Drew Anderson

How did you choose your degree program?

Philosophy was something I didn't know anything about going into college, but I had always been interested in science fiction, literature, politics, and social sciences, and I enjoyed doing debate club in public school. When it came time to sign up for classes, philosophy just sounded like something I would like, so I added a few courses. It far, far surpassed my expectations, and I ended up enjoying it more than I could have ever expected, and far more than anything I'd studied previously. A few weeks later I declared my major in philosophy.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

Studying in the CHSS has had a huge impact on many different facets of my life. It has allowed me to explore a lot of diverse interests, which has been an important discovery process for finding out what I like and find interesting, as well as how I approach problems. More technically, it has made me a much better and more confident writer, and it has given me a very wide breadth of knowledge combined with strong research and analytical skills. This has made me made me very versatile and adaptable, which has had a significant positive impact on my performance and success in other academic disciplines and in more career-oriented areas.

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

I took an independent study during the Fall 2021 semester, which resulted in me writing a very long thesis paper which was a very fun learning experience. I had never really thought of myself as much of a writer, so completing such a large project was a very big deal for me because it changed how I thought about myself and my skills, talents, and interests. Likewise, I am very proud of my general academic success. I had always thought I was a good but not great student, but as my love for philosophy gradually bled into all other academic areas, I came to really, really enjoy school, which translated to good grades and very good academic work. There are many assignments (papers, projects, etc.) I have completed at Mason which I am very proud of and which I hope to return to someday for further work, research, and, perhaps, publishing. All of this happened very naturally and unexpectedly—my High School Senior self would have a hard time believing all of this!

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career? Please give an example of this impact if possible.

Many professors at Mason have made very significant contributions to my academic career and my more general personal and intellectual interests. It is difficult to choose just a few, since it is the many wonderful professors who have made my experience at Mason as rich and enjoyable as it has been.

The professor I am most indebted to I met in my very first semester at Mason, Kurt Brandhorst. Dr. Brandhorst is the professor that taught my first philosophy class, Intro to Philosophy, and he is the one who convinced me (both personally and through his excellent teaching) that majoring in philosophy was the right choice for me. Since then, I've continued to work closely with him over the course of about eight classes, including a 1-on-1 independent study. Had I not taken that first philosophy class, it is very well possible that my entire career at Mason could have turned out very differently.

It was also through Dr. Brandhorst that I met Rachel Jones, who has also had a significant intellectual influence on my work and the way I think about and engage with philosophical and intellectual problems. Aside from introducing me to some of my now-favorite works of philosophy, Dr. Jones has given me lots of amazing feedback over the years which has helped my writing and analytical skills immensely. Dr. Jones and Dr. Brandhorst also co-taught a course together which had an embedded study abroad component where the class travelled to Germany and Poland for a week or two that summer, which was an incredible, eye-opening, and unforgettable experience.
I would also like to thank Christopher Morris (who teaches anthropology) and Ted Kinnaman. Dr. Kinnaman has an excellent eye for technical rigor, and has provided me with some extremely helpful constructive feedback that has helped shape and improve my writing, thinking, and argumentation; Dr. Morris introduced me to a lot of fantastic social science work which has had a big influence on me, pushing my interests into more diverse and interdisciplinary directions.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

My long-term goal is to work in a field which allows me to continue learning, writing, and exploring new ideas in unique and interesting ways. Currently, therefore, my plan is to go to graduate school with the aim of entering into academia. While I will certainly be applying to some philosophy programs, I am also interested in doing something more interdisciplinary. In the meantime over the next year, I plan on working on my applications and writings samples, and working to save money.