When Angela Pearson graduated from George Fox University in 2003, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do, only that she didn't want to leave the university setting or give up the study of philosophy. "So, that spring, I began applying to MA and Ph.D. programs," she says.

Angela admits that Baylor didn't register on her radar until one of her undergraduate professors started plugging it, but she was still resistant. A newly converted Catholic at the largest Baptist institution in the world?" she says. "Spend the rest of my twenties in Waco, Texas?"

After an invitation from the graduate program director, she came down to visit and all reticence became enthusiasm. "I fell in love with the program that weekend, and have, over time, also come to love Waco," she says.

Her area of specialization is medieval philosophy, particularly Aquinas and Bonaventure. "Contrary to immediate appearance, Baylor is a great place to study the medievals," Angela says. "With a little guided searching, it is a simple matter to pull together great class schedules and a dissertation committee."

She credits the scalability and flexibility of the program to a dedicated and accessible faculty, who are ready to assist students at a moment's notice. "The professors give good feedback about when they consider term papers worthy of publication, and what to do to make a term paper publishable," she says. "And outside of that, professors attend many of the graduate student potluck dinners and have us over for dinner at their homes as well."

Angela is excited about the prospects that a Ph.D. in philosophy might provide. Since her family is her first priority, she anticipates that her degree can lead not only to a life as a full-time academic, but also to a path that might include part-time adjunct teaching or teaching at a charter school. "Circumstances surrounding family matters and job prospects will most likely determine what life after graduation will look like," she says.