Bschaefer

Echoing @hats, you should be more specific with the theory/method if anything in your SOP. as hats said, “interested in social inequality in the North American woodland period” and continue by saying through diet (if bioarch), through textiles and fabrication of high status textiles (Arch), or something similar to that effect.

Hi @Alynnh - I finished my MA at gsu Anthropology and will be teaching intro to bioanth in the spring. Feel free to pm me with any questions.

Haha yeah, I just submitted my first application today and naturally I am ‘patiently’ waiting a response

@EvelynD Sure! What is your question your including?

For me, it solidified my interest in earning the PhD after the MA. Overall, the MA program allowed me to manage a stable isotope lab and conduct research in biogeochemistry (A field I never thought I would be working in) in Mesoamerica, the Andes, and in Medieval Europe; Hone and refine my research interests and questions through writing a thesis on Human Sacrifice; and gave me time to develop my own professional persona within Anthro from networking at conferences and in the field to learning how to conduct myself in academic settings more properly. Additionally, through my collaborative research through my lab and other experiences, I have been able to present research at various conferences and have my name on quite a few publications. This is an added bonus expecially at the MA level since it is seen as atypical. Of course, my experiences are idiosyncratic, but it is about how you make it your own during the program.

My BA and MA focused on Andean bioarchaeology. I took classes that spanned across Latin America so having the regional focus is fine. That really shouldn’t hinder you because all experience is good experience in anthropology. It would be easier to get the MA and network in the Andean sphere and then apply to PhD in Andean Bioarchaeology rather then directly PhD. Can i ask why you want to switch regions?

Yeah for sure, they’ll take into account what you say during the chat. But also I’ve talked to a few and asked if I could throw some ideas out there for future doctoral research avenues and it became like a joint idea collab which was cool. For questions, it’s usually like what are you interested in, past research ideas, geographic area you’re interested in, ideas you want to explore. Some non-academic questions I’ve gotten asked were good restaurants to go to in Boston (I’m from there and they were going there for a conference or something) - so it’s kind of all over but nothing like “how does Foucault’s theory work into your research” (unless you explicitly say it or something? mhm...Lubbock so Texas tech? - @Caymay maybe?

@phyanth that’s great news! I’ve had poi’s respond within a few hours to a week or so due to them being busy/in the field. for the phone call/Skype interview - treat this as an interview for the program even if it is only with 1 poi. Last year I had a Skype “chat” with 1 poi that turned into a group interview with every archaeologists and bioanth on faculty (to my surprise), other Skype chats were with just my poi. Basically, just be on your game and be yourself regardless of who/how many people may be there. But congrats!-that’s awesome and shows their interest in working with you!

Hey @towerbridge, I’ve done some collaboration with Kristina Killgrove (I’m assuming that’s who you’re talking about) on palaeodiet during the Black Death and Roman imperialism. If you want, send me a pm and we can discuss more. I did my MA at GSU and though our faculty is Latin American focused, its still a good program for your interest.

Oh wow @EvelynD that’s wicked early! What program is that?

Hey @timetobegin it looks like you want to go the bioarchaeology route so it can get a little complicated on how to situate this. I’m a bioarch myself. I would be very specific in how you structure your research interests given the interdisciplinary of the research. For your example, I would say something along the lines of “I’m interested in studying the effects of vitamin deficiencies, such as B12, D, and etc.., among infants in rural Chinese communities during the X time period to understand the transitional health through political whatever” or something to that effect. That gives it depth and it shows that you thought about the topic beyond then “disease are cool”. You should check out my colleague Christina Lee who does bioarch work in Mongolia and all over Asia/Egypt. She’s at Cal State in LA and I think they have an MA program? - I’m not sure about PhD

I echo the facebook message depending on the relationship. I’m friends with my advisors/professors on FB. I will send an email in a professional manner but will send a PM if the matter is somewhat urgent or I haven’t heard from them in a little bit. I don’t think it would be out of the blue. I have been in a very similar situation as you though but for research data. There is a professor in Germany that published a paper and I needed to ask about his data and he is now Emeritus. His Uni page doesn’t list an email anymore but I called telephoned him a few times and then I had to ask the admin how best to reach him. All in all, I got in contact but the moral of my long anecdotal story is that so long as it is within reason, don’t be afraid to contact them.

@EvelynD I think if you send them this coming week, you should be fine! I actually just sent mine this past week because I know that I’ll forget until it’s seconds from the deadline haha. Plus they say it can take up to a couple days, but its really fast. LoR’s on the otherhand is a gamble - I’m in the same boat, I have 2 people out of the 4 I want to ask so far! Where are you applying to again?

@Islamahmed echoing @GreenEyedTrombonist, I have my MA in Anthro, a MA in Latin American Studies (i took too many classes for the g.cert), and will have my MPH by spring so I am only applying to PhDs. However if I can get another masters en route to the PhD in anthro, I’ll most likely do that.

Wow that was not correct English —“was. Emy. Lose” translates to “was very close” in extremely tired graduate student lingo haha sidenote: do people still use the word lingo?—asking for a friend...

Unfortunately no, was. Emy. Lose from what my POIs told me. But thank you and same to you as well!

Hey @GreenEyedTrombonist same to you! I'm looking at Emory, Brown, UIC, UC Riverside, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, UMass, and Tulane this round. I think I had a few more on my list but I'm drawing a blank tbh. What about you?

Hey guys, I’m reapplying for fall 2018 and refining my SOP as well. I earned my MA in Anthropology (Andean Bioarchaeology) amd graduate certificate in Latin American Studies. Right now I’m on track to finish my MPH in Infectious diseases and outbreak prevention. Im mostly interested in warfare and violence (including ritual) during political transitions of major empires in Andean Peru. So far, I have about 6 or 7 schools I plan to apply to which is better than my 2 last year lol.

I agree with Museum and Bioarch, Don't forget that some professors do field research during the summers so they will probably be MIA from email communication. I would say the end of July/August would be a time to contact. I remember reaching out around mid september before application season was in full swing

Nope, in the same boat

I say apply. I was in a similar situation where I wasn't sure if I was going to attend UNLESS I had funding from the uni. They send an email with details to apply and so I did. Ultimately I didn't attend this uni but knowing that this app was sent in for consideration can't hurt. Plus if you decide not to attend, then that uni can give it to another student - or whatever. But, yes-Apply. It's money

Congrats! Yeah that how my friends portal said too last year and she was admitted

Congrats!

Yes, like I said before, I had a few interviews with the archaeology side, but not sure if these were formal or informal. But considering that I am no where close to Rhode Island, Skype was the only option.

Congratulations!