CulturalAnth

I am having the same problem! Mine is, I was taking a couple summer classes, and my father passed away unexpectedly when it was too late to drop the classes (derailed my life!), so they are Fs. I've asked counselors and profs about this, and they have all told me that it will likely not matter. If they haven't said anything, and you've been accepted without any conditions, don't worry! You are IN!

I am in my thirties and DO have kids. (See post above this one) For me, having them while in school makes the most sense for what I want to do. They will be older when I am ready to really go out in the field, abroad, and I can have my career when they are in school. But, I have always been a non-trad student. I didn't start my B.S until after I had my oldest.

What is considered "older"? I am 32 (will be 33 in the Fall). So, I guess that includes me, though I don't feel like I am "older"! I have three kids, and found out I am pregnant with my fourth, unplanned, right after I applied to grad schools! When I went to visit a couple schools, I certainly wasn't the oldest, and I am not the oldest finishing my undergrad either. I have the additional frustration of custody with my oldest 2, and will have to have the courts tell me if I can move them with me or not :/ My husband is in computer science and can telecommute wherever we go. He's super supportive of me following my dreams, and he'll follow me anywhere <3

You're right. I should have read more closely

Hmm.. I only applied to schools that I thought would be a good fit, and am weighing in funding offers as they accept (or reject) me. I wouldn't apply to a school based solely on funding (that would be a waste of money, because they'd reject me if I didn't fit with the program).

I have been in contact with POIs from every university I've applied to. I additionally visited 3 of 5 of them that were within driving distance and met with potential advisors/professors personally. I think those two strategies REALLY helped my application, because they were able to put a face to my application since they have already met with me and discussed interests, background, etc. I followed recommendations from my well-respected undergrad mentor, and name-dropped his recommendation in my emails. That always impressed, because his recommendation goes a long way. Finally, I attached my CV so they could get a quick run down of my interests, experience, and qualifications without having to go into detail in the introductory email. Even though my research interests are pretty narrowed within reproductive anthropology, I also tailored my research interests to match what the POI's research within reproduction happens to be. I have also involved the POIs in my application process to the extent they wanted to be involved. Some offered to look of SOPs for me before I submitted, and some just wanted to offer advice on what to include in the SOP. I also asked for their advice on my mediocre GRE scores and if they believed I should retake the test to be more competitive. It sounds like I was constantly bothering them with all these details, but in reality, I probably sent 1 or 2 emails a month.

I have also been wondering this.. I see that someone else on here has an interview at WUSTL and I haven't heard a single thing from them. From what my POI told me, they interview everyone they are interested in. I'm losing hope. It's my next top choice (and I've already been rejected from my #1 top choice )

Thank you, thank you I don't know any faculty that has come out of UNLV, but a couple of my former professors only have very positive things to say about their program. I am on a cultural track, so I probably won't work much with Smith and Haynes besides taking 4-field seminars. I would be working with Dr. Benysheck and Dr. Crittenden, who are just a super awesome anthropologist couple! I could do both biocultural and applied anthropology there as well, which is nice. One of my arch. profs at USU went to WSU for his PhD and said it was fantastic. And, he's done well with a TT position, here at USU, a few years after completing his degree. I would work with Dr. Meehan who is a newer prof, but has glowing reviews from my USU mentor, Dr. Lancy. In the end, my biggest concern is the darn unplanned pregnancy! If I go to UNLV, I can be a GA (if I get one), still go PT my first year, and be able to take 4 weeks leave. If I go to WSU, there is no maternity leave until one academic year (and I am not having any more kids! Ideally this one would have come next year, not this year!), and would have to go FT with a 20 hr/week GA or RA. I have no idea if they will work with me on that.

I would wear a nice, but not too formal, dress for this. Not a "cocktail" dress either, but something you might wear on a date to meet your SO's parents for a holiday. I like to try to choose something that will make me stand out, but not in a bad way

I live in a very cold area, and this is what I would wear for an interview on a cold day: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/71283606573932067/ I have interviewed in a cute, pink, Forever 21, professional dress, at UNLV (and was more dressed than any grad student I met!), I wore a flowy feminine pink dress with a cardigan at another interview (Oregon State), and in Washington I wore grey slacks and a white and black blouse. I was dressed appropriately for all of them.

