AKCarlton

I would say it depends on the museum and depends on your program and depends on your career goals. The (small, lesser-known local museum) I interned at could be considered better than a (famous museum) because it provided an opportunity to work with the town's descendant community ... if you know what I mean? A (famous museum) and a (lesser-known local museum) provide opportunities for public outreach opportunities. It's honestly just a matter of what you got out of your time there and how you present that to your prospective program. Experience is experience no matter where, at least that's how I look at this situation.

If you apply to programs that best "fit" your needs and and provides ample research opportunities that again, "fit" your career goals, you should be fine. You just need to make contact with POIs there, maybe visit the programs you're interested and write a kick-butt letter of purpose/statement. There are a lot of people who are getting accepted to Anthro programs with diverse backgrounds such as yours. You have the drive, you have the experience, you just have to find the program that is the best "fit"! Good luck!

Congrats aaannnthroling!

Woo! Someone who has an identical background as I do! I can't help you very much as far as your RAship, but I would highly, highly suggest applying to scholarships and attending a field school...although I didn't have one coming into my current Masters program, not going to lie, there are moments where I feel like a fish-out-of-water because I know nothing of field work. I've had to work a bit harder and study a bit harder in regards to my assistantship, but I've also been told by professors that I'm learning and taking away a lot more than the others who seem a bit "comfortable" with where they're at ... Are you applying to grad school and you're just looking for experience in between now and then? Sorry, a bit confused.

The irony is that in the subfield of archaeology I want to venture into, we are pushing to go beyond the United States and go even farther because we've been stuck in the U.S. for what many consider as "long enough" ... it's amazing how there are so many different ways that anthropology is changing, transforming and thinking of itself.

Don't know much about BU funding, but do know a bit about the city as I just moved here last year to start my program. If you have any questions regarding expenses for living in Boston, let me know.

Thank you for the input! I'm meeting with a professor tomorrow whose research interests align with mine and will discuss it further.

Can I join? I'll start the organic garden...I promise to pull my weight!

Agree with the others, you seem well-prepared to compete for a place in a good program...just make sure you apply to more than just your top choice...find the professor(s) that are willing to work with you and have similar research interests.

Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and University of Arizona?

I'll say this, my dad told me a while ago that a bachelors is the equivalent of a high school degree in today's world...and I feel like we're at the point where it's like that for a masters...I feel in this field a PhD is necessary to be taken seriously as far as research.

I've said it before, I'm willing to read and help edit your SOPs...I love editing...I'm a grammar nerd.

I have a question on this matter...I've been told to not worry about my MA thesis topic as far as it affecting my acceptance to a future PhD program...is this true or not? I'm at the proposal point so I want to make sure I do what's best for me in the long-run.

NOWAYNOHOW, anyway you can reach the department and let them know your concerns?

At this point I would call and check up...that's what I did cause it got close to April deadline for me and still hadn't heard and needed to know to let other programs know, so then they could let others know...domino effect!

Congrats Daisy!