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NOWAYNOHOW

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  1. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from Sigaba in Berkeley's arrogance   
    I'm in another discipline, but dropping in to say a few years ago a university I applied to lost my application.  They literally misplaced an entire stack of applications and didn't find them until late March, well after all notifications (including rejections) went out.  They tried to cover it up, but I know someone there and she told me the deal and why my decision was so late.  I went AFTER them -- I didn't care about getting rejected, but I did care about my application fee.  I wanted a refund.
    They pretty much swatted me like a fly.
     
    So let it go, re: Berkeley.  Nothing good can come of this.  I was mad for ages, and now I barely remember what it felt like.  Sorry to hear about the rejection though!!
  2. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from bananabear in Rejected from Everywhere- and applying again next year   
    Exactly. I'm so glad you asked after why this seems to be such an issue (and I think other responses to my initial post have expanded on how cultural anthropology currently relates to U.S. work) because it isn't talked about much, especially across subfields. 
     
    The good news is that we are each other's peers, and our attitudes will hopefully help shape the discipline moving forward. It is my hope that cultural anthropology in the U.S. will be more open to looking inward and exploring domestic topics, as there are certainly many spaces where anthropology has the potential to do important and significant work in America. That is not to say that international topics should be pushed aside for U.S. work. On the contrary, there is justification and room enough for both! 
     
    But what applicants for 2016 can take away from this discussion is to think hard about what kind of work they want to do and where, and whether or not anthropology at this point in time will welcome their research and insight. If you don't need the specific anthropology PhD credential, there are many other avenues for legitimate (and even better-funded) doctoral study: American and area studies, cultural studies, media studies, information studies, public health and more. 
  3. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from neur0cat in Contacting POI: experience and the possibilities   
    I have reached out to a lot of POIs this cycle (about 30) and more than half have responded thoughtfully. Some queries have panned out into larger conversations (IRL, phone, email) and some have not, but they have all usefully provided information I should incorporate into my SOP. Examples of the kind of things I've learned about via exchanges with POIs:
     
    - Emerging department projects and areas of interest (ie. "We are increasingly focusing on X and Y")
    - Incoming faculty
    - Centers/working groups/research institutes/labs relevant to my topic
    - Faculty in other departments I should mention
    - Graduate students doing similar or complementary work
     
    A lot of the email exchanges fill in the blanks of what isn't always online or readily accessible through GSAS-type sites. The tips they've been supplying will, I hope, really make my "Why X university" section stand out. Just an FYI on why this type of communication has been valuable.
  4. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from Seastepp in Rejected from Everywhere- and applying again next year   
    I agree that fit is important, but after completing a second round of applications with only one offer, I feel like I also have learned a hard lesson about the application process and about the community of scholarship I am about to enter: anthropology is still holding onto certain ideas about disciplinarity, and what is and what is not anthropological. 
     
    I've been in touch with a few POIs at places that rejected me (after interviews or in-person meetings) and I have gotten a lot of weird feedback that I feel isn't reflected very much on these boards. Fit IS important, and your SOP is largely the most important part of your application profile; however, multiple POIs have told me that committees have trouble warming to students without prior degrees in anthropology, and they are wary of (cultural) students with US-based projects. This obviously isn't a blanket statement, and I know for a fact some programs (like the one I will likely be attending) want students that work in the U.S. Similarly, plenty of places are willing to overlook a non-anthropology background for a fabulous project. 
     
    But these are just two things to keep in mind. Do you want to work in the U.S.? I have been told I should have at least had an international comparative site in mind, if only to "make it more anthropological." Do you not hold a prior degree in anthropology? You better have some way to prove you're ready to do that work. And don't think a handful of courses and LORs from anthropologists (even big name ones) are enough to overcome an interdisciplinary background. You are still competing against a large pool of capable applicants who have those qualifications and more. It will take a Fulbright, considerable professional experience in your proposed project area, or a publication (or two, or three) in a major professional journal to make up for what is seen as a significant and glaring problem with your lack of training thus far. It is also why, if you look at many 'elite' cohorts, many students are right out of top-tier undergraduate programs. A BA or MA in anthropology from a brand name school is worth more than we like to admit here at TGC. 
     
