ohkristentree

I'm in Learning Sciences, but my focus is on Urban Anthropology. I'm researching the utilization and impact of informal learning spaces (ie, museums) on different urban communities.

Did you end up applying after all? If not, I hope you eventually do, I think you're better qualified then you think. Most programs have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (yes, that's right, 3.0!) to get in; I have been told multiple times (and have seen myself) that grades are only a factor of getting in. Have you tried contacting professors at different programs, and hearing what they say? Presenting a paper and having teaching experience is going to be a big boost to your application as well. Do not underplay that. Also, a final story regarding the impact of grades in applying to programs: Example: I had a 3.5-ish GPA in undergrad, a 3.4 GPA in my Master's, years of teaching, and some research. I am starting at a doctoral program with guaranteed funding this August. Second Example: My brother had a 3.9 GPA in undergrad. He has been rejected by all 12 of his programs. Good luck!

Good job to everyone who got in! : ) I'm spending the summer as a teacher at a large museum here in Seattle, with a couple of weeks off to backpack/volunteer in North Cascades NP. Is anyone else teaching this summer, instead of researching and/or taking it easy? I was pretty fortunate to find a temporary position that ended in the middle of August; though I'm sure plenty of eyebrows will be raised at a mid-twenties someone still working a summer job! As I am going into a Learning Sciences Ph.D program in the fall, with a focus on museum education, this is a good opportunity for me to sharpen my blade, of sorts. The only thing I'm a little nervous about is how much time I'm giving myself for the drive across the country (I'm moving from WA to IL). Is anyone else doing a long road trip, and how much time are you giving yourselves?

Which one did you end up choosing? I am attending UIC in the fall for my doctorate in Learning Sciences; the choice was either there or Utah State. As Chicago has multiple job opportunities for my partner, as well as the fact that my family lives there, it made for an easy decision (as well as the full, guaranteed funding for the next four years with a great project....that really helped!). I'm excited! : )

I went to U of O for undergrad; I had an amazing time, especially for rafting and white water activity. Enjoy the restaurants that are there; Sweet Life is one of the best dessert places I have ever been to, The Jail has amazing teriyaki with large portions for a small price, and Cafe Roma has great drinks next to campus (but fills up very quickly with students studying!). Also, Eugene has great pizza places, namely The Pizza Research Institute and Pegasus Pizza (good prices on pitchers of Oregon microbrews as well).

Thanks, Peanut. The director of the program emailed me to tell me the same thing. The only thing that made that hard was he recommended the same things he did before: make contacts with professors, get to know the faculty, etc, which I did. And, well, I guess to keep doing it. I'm now just wondering if I should publish more papers, try to get a research position, re-take the GREs....I don't know. But the encouragement is uplifting!

I got rejected via email from UNC Chapel Hill (for a ph.d in Cultural Anthropology) and University of New Mexico (ph.d in Cultural Anthropology). Both today. Within a couple of hours, actually. I cried to the point of giving myself a headache. This is the second round of ph.d rejections I've gone through (the first was in 2008: I ended up going to a fully-funded Masters program in Museum Administration instead). But, at least then, I could blame beginner's bad luck. I don't know what I did wrong this time around. I could list my credentials here, but I have a feeling that would make me sound self-righteous. All I need say is, I had the credentials, researched schools and professors, and made a point to only apply to programs where I could speak to the professors before I applied and they would show an active interest in me. I feel like garbage, I followed all of the rules and suggestions by professors, researchers, and doctoral graduate students I knew. They all told me I had a shot, and now I feel like I let everyone down. I don't know if I'm going to ever apply again. I think it's a sign that I'm too stupid to earn a ph.d. I am still waiting to hear back from University of Montana and William and Mary (both ph.d programs in, yes, you guessed it, Cultural Anthropology). But I am not looking up, even if one of them sent me a TA application. I figure I would have been interviewed now.