strudelle

I'm curious about "fit" as well. We have all heard of people staring graduate school with one project in mind and then moving on to something else. I have also had professors who advise graduate students tell me that many come in with no real project proposal or clear idea of what they will be doing. So is the fit just based on what you're interested in as opposed to what you actually plan to do? I could say I was interested in any number of things to get into a school, but this doesn't mean that my ultimate research goals would necessarily end up making me a good "fit" for the program.

I met with a POI who I really liked and I love her projects and really want to work with her. It's not in my ideal location, but I think the program is the best fit for me. Obsessively checking my application online. It says my transcripts haven't arrived yet although I sent them weeks ago. So much frustration. The good news is that they send acceptance letters in February. Fingers crossed.

NoSleepTil - thanks for the perfect response to MAC2809, first of all. Bravo. Second, heck yes to outreach education! What museum do you work at, if you don't mind me asking? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to share on the public forum. I'm very interested in learning how you got a position in a museum doing outreach ed and what kind of advice you might have. Are you applying to grad schools now? Where are you applying and for what kinds of programs?

I have already turned in most of my apps for next year. Unfortunately, I'm limited to a very small geographic region - CSUF is in this region! I'm interested in biological anthropology. In particular I'm interested in osteology, dental anthropology, bioarch, paleoanthropology, paleodemography, and lifestyle/diet/health reconstruction of past populations. I want to do research and am interested in working in a museum and doing community outreach and teaching underrepresented populations. CSUF seems to have an interesting interdisciplinary approach, but doesn't seem to be as biologically focused as I was hoping for. At the same time, some of the grad students do seem to be pursuing research that is very similar to what I would like to do. They also offer some museum studies classes and seem to offer a lot of interesting classes that are in line with my research interests. Anyone know anything about the program? Is it worth applying? I was encouraged not to apply by one professor at my undergrad institution, and encouraged to apply by another. I'm curious about the quality of the program as well as the reputation of the school, because I would most likely want to pursue a PhD after getting my masters.

That's so awesome Eriatarka! Congrats!

I am restricted to a very small region because my SO's career is within a specific county. I have very few options for graduate school. I have had some professors recommend that I not limit myself to this region, and they have suggested that I not mention my reasons for choosing this region in my applications. So I just avoided listing the other schools I am applying to. I think it's sort of silly to expect people - especially adult students - to not be involved in any kind of relationship that would inform their decisions on where to live or what to do with their lives. But I have heard that it can be looked down on. I have gotten the impression that schools will take your "two body problem" more seriously if you are married as well.

I'm only applying to three schools (UCSD, SDSU, and UCR), but all of my apps are in. Of course I have to deal with harassing my recommenders and lost GRE scores and so on and so forth, but it's mostly done! Have a meeting today (not an interview, just a meeting that I set up independently) with a potential grad advisor and another one on January 2nd. I'm so nervous! I have no idea how these things are supposed to go.

I have been told to always use people who you have worked with on projects first. It doesn't really matter so much if they're directly in your field, as long as they can attest to your ability to be a successful candidate.

Juillet - Thanks, you always offer really helpful advice. I have seen some posts around the web from people who suffered from anxiety and depression prior to starting graduate school, and who found that it got worse during their PhD candidacy. This has really concerned me because I have always suffered from depression and anxiety, and the way that I have been feeling completely bogged down, unmotivated, overwhelmed, and depressed during my busy senior year (15 credit hours, independent study research project, internship, teaching, studying for the GRE re-examination, working on grad school applications) has been making me afraid that maybe I can't handle the PhD no matter how much I really want it. I am also, of course, terrified that I have no chance of acceptance and I'm making a fool of myself by even applying. But I suppose all I can do is try.

One of the schools I am applying to has an option to apply for an MS (with mater's thesis), an MA (with final exam) or a PhD. The graduate student handbook says that students are generally only admitted to the PhD program and that students are admitted to the MA and MS programs only under special circumstances. Does anyone know what those "special circumstances" might be? I'm not really clear on what that means. Ultimately, I want to get a PhD (I want to teach and do research in academia). But I would really prefer to get a master's degree first and then see how I feel and maybe take a little time off before getting the PhD. In addition, I think I would have a better chance of getting accepted to a master's program than a PhD program based upon my qualifications. So ideally, I would apply to the master's program. But I don't want my application to the master's program to disqualify me from entry if they usually only admit PhD applicants. I also don't want to shoot for a PhD and then find out after my master's that I am burned out and need a break. Is it at all possible that if I applied for the PhD and they didn't think I was quite qualified enough, they would admit me to the master's program? What should I do?

One of the schools I am applying to has an option to apply for an MS (with mater's thesis), an MA (with final exam) or a PhD. The graduate student handbook says that students are generally only admitted to the PhD program and that students are admitted to the MA and MS programs only under special circumstances. Does anyone know what those "special circumstances" might be? I'm not really clear on what that means. Ultimately, I want to get a PhD (I want to teach and do research in academia). But I would really prefer to get a master's degree first and then see how I feel and maybe take a little time off before getting the PhD. In addition, I think I would have a better chance of getting accepted to a master's program than a PhD program based upon my qualifications. So ideally, I would apply to the master's program. But I don't want my application to the master's program to disqualify me from entry if they usually only admit PhD applicants. I also don't want to shoot for a PhD and then find out after my master's that I am burned out and need a break. Is it at all possible that if I applied for the PhD and they didn't think I was quite qualified enough, they would admit me to the master's program? What should I do?

