling confident in your skin helps with all the networking, presenting, and participation in seminars and colloquia that make for a successful grad experience.
    Likewise, your maturity and self-discipline may give you an advantage over the students in their early 20s who are less focused and spending too much time enjoying themselves. The tradeoff here is in energy and wide-eyed enthusiasm that are harder to come by for a working adult in one’s thirties.

    Reply
  14. prospective student

    Similar to the OP, I have been in industry for 8 years post-undergrad (investing business) in US. I took a few (12 credits) philosophy classes in undergrad, while majoring in business, and had always loved them.
    Over the last 2 years, I had some pretty significant personal life things happen that made me question the meaning of my work (this work that I had previously thought was my “vocation.”).
    To do some soul searching, over the last 2 years I have been taking online MA Phil classes. This hobby has blossomed into something I would like to take more seriously, culminating in getting a paper published in a well respected journal. I would like to apply to more serious MA programs to pursue next steps. The difficulty I’m running in to is the Phil Dept of my current program will only supply letters of recommendation if I am an in-person FT student, which I am not.
    Any advice on how to get letters of recommendation, or how to approach the application process without recs?

    Reply

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