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I think it is as well, and maybe the only way the cash cow thing counts is if you do a master's abroad in an institution that doesn't have the best (or any) credentials. And that's not what I'm talking about doing. It's also not motivated by an immature to desire to continue living a college lifestyle - I haven't lived that since 2006 when graduated! Not to mention this particular program I could work with respected members of the field, which can only help if I can get them to write LOR's down the road.

I realize that, but thanks for pointing it out anyway

Thanks for the words of support! I think I know who you are and congrats on the acceptance to OSU! Great school. Glad to hear someone else has been through it and done it!!

I appreciate your points, and definitely take it to heart. At this point in time, however, I'm not ready or willing to give up and pursue something else. I want to be a college professor in this field, researching, working abroad, etc. The only way to achieve that is by getting my PhD. If my record is not up to par, then I should at least do something to ensure that it will be. Furthermore, most archaeology jobs that make any money at all require you to have at least a master's degree. Maybe I am being foolish and should figure something else out, but for now I'm going forward with plan B. Where there's a will there's a way.

Hunter College in New York, master of anthropology focusing on archaeology. I will definitely be continuing to work on two annual projects in the field while I'm getting the master's (unless there is are other options through the school). I will think long and hard about those GRE scores because I hate giving ETS more money!!! Haha, but yes you're right that could help as well.

Yeah, it's a liberal arts degree, and I'm not pursuing it in hopes of increasing my income. It is a terminal master's, but a lot of graduates from the program have gone onto places like Yale and Berkeley for their PhD's, but yeah it's a long shot. It's also instate tuition, which keeps the cost down, however you make some valid points. I am just unsure if my profile is competitive enough to enter a PhD program even with all the extra coursework and fieldwork I've done. Thanks for the advice.

Ok, so I'm facing reality that I got one reject and am fairly certain the other is on its way. Plan B: get a master's first. There is a reputable school I think I have a shot at getting in (application for fall 2010 not due until April 1st, already notified letter writers and started it). Say I am able to get accepted there, write a thesis and publish it, pull out with a 4.0 GPA, will that make me a competitive candidate for future admissions to PhD programs 2-3 years down the road? My stats are: 2 years community college GPA: 3.3 Bachelor's degree Purdue University 2006: 2.68 1 academic year as a non-matriculated student at University of Chicago: 3.8 3 years of field work, 1 of which in a supervisory role GRE: 660v/640q 6.0aw Will a great thesis, new recommendations, a 4.0 GPA as a master's student help make me a competitive PhD candidate? Has anyone done this? Screwed up as an undergrad, worked their butt off, got accepted and lived to tell the tale? Or should I just apply to work at McDonald's? (joke...hopefully). My field is anthropological archaeology.

If I get rejected from the last school on my list and have to reapply next year, I will be entering a PhD program at 28 as well. I read somewhere that the average age of a graduate student in the US is 32, so you are right on track. Best of luck.

I've already e-mailed the graduate secretary at the first school I have been rejected to asking her if the faculty gives advice to rejected applicants about what went wrong, and what to improve upon for next round. I plan to do the same if I get rejected from the other school I applied to, because I guess at this point I am holding onto the attitude of "it's not over until I say it's over" for dear life, hoping that helps. Hoping to God that helps. This sucks, but I'd rather know how to fix things, improve things, or just that they didn't have the funding for me and normally I would have been accepted rather than wallowing in self-pity. Which I have done for a few days now and it sucks.

Here is my story. I went to community college for 2 years, earned a 3.3, and went onto a very good state school. I floundered a bit, spent 2 semesters on academic probation and then found my calling: anthropology. I worked my tail off my senior year, and took on anthropology as a second major. Unfortunately, my last semester I overloaded my schedule and took 7 courses, 4 of which were at the graduate level. After midterms, I had 6 A's and a B!!! Then, my grandmother passed away and I had to miss over 2 weeks of class because my mother completely emotionally collapsed. Needless to say, I pulled out with 3 a's (2 of which in the grad level classes), 3 b's and a C. My GPA at graduation was a 2.68. My GRE's are decent: 660 quantative, 640 verbal with a solid 6.0 in the analytical writing. I knew that wanting to pursue graduate school in anthropology was unlikely with my poor GPA. I have spent the last three summers volunteering on projects that are close to what I want to specialize in. One project I was promoted to a supervisory position, and the professor in charge is a well-known, respected name in the field, who wrote me an excellent letter of recommendation. I also took a year as a non-matriculated student at the University of Chicago. I earned a 3.8 and was able to add an extensive 30+ page research project to my application package. I have two letter writers from my undergraduate days who REALLY believe in me, the aforementioned respected name in the field, and another PhD who worked on the project and has a tenure track position at a good school. I also visited all of the schools I am applying to beforehand, got acquainted with the faculty and potential advisers. In my SOP I mentioned my time as an undergraduate briefly, and stated that I had spent the past 4 years working to improve upon my record with the goal of getting into graduate school. So, I got my first rejection letter and am now on the edge of my seat waiting to hear back from the other. According to this forum, someone applying to the same department in the same sub-field has been notified that they are wait-listed. Does that mean that I'm rejected? Do I have a chance of getting in anywhere with that GPA, even though I've worked hard to show that I am capable of performing at the graduate level?

Thank you so much for posting this. I know it's an older thread, but I am sitting here driving myself crazy. I graduated with a 2.68 from a good state school. I didn't "discover my passion" until my senior year. Unfortunately, that year I piled on a huge plate of classes and was kicking ass and taking names, totally making up for the 2 years of wasted time and had 6 A's and a B (yes, 7 