    Fit is important, but at the end of the day, most programs make their decisions collaboratively. Some departments can be described as being one way or the other, but that is not true of most departments. It is generally difficult to articulate one orientation or subject area that typifies an entire department. If you have a project that sits squarely in the area of interest of a few faculty, but pushes the envelope of what, say, a lot of the other faculty might see as 'anthropological,' you are taking a huge risk. If you are a student with a colorful background, but you don't have the proper institutional credentials of a 'real anthropologist,' plenty of professors can easily write you off as a dabbler or somehow less prepared than other applicants. 
     
    Cultural anthropology is still tied to the figure of a white man in a pith helmet scribbling notes on a people he has already made his mind up about. That tradition and the training it inspired is still celebrated by many top programs. This historical archetype established the discipline, and haunts it still. I think this is something important to consider when pursuing this career.
     
    I considered not even posting this, because I know it isn't what people want to hear, and I know a lot of awesome people right here on this forum have had very different experiences; however, I also think that multiple perspectives on the application process can only help future applicants. 
  5. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to yzeng11 in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Accepted UChicago finally! Really appreciate all the support from this site! I am super excited and have to find out a way to concentrate finalizing my master thesis now!
  6. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to annwyn in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Well I finally got all my offers in, and made a decision!  I will be attending University of Minnesota...School of Public Health.  So count me among the anthropologist that are in Health Services Research.  I'll still see some of you at SFAA I'm sure!
  7. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from calmflare in Fall 2015 Applicants   
    Let them know. Without the funding commitment, you're likely to get off the waitlist quickly.
     
    In unrelated news, is anyone SUPER annoyed at Penn? I paid an application fee! Pay me back with a robot rejection letter before I get too old to care.
  8. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from aaannnthroling in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  9. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to hausercl in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    I just accepted my offer from University of Cincinnati. I know they have a few others coming in but I don't have names - anyone else going to be in Cincy? I'd like to find new friends!!!
  10. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to SSCCATAGAPP in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    I've officially accepted Michigan! Excited!
  11. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from DanJackson in Fall 2015 Applicants   
    Let them know. Without the funding commitment, you're likely to get off the waitlist quickly.
     
    In unrelated news, is anyone SUPER annoyed at Penn? I paid an application fee! Pay me back with a robot rejection letter before I get too old to care.
  12. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to trogdorburninator in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    alright!
    I accepted my offer from University of Chicago, Comparative Human Development. The deed is done.
  13. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from trogdorburninator in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  14. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from have2thinkboutit in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  15. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from AKJen in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  16. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to museum_geek in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Yay!!!!
  17. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from museum_geek in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  18. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to FaultyPowers in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    YEAH we did!!!!!!
  19. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from daykid in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  20. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from FaultyPowers in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  21. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from smg in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  22. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from mountainroad in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer from medical anthropology at the University of Connecticut.
     
    Guys, we did it!
  23. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to fiveby5 in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Late to the game here (haven't been on the forum in a while) but while the UC system is struggling financially, Irvine's anthro department is loaded. They just got a ton of Gates money. Departments have funding through external sources as well, so you can't really judge a school/department based on the state of the education system as a whole in a lot of cases.
  24. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW got a reaction from annwyn in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Wait, I thought this outside committee members thing was really common knowledge! PSA: your outside committee members are really crucial resources, especially when you are on the job market. At least where I come from, there's like a pipeline of post-docs and junior faculty positions that come from outside committee members. I already have mine lined up...definitely something to think about!
  25. Upvote
    NOWAYNOHOW reacted to smg in Anthropology Decisions 2015   
    Just accepted my offer at WUSTL.  I'm stoked. 
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