Thanks for your feedback, DigDeep. I guess my biggest concern with deciding between the 2 are because it's between an MA and a PhD. From reading the threads on this forum, it is making me worried that there is a chance I won't be accepted into a PhD after I get an MA. Funding for either isn't yet set in stone. They are still deciding on funding packages for RAs and GAs. From what I gathered when I met with both UNLV and WSU is that getting a GA is much harder at UNLV (because of lack of funds) than it is at WSU, who told me most of their grad students get funded. So, I think I am reading correctly that you think the best course of action would be to go to UNLV if I got funded only, and if not than choose WSU, right?

I posted in Decisions, Decisions, but maybe Anthropology is the better area to ask for input. I have received 2 acceptances for grad programs (still waiting on two more), and they both come with pros and cons. Would anyone mind stopping by my other thread to help me out?

This is, embarrassingly, one of my issues too.. warm Las Vegas winters or cold and snowy Washington winters... I've already been living in a super cold location for my B.S and I am so ready to be done with it!

I'm new to this forum.. glad to be here! I have received 2 acceptances from UNLV and Washington State. Still haven't heard from Oregon State and Washington University in St. Louis. (I got rejected from Notre Dame early on in the waiting game). Has anyone else heard back from Oregon or WUSTL?

My GRE scores were similar to your first test. So far I have been accepted into 2 programs.

I've seen posts about the 2 schools I am waiting to hear back from.. someone was set up to interview at WUSTL.. anyone else apply there and hear back yet? And also Oregon State? I see someone was accepted there.. can I ask with who, and how did you find out? Thanks! Congrats to all!!!

Bump! I am considering WSU for my grad program. Anymore insights?

Please help me work through these two offers of admission to UNLV and Washington State for Cultural Anthropology grad programs.. I would love advice on which ones you would choose, which basically come down to happiness vs. money. I also have a very complicated situation in which I've found myself pregnant (unplanned) right after I applied to grad school! So, I additionally have to take into consideration the ability to have a baby in the middle of Fall semester (ack!)! UNLV, Pros: - In an idea location, with great year-round weather, lots of fun stuff to do for both families and date nights. I would be very happy living here, especially because I suffer from SAD, and need to get away from cold, long, winters. - Low cost of living - Family close by, and I already have friends and a support network in the area. - Pretty close (5 hrs) from my older kids' dad. Would make travel cheaper and easier between our 2 homes. - I LOVE the advisors I will be working with. When I met them, we clicked right away, and I would be very happy working with them. I also love the research that I would be able to do at this university. - DH can get a very comfortable-paying job in this city, very easily. - I can eat out in this city- lots to choose from for a GF/Veg person like myself. - Would be close to many fun and interesting locations to visit and take weekend trips to. We really like to travel and would love to have access to so many locations within a few hours drive. - Maternity: I can take 4 weeks as a student and/or GA, and can go PT with a GA. UNLV, Cons: - This school doesn't come with guaranteed funding for first year grad students. I would have to pay for the first year, as an out-of-state grad student (which, going part time would be ~$7k). It is more possible that I would get funding the next years, but not guaranteed. - I got accepted into the MA program, option 2 is for a PhD, which means that I would have to go through this all over again for a PhD! WSU, Pros: - This option would likely come with fantastic funding: full tuition, plus about $1500/month. - The research would be really great, and I would get paid and travel expenses paid, to travel out of the country for the research (the Prof. has an NSF grant). - Very low cost of living, especially compared to having a dual income with both DH and I bringing home a paycheck. - This program would be for a straight to PhD, getting my MA on the way. WSU, Cons: - The city this university is located in is another cold, long-winter, location. I would really not like living there. - The job market for DH is lacking. It would be very difficult for him to find a job in his field there. He can, however, telecommute and keep the job that he has now (but it doesn't pay that well either). - There are no eating out food options for me. Maybe one or two, and no Indian food (my go-to comfort food) for 1 1/2 hours away. - This location is very isolated. There is another city close by, but every other large city is 5-8 hours drive away. - It would take me an entire day to drive to my older kids' father's house, and all of our family would also be very, very far. - Maternity Leave: applies only to those who have been enrolled for one year, and going full time.