RaggedyAnnDroid

I am doing a gap year- despite what my info says, this is for Fall 2014, and I graduate this June, and I know how valuable it can be (I waited 3 years between high school and undergrad). My bigger problem was that my boyfriend was hoping to move to another city when our lease is up (September), and then I'd apply to whatever schools were around there, but I explained to him that something like that can't really be done. He was very disappointed, but understanding, so that's not really an issue anymore. As far as articles that I have liked, most of them were written either by Irish researchers, or kind of awhile ago, but that's a good method for finding people. Also, thanks for all of the suggestions for programs- it never really occurred to me that I could work with someone who studies the same things in a different region. Hopefully, I can use this time to save up some money/get some internship or volunteering experience in to help pinpoint a direction. One more question, though: I know with a PhD program, you really need to connect with someone before applying so that you have a good idea of who to work with, etc., but for a program like an MA in museum studies, is that really relevant? The program websites I've seen don't really list faculty in the same way (i.e. so-an-so's research interests are this). How relevant is it for any MA? You guys are great- I don't know very many people who have gone to grad school, aside from professors, so your advice is really valuable

I will try to see if we can compromise more...I think we can figure something out if I can do a better job of explaining than I already have. In terms of area, I am interested in the British Isles/Europe around the Bronze and Iron Ages. I am interested in ceramics, especially examining their decline (and eventual disappearance) in Ireland starting in the late Bronze Age (figuring out if this was due to changes in the contemporary society, or if that was around the time that mainland Celts made their way in and it was a result of that, etc.). I am also interested in both mortuary and domestic ceramics and what they might be able to tell us about day to day life and beliefs/economic processes. However, I do have a variety of interests and would be happy to work on similar things in other regions. It's been pretty difficult to pinpoint a region/time.

Hi, thanks for the responses. I know it's bad to try and cater to what my boyfriend needs to do, but we've been together 6 years, and neither one of us is comfortable with long distance. As far as knowing what I want to do, I'm not sure how to figure out what sort of careers are out there- no one ever really explained that in a decent way during my undergrad. This summer, I may be volunteering at the Field Museum, so that would give some insight into museum operations. Again, I am interested in research and collections management/curatorial, but not so much CRM or teaching. I do want to go to grad school, partly because the options that are available with a BA do not interest me too much. I've been leaning towards not going for a PhD (yet), but there are so few anthropology MA programs out there. As far as museum studies, I am definitely interested, but have seen several posts, etc. about how limiting it is and how easy it is to end up unemployed. Another problem is money- my number one program choices are in the UK and Ireland, but I have so little money and virtually no ability to move out there/pay for an international grad program.

Hi, I'm new here and I've been lurking on the forums to try and scope out some advice for grad school, but it's been difficult. My situation is a little frustrating- basically, I'm about to graduate with a BA in anthropology (very interested in archaeology), and I definitely want to go to grad school but am having trouble deciding on a degree program/school, and I am allowing myself to be somewhat limited geographically to places that my long term boyfriend is comfortable moving to. Right now, my options seem to be Portland, which has virtually nothing for me, Seattle, and New York (expensive!). I am interested in museums and research, and am considering a museum studies MA from either University of Washington or NYU, but am unsure if it's really worth the time and money. I was thinking about trying to find a PhD program for archaeology/anthropology, but it's proving very difficult to find anyone interested in the same geographical region/time (Prehistoric Ireland/British Isles). I don't think that the length of a program would really be a problem- I enjoy school and feel like my brain is rotting when I'm not attending. In addition, I need to decide before September because our lease is up and we will need to move to whichever city has the school that I would prefer to attend. Basically, I've been unable thus far to clearly visualize exactly what I want to do, aside from research and possibly collections management, and was wondering if anybody had any sort of helpful words to contribute regarding all of this? P.S. I'm so sorry for the long post, it's just so stressful (as I'm sure you can all relate). Thanks in advance!