Ilikekitties

Hey all. So I’ve heard from multiple professors over the years that some universities are better than others for anthropology. I’m really clueless to rankings. I mean I hear things, like...Michigan, Arizona, Chicago, etc. Are top anthro programs. Idk what that’s based on. And I’ve only heard bad things about Chicago anth. 
 
For example, my professor said something about “Georgia not being top-tier, but Arizona...” or whatever. 
 
I applied to 6 PhD programs this year and I’ve been admitted to one. But Idk if it’s “top tier.” My acceptance letter says that they’re a top 15 program for anthro, but Idk where that number comes from. It’s the University of Illinois. I don’t know much about them. Are they good for anthro?

Any wisdom about either department?
I was admitted to both. Their funding packages are similar. 

Thanks!
I am waitlisted for a fellowship there, however, and there was no mention of a TA ship. Funding will be decided based on how many people turn down offers. 
 
I was admitted with funding to other programs, so I will likely reject their offer unless funding comes through - then I might consider. 

Here! Unless there’s another.
I got an email from my prospective advisor. He said an official letter would come soon. I’m cultural. 
 

Hey y'all - long time no see! I haven't been on this site in probably 3 years! 
Between the years of 2015 and 2017, I applied 3 times for grad programs. On my 3rd round, I ended up getting into a funded MA program, which I'm currently writing my thesis for.
I've decided to apply again to PhD programs! I feel crazy for applying 4 times...but maybe 4th time's a charm? 
Over the years, I've submitted 23 grad school applications and got 19 rejections. This year I'm applying to 7 PhD programs. I hope it's not 7 more rejections.

Hey all. I got my first grad school interview ever scheduled for Thursday. I'm both excited and nervous. This is my 4th application cycle so I hope something good comes from it.

Hey y'all - long time no see! I haven't been on this site in probably 3 years! 
Between the years of 2015 and 2017, I applied 3 times for grad programs. On my 3rd round, I ended up getting into a funded MA program, which I'm currently writing my thesis for.
I've decided to apply again to PhD programs! I feel crazy for applying 4 times...but maybe 4th time's a charm? 
Over the years, I've submitted 23 grad school applications and got 19 rejections. This year I'm applying to 7 PhD programs. I hope it's not 7 more rejections.

I was admitted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Purdue 

Thanks! Found out today that I was admitted to another program and was nominated for a fellowship there!

Hey all. I got my first grad school interview ever scheduled for Thursday. I'm both excited and nervous. This is my 4th application cycle so I hope something good comes from it.

Hey y'all - long time no see! I haven't been on this site in probably 3 years! 
Between the years of 2015 and 2017, I applied 3 times for grad programs. On my 3rd round, I ended up getting into a funded MA program, which I'm currently writing my thesis for.
I've decided to apply again to PhD programs! I feel crazy for applying 4 times...but maybe 4th time's a charm? 
Over the years, I've submitted 23 grad school applications and got 19 rejections. This year I'm applying to 7 PhD programs. I hope it's not 7 more rejections.

Penn/Harvard /Yale/Columbia/brown all suspended their application cycle. It's really only Cornell and Princeton accepting ppl for the 2021 cycle. There have been no updates as both applications were due last week. 

Hey y'all - long time no see! I haven't been on this site in probably 3 years! 
Between the years of 2015 and 2017, I applied 3 times for grad programs. On my 3rd round, I ended up getting into a funded MA program, which I'm currently writing my thesis for.
I've decided to apply again to PhD programs! I feel crazy for applying 4 times...but maybe 4th time's a charm? 
Over the years, I've submitted 23 grad school applications and got 19 rejections. This year I'm applying to 7 PhD programs. I hope it's not 7 more rejections.

The NSF graduate research fellowship supports people in research-based Master’s programs.

This is my 3rd round of applications after my first two rounds were unsuccessful. I've just been admitted to a program! I just want to say don't give up if you don't succeed on the first or even second round.

Ok, I contacted the department coordinator. She said that a prof will contact me with funding details.

Ok, I contacted the department coordinator. She said that a prof will contact me with funding details.