Many of my anthropology professors (and others in the field whose resumes I have seen) have undergraduate degrees in biology or related natural sciences. For the most part, these people tend to go into physical anthropology - but if you are interested in a more cultural or archaeological perspective (which I'm assuming you are as you mentioned agriculture and past peoples), this can easily be combined with biology as well - especially conservation biology. As many other people mentioned, just do a lot of reading and find out where your interests lie in anthropology. There are a lot of options and directions you could take.

Hah, no I'm not talking about anything hideous or over the top. I have my earlobes stretched, which I can likely hide with small, tasteful jewelry. I was more referring to a nose ring - which I think is pretty innocuous but wondered what others thought. I know that I should ask questions but I'm not really sure what kind of questions to ask. I'm fairly familiar with the work of both POIs and I don't have a lot of questions aside from "CAN I PLEASE BE A PART OF WHAT YOU DO?!?!?!"

I set up meetings with two of my POIs at my top two choices. Any advice on what to do and say in these meetings? How can I make myself seem like a really appealing candidate? I'm really starting to worry that I'm not a qualified candidate at all (even though both POIs have expressed interest in talking to/working with me and don't seem to be phased by my lack of tons of research experience). Also, would it count against me if I wore piercings to these meetings?

Someone else suggested the same thing. I got four wrong in the first section. It seems really silly that your score would be based on this entirely rather than the ones you got correct over-all in the exam. Over-all, I did pretty well. I got a ton wrong in the quant section (2x more wrong than I got in the verbal). Completely bombed the entire first half. But ended up with a good score (84th percentile). This all just seems so counterintuitive. How is this a true representation of anyone's ability to be a graduate student? And how is one supposed to prepare for a test that is so bizarrely scored and unclear?

I was just able to look at my diagnostic results for the GRE (tells you how many problems you got wrong, what level of difficulty they were etc.) and I actually didn't get that many verbal questions wrong. I only got 14 wrong out of 40. I got significantly more wrong in the quantitative section and I got a way better score there. ETS would not explain to me how the test was scored or what was going on unless I paid $50 to have my test gone over again. What the hell is going on here?

Would I set up a visit through the department, or contact the POI directly to set up a visit? I'd like to visit the departments even if my POIs won't be there.

Has anyone tried to set up meetings with their POIs or gone to look at the departments? I'm going to be in the area where all the schools I'm applying to are in December so I'm interested in seeing if I can meet with people or tour the departments. I don't know if this is completely unorthodox because obviously they don't know me yet and have not offered me acceptance into their programs (obviously won't find out until March), but I have emailed with some of them and think it might be helpful to meet them. What do you guys think?

Thanks I'll check it out!

Thanks guys. I used some flash cards last time but didn't make it all the way through them and didn't focus on them as much. Any suggestion as to exactly what flash cards to use (an app on my phone would be best because I can do that anywhere anytime)? Also, does Magoosh have any free study options? I really can't afford to spend more money right now between having to re-take this test and pay for grad school apps.

I took the GRE two weeks ago and my verbal score ended up being in the 11th percentile. I am usually very good with language and argument analysis, so I genuinely don't know what went wrong. My writing score was a 4.5, which isn't great but it's 75th percentile - so clearly I have some sort of grasp on language. To prepare for the GRE the first time around, I used ETS's online materials and a Princeton Review prep book. During preparation, I would generally get most of the verbal questions right and my scores on practice tests for verbal were usually in the 160's - which I was happy with. I just registered to re-take the test in a month. I started going through my study materials again and found I am still getting all the verbal questions right. I think the study materials I'm using are not adequately preparing me for the actual test. Does anyone have any suggestions on study material that is more similar to what is on the test? Preferably something free, because I just had to spend another $180 on this test that I couldn't afford in the first place. Thanks!

Yeah that's true. I'm applying to some other terminal masters programs as well so that maybe I can get my masters first and then move onto UCSD for my PhD. If I don't get accepted anywhere (which is actually pretty likely), I'm not sure what I'm going to do to make myself look like a better candidate in the meantime. Getting a job that has anything to do with anthropology is hard enough with a higher degree, but it seems impossible with a bachelor's degree. I also don't have money to go gallivanting around the globe doing field schools.

I would love to expand my search, but like I said my fiance is there so I really can't go too far. I'm planning to apply to UCSD, SDSU, UC Riverside (my second choice), and CSU Fullerton. Maybe UCLA? I probably won't get accepted, but I'll try. UCSD just has the best program for what I want to do and is in the most convenient area, so it's my top choice.

Just wanted to let you know that I did get a response to my follow-up email and the prof was just too busy and never saw the original, so keep trying!

I have run into the exact same problem. The advice I have been given is that if they don't reply, try sending a really polite follow-up that includes the original message and reiterates your interest. Sometimes professors are too busy to respond, the emails get caught in their spam folder, or they simply forget to reply. I actually just sent follow-up emails today. Hoping I hear back. I think that if I don't get a response, I'm still going to try to apply to my top choice. If it's not your top choice though, and you don't get any response from potential advisors, might be worth considering not applying?