Bschaefer

Isn't this unethical to begin with?

@PMJ I think it’s pretty normal for doctoral students to learn a new language while in the program. For me, I’m learning Quechua and Aymara since I work in Peru and not many High Schools and Uni’s offer those courses haha. So for the most part, I’ve done some stuff in country and also have found workbooks that I go through to help keep it up. Sure, it’s not going from Spanish to Japanese, but I think even if you could audit the first few class sections to get down the characters, sounds, and pronounciations - then it will be much more easy than attempting this on your own. 
My MA advisor starting taking spanish courses in her second year of PhD. Sure, her accent isn’t the best buuuuut she’s fluent and actively conducts research in Peru. I would even suggest trying to get the critical language scholarship and study abroad in Japan - that way you’ll be forced to speak it. Also Duo Lingo in pretty good! I actually just started with the Japanese course and it’s really simple and enjoyable. 

Yeah, it's pretty common.  I just spent the last 6 weeks taking courses in an indigenous language while doing preliminary fieldwork.  In fact, my department encourages PhD students to use the summer in between 1st and 2nd year to learn a new language that will help with fieldwork.

@PMJ I think it’s pretty normal for doctoral students to learn a new language while in the program. For me, I’m learning Quechua and Aymara since I work in Peru and not many High Schools and Uni’s offer those courses haha. So for the most part, I’ve done some stuff in country and also have found workbooks that I go through to help keep it up. Sure, it’s not going from Spanish to Japanese, but I think even if you could audit the first few class sections to get down the characters, sounds, and pronounciations - then it will be much more easy than attempting this on your own. 
My MA advisor starting taking spanish courses in her second year of PhD. Sure, her accent isn’t the best buuuuut she’s fluent and actively conducts research in Peru. I would even suggest trying to get the critical language scholarship and study abroad in Japan - that way you’ll be forced to speak it. Also Duo Lingo in pretty good! I actually just started with the Japanese course and it’s really simple and enjoyable. 

Nvm, I was able to restore an old version
 

You have a strong CV - VISTA and Peace Corps will look especially good to anthro programs.  You don't need publications or a Master's thesis to get into PhD programs, but you will need to be more specific about a potential research topic - geographic region, especially.  If you have the money for it, I would suggest applying to a mix of PhDs and MAs.  You'll probably get some PhD offers, but a Master's might be a good route as well in terms of honing your research topic.  This comes with a giant caveat - only do a Master's if you get funding!  I'm not sure which programs have funding available, but there's more info about that elsewhere in the forum if you care to find it.
If you're interested in MedAnth, you might also check out the PhD programs at WUSTL, UCSF, UCSD, and Brown.  Best of luck with your applications!

I can't speak to other people's experiences, but after I accepted my offer last year I got a quick note - maybe two sentences - from my DGS confirming that they had seen my acceptance and were looking forward to seeing me in the Fall.  I didn't hear anything else from them until mid-June, which is when they sent along a giant packet with orientation information, insurance/tax forms, my first TA assignment, etc.

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

@EvelynD Congrats, Washington State is a great program.  Have fun in the PNW!

Thank you! I chose the Cultural Anthro program at Washington State University. I ended up having one other acceptance and one position on a waitlist. 

@Bschaefer Congrats!  Amazing program, awesome location, and of course I'm super jealous that you get to collaborate with the Field Museum!

Congrats, @Bschaefer!!!!!

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

I literally just did the same thing. It was a very hard decision to choose which program would be right for me in the long run. It honestly felt like I was breaking up with the POI and the university. 

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

Thanks! I’m going with University of Illinois at Chicago/The Field Museum of Natural History joint PhD program!

@Bschaefer @EvelynD So happy this cycle worked out for both of you!  Which programs did y'all end up choosing?  

I literally just did the same thing. It was a very hard decision to choose which program would be right for me in the long run. It honestly felt like I was breaking up with the POI and the university. 

I've joked with friends that applying to PhD programs has been the weirdest dating game of my life.
I thought interviews with POIs would feel like job interviews, but instead they felt more like "Do we have compatibility?" first dates. Meeting my POIs lab members felt like meeting the family-in-law, to see if they like me. Leaving my current supervisor and school for another program felt like breaking up with them (and I felt weirdly guilty applying to other programs and having the interviews in the first place).
...and then you go from a "first date" to a 5-year commitment.  It's just all around weird.

Me too! I'm so glad you guys feell the same way, I thought it was just me!

I literally just did the same thing. It was a very hard decision to choose which program would be right for me in the long run. It honestly felt like I was breaking up with the POI and the university. 

I literally just did the same thing. It was a very hard decision to choose which program would be right for me in the long run. It honestly felt like I was breaking up with the POI and the university. 

I literally just did the same thing. It was a very hard decision to choose which program would be right for me in the long run. It honestly felt like I was breaking up with the POI and the university.