Coatlicue

If you have no choice but to apply, the only thing you can do is prepare your application materials the best that you can. Definitely submit three letters of recommendation and spend some time thinking about the research you'd like to do and your ultimate career goals before writing your statement. I'm wondering if you want to apply to grad school this round or if you're only doing it because of the stipulations of the McNair. If it's the latter and you're admitted to a few schools, perhaps they would let you defer (deferrals are rare, however). If anything, it would be good practice for future applications.

I think it would be a major red flag. Everything else in your application would have to be stellar to offset a faculty member saying she doesn't think you're ready. Having said that, I strongly advise paying attention to what your professors are telling you; it is probably for a good reason. Going to grad school because you aren't sure what to do next year, or because you're afraid of the unknown aren't good enough reasons. You have to be sure about your research interests, what you want out of a grad program, and that you're ready for the rigors of grad school, otherwise you risk burning out. This is especially true if you go right out of undergrad. Your professor is right that most undergrads are not ready for grad school right after graduating- this is because many undergrads aren't yet sure about their goals and interests and, as a result, end up struggling. I'm sure you're intelligent and perfectly capable of performing well in grad school, but if the people who know you academically are telling you to take a break, you should consider why they are telling you this. I, and your professors I'm sure, don't write/say this to dissuade you from ever going to grad school, but it sounds like you still have to figure out your ultimate aims and research questions before embarking on such a long and difficult path. Sorry if my response sounds harsh, but grad school is something you have to be really sure about, and at the moment you sound a bit ambivalent. Either way, good luck. I hope everything works out well for you, whichever route you take.

I worked in CRM for 4 years before grad school and I think it had an overall positive effect on my application. Working gave me experience in the field, GIS, writing technical reports, and I was able to read quite a bit on state and federal regulations and SE/SW archaeology. Ajtz'ihb is right that a program's response to your CRM experience will vary mostly depending on your region of interest, but I think you'll be on the right path if you can say something meaningful about your experience and how it's helped prepare you for grad school. For instance, my research interests are primarily heritage preservation in the Maya area, so although I'm not working in North America, I was able to apply my CRM experience to my research goals. I saw in another thread that you're interested in zooarchaeology, so any work you've done with faunal material during CRM would be promising to include in your statement. Also, I think anthro programs are aware that many archaeology/anthropology majors will have to get jobs in CRM after undergrad to stay in the field. It definitely won't be held against you, but your application will be much stronger if your experiences reinforce your ultimate goals. Good luck!

I have a question about SOP length. I’m working on my last application and realized last night that the graduate school website suggests SOPs should generally be no more than about 500 words. Since the department website makes no such limitation on length, and my SOP is currently about 970 words, how important do you guys think it is that I edit down my statement? I have a few days until the deadline, but I’d rather not have to lose 400 words. Ajtz’ihb, I’d be particularly interested in hearing what you think, since this is for the school I believe you’re attending. Thanks!

UPenn has received my scores. I would wait it out, especially if they've told you they have your scores.