General Graduate School Questions (United States)?

[BlisstoDevastation]

I am thinking about pursuing a graduate degree (PHD) in philosophy. I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy and English (BA) and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education (unrelated to what I what I am looking to pursue).

I have a few general questions as to how I should go about trying to get into a PHD program and such. Although I have a graduate degree already, the process to get into that program was much simpler (and different), so this is basically a new experience for me.

*I know that most graduate programs require letters of recommendation. I am assuming that these letters should be from professors in my area of study (philosophy). Unfortunately, I received my undergraduate degree quite a while ago (2004), plus I wasn't the most outgoing student; I didn't go out of my way to make myself known to my professors. Thus, I don't think any of my undergrad philosophy professors would know me well enough to write me a recommendation. Should I take some new undergrad philosophy classes as a non-matriculated undergrad at a local college, get to know the profs very well, and have them write me a recommendation (this route was suggested to me by someone)?

*I am also very worried about finances. Are there schools that offer jobs to the grad students in their PHD programs? If this is not likely, is it possible for me to work on a PHD while working during the day?


Thanks in advance...

 

[ingannilo]

One of my philosophy professors had to do something like what you're talking about to get his final degree. He was a professor of English & French lit for a few years, then the dean of a small school for some time. Long after attending any classes he decided to go for a philosophy degree & become a professor in that area. He had a masters in the area & went to a local university where he more or less went through the whole masters procedure again, followed by their phd program.


But that's just one story.

 

[ebola?]

Can you get good letters of rec from faculty from your grad program?
Letters of rec' are very important (well, in the social sciences), but they don't need to be from the same discipline.