dtpowis

Excellent. Thank you!

Cultural. I was asked on Friday (02/07/14) for an interview on Tuesday (02/11/14). No idea when decisions will be made.

Similarly, I was asked if there were any books that I've read that set me on my path. (I'm a rabid bibliophile, so I pretty much nailed that one.)

Well today has been pretty active for me. Rejected from Princeton and Berkeley. Asked to interview at Yale. Accepted at Washington University! I can finally sleep...

I was asked why I chose the geographic area I did. (Answer it like you're answering a grant proposal, not that it's your favorite place on earth.) I was asked if it would be logistically possible to do the research I was proposing. (This was based on a misunderstanding of the research, but I was able to spin it anyway.) I was asked about specific literature that I've read concerning various components of my research. (This turned into what essentially amounted to me reciting a bibliography.) I was asked, "Why anthropology? Surely, you must realize that you can do this from a public health perspective as well!" (Touché! But I'm looking for an MPH as well.)

Anyone else hold out hope at the end of each day because your schools are in different time zones? Haha.

Not I (since applying, at least). Someone here on the forum said last week that they have a friend who already received an acceptance into their Medical Anthro track (which accepts two per year), but there hasn't been anything confirmed.

Wow. Congratulations! That's great! Now I'll be waiting by the phone all day hoping to hear from them too...

#detective

Berkeley's Medical Anthro program only takes 2 a year...and I haven't heard back, so... I'll be waiting for the official rejection letter.

*tumble weed rolls by*

I know from researching their websites, fora, conferences, symposia, and I've reached out to people who would know (faculty, staff, alumni, grad students, undergrads). I doubt that it's just anthropology, but I don't know, because that's all I've ever been concerned with.

I emailed at least three profs in each department to which I applied, before I applied - the POI and two others. In each email, I said something along the lines of, "This is who I am, this is what I have done, this is what I want to do. Given your work on X, Y, and Z, I hope you're interested in working with me." Of the thirty or so that I sent out, about 20 replied. I applied to the three schools from which no one responded - Princeton, Stanford, and Berkeley - because I have friends in the graduate program at Berkeley and I know what their advisors are like: distant. They're doing a thousand things at once, and I am only surprised when they DO get back to me (like the other 20). Some grad programs are built on philosophy of mentorship (e.g. WashU), some on independence (e.g. Berkeley), and some on a little of both (e.g. Brown). Whether they respond or not is probably a reflection of the type of program they have, so I certainly wouldn't take it personally or assume that those POIs must be difficult to work with.

Yeah, that's why I think it's kind of weird, because I haven't been accepted yet. I'm getting picked up and dropped off at the airport by a grad student, airfare is paid, all meals are paid for, and I'm staying with a grad student that night. The only choice I got was which day I wanted to go. Any idea how long after interviews schools typically make decisions, or is it all over the place as with everything else? I got the feeling that it could be only about a week, maybe a little more.

I wasn't given a choice. I have an interview/campus visit and I have to stay with a grad student and her husband. Should be...interesting.