This is my 3rd round of applications after my first two rounds were unsuccessful. I've just been admitted to a program! I just want to say don't give up if you don't succeed on the first or even second round.

This is my 3rd round of applications after my first two rounds were unsuccessful. I've just been admitted to a program! I just want to say don't give up if you don't succeed on the first or even second round.

I want a time machine that can propel me into the future. I am so impatient that I can’t think about anything else.

Thanks! I'm interested in human-animal relationships and nutrition a bit. In 2015 I applied to UIUC, Maryland, the New School, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, Columbia, Cornell, McGill, Toronto, and Notre Dame. In 2016 I applied to McGill, Toronto, Michigan State (sociology), Exeter,  Notre Dame (I was a top applicant here on my 2nd try, but alas), and Washington. This year I'm applying to Mississippi State, Oregon State, Maryland, and Southern Florida.
Fingers crossed...

I have taught ESL in central China for the past academic year. The pay is not excellent, but housing/utilities and roundtrip airfare are covered and the cost of living is extremely cheap. One thing might be to consider what age/school level you prefer, because China is one of the few countries where you can teach at the university level with a BA, although you have a MA. It may be easier to get a uni job here than in other countries, however. Personally, I like teaching uni students. I have the freedom to teach what I want and to create my own lesson plans. Universities may be places where this kind of work is appropriate, as primary and secondary schools might have a set curriculum. 
Also, I am not certified to teach and I had only tutoring experience in college before I applied. China is much more lax.
I also have student loans, and I have made enough money to eat out very frequently and also make monthly payments comfortably. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions! 

Yes, I understand. I thought that your initial comment was very good at putting rejection into perspective and comparing academia to things outside of academia. I'm in no way saying that people who were once in my shoes can't be empathetic, but I am saying that grad students and grads/professors have the gift of certainty in terms of being in a program and hindsight in terms of being able to reflect. I have the gift of certainty with college; 5 years ago I was a wreck waiting for undergrad schools to get back and I didn't know what was gonna happen. I thought that the world was gonna end because I didn't have a concrete plan. Now I think "well, now I'm in a different place and I'm facing new struggles." People in the workplace will probably always feel this way, especially when it comes to job security. I could go to an undergrad forum and give some good advice to some kids in agony, and I'll have a certain understanding of that, but I also have the sort of "bias" or whatever because I've been where they're trying to go. Again, this doesn't mean that advice from me wouldn't be helpful or that I wouldn't be empathetic. That being said, I think that everyone's struggles are relative and they all should be acknowledged as valid, so someone struggling to get into grad school and someone struggling to get a job or to get grants have something in common. We're all at different places.
I got one acceptance last year, but it was to a MA program with minimal funding in a very expensive city, so I decided not to attend. The decision not to attend ended up being for the better because now I'm really glad that I didn't go to grad school right away. Hindsight is a gift because only now do I understand that the choice not to attend was a good one. 1 year ago if you had told me this, I would have called you crazy because I was hellbent on going to grad school.
 

@AP had great advice. I'm not dismissing them. I'm talking about posters in general on here. Although most posters mean well, I do think that thinking about perspective is important, however, because not everyone has been to grad school and has past experiences to reflect on. Someday, maybe we will. Grad school is a place where many of us want to be and have tried to be, and have failed basically. Many of us don't have the experience or the privilege to say "ok, this is how I felt at this time in my life. Now I feel this way still, even though I'm where I wanted to be years ago." Not that exactly, but I think this goes for everyone who can look back. Some of us can only look forward. It's not a criticism of posters. It's just a product of where we are in our careers. I'll say the same thing about my professors who made it through grad school and who now have jobs in academia: good job, you made it. I see that there will always be troubles. But...you got there. You still made it. Some of us haven't even gotten there and we don't know if we will.
I'll also say that if I ever make it into grad school, I will never again understand what it's like for an applicant who hasn't gotten in. I may be like "well, it took me a couple tries, but eventually...." okay. An applicant who gets rejection after rejection doesn't even know if they'll get in "eventually." It's the uncertainty that sucks more than anything. People told me, "oh, you're an excellent applicant. You'll get in!" and then I didn't. It's a total crapshoot.