Aisling O'Leary
I am a full-time PhD student studying philosophy at Harvard University. Throughout my program, I will take courses in a variety of sub-fields of philosophy, teach undergraduate philosophy classes, and write a doctoral dissertation.
I used to think it was unusual to move from studying math to studying philosophy, but I’ve come to find out it’s relatively common! Many of my professors and fellow students were math majors as undergraduates. Both math and philosophy, I think, involve analytical thinking, precision, concision, and problem solving. (Many journal articles in philosophy actually remind me of math proofs!)
I am sure I would not be where I am today without St. Mike’s. Of course, many math classes gave me invaluable skills (e.g., a proofs class hugely improved my writing and, specifically, my ability to write precisely), but what stands out to me most is the support I had from professors. The professors in both the math and philosophy departments were incredibly generous with their time, their encouragement, and their commitment to my learning. It is because of them that I had the confidence to pursue graduate school.
I would be more than happy to chat about graduate school or about moving from math to other fields of study. Please feel free to reach out!
Contacted via e-mail as a resource for current students: Yes