Ilikekitties

According to one of my profs, being successful in grad school has nothing to do with how intelligent you are; it has to do with how "smart" you are regarding getting your work done and being strategic. I don't remember exactly what she said, but yeah.

Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm just going by what the career advisor told me - get grad apps in first. I need to get all of my grad apps in before the end of the semester for McNair, and that's taking up a lot of my time right now.

I would expect grad school to be different - more intellectually engaging! I applied for department funding and for a Fulbright. Our Fulbright person said that I am a "competitive" candidate, so we'll see. I probably won't get NSF done in time, but I could always apply again next year. I go to a liberal arts school, so graduate seminars are not available. I TA'ed two courses. I have an idea of how theory is taught (I took social and cultural theory and TA'ed for it later) but using theory isn't the easiest thing to do. After trying to read phenomenology stuff, though...yeah. Our theory prof said that it takes years and years of studying (and teaching) theory to actually "get it." I expect it to be rough; I know graduates in PhD programs now and I have an idea of how they're doing. I'm not expecting it to be easy!

I have defined research interests, though. I am interested in THEM and there's no better way to implement research interests than by going to grad school. My priority IS getting a PhD.

I'll think about jobs when all of my grad school apps are in

Okay, thanks!

I've been told that our higher-level courses are on-par or even have MORE work than grad school courses. A grad of my school recently got his PhD from Princeton and he said that he had courses at my institution that gave him more reading than any of his classes at Princeton. I have also applied for funding and I've filled out the IRB three times. I'm used to 20-30 page papers for finals. All I know is that the program I'm in is GOOD at producing PhDs in anthropology. We produce more anthro PhDs than any other college of our type (or that's what the profs say at least). Idk what else I'd want to do more for a timespan of 5-8 years.

Lol if I took time off I wouldn't be traveling...whatever I do has to make a decent living wage. Yikes.

I don't see myself "sacrificing" anything now by going to grad school. I enjoy school now, so I don't think I would be giving anything up to go to school longer. I don't really have dreams or aspirations for anything else honestly. Except, maybe, owning a puppy.

Thanks!

Yes...that sums up what I've been hearing. We'll see what happens/if I get in anywhere...I would be really shocked if I did get in. And I have to apply now for McNair. I'll also be applying for jobs, so whatever happens will be for the best.

Just a thought: the other day at the doctor the nurse asked me if I am ever mistaken for a younger person. She said that I looked like a teenager...do you think that my appearance could be affecting what my profs are saying, or is that way off?

Lol I neglect my physical and mental health NOW......I'm 21 years old, so Idk how we're expected to make career choices already. Even if I took a year or two off it's not like I'd become that much more insightful and all of a sudden be like "I have seen my calling!" It may work for some people, but I do want to be flexible with my life choices. Also, it really sucks that "doing what you love" is now, like, taboo. What's being on this Earth about??? I don't even like the word "career"....people are ALWAYS growing and changing. Someone who's 50 years old may have a career change, and that should be praised. We shouldn't be afraid of the statistic that the average person will have 7 career changes throughout his/her lifetime.

Wow...I'm just wondering why lol. I don't see how having higher verbal or quant scores makes me a better anthropologist.

^Yeah I figured that lol

Both of the profs with the caveats suggested Americorps or Peace Corps. One said that Fulbright would be perfect. I hope that they have rolling deadlines because I won't be able to start anything like that until after all of my grad school apps are in. And Fulbright's hella competitive, so I'm not counting on it.

I would like to go straight in, but one of my recommenders isn't so sure :/

No, I do want to apply this round. I have a statement draft written for one school. As for ultimate career goals, I have some ideas, but only time will tell. I have gotten some very positive responses from potential advisors, so we'll see.

With all of this being said, I am required to apply this year because I am in the McNair Scholars program. That's the one thing about it that sucks.

With most of my programs requiring three recs, would it be an even worse idea to just have two?

I think that I'm ambivalent mostly because faculty are suggesting that I take time off. Six months ago I was deadset on going straight in. I asked another faculty member to write and she said that she would have to be a last resort because she's very busy. The department is very small and there's no one else.

One of them told me that I was very intellectually mature for a BA. It has to do with social/life skills. I don't really have other faculty who know my work.

Yes, I will be applying for jobs as well and I have already applied for a Fulbright. I will have plans A B and C.

She thinks that I'm mature academically, or why else would she want me to spend time outside of academia? Another potential recommender said that I am very intellectually mature for a BA, but she thinks that I need some time to be an adult outside of a school setting. Makes sense. She said that the vast majority of undergrads are not ready for PhD programs, so it's nothing personal. The 3rd recommender that I did ask (with the caveat) knows my work the best, so that's why I chose her. I have a very high GPA and I've done very well in her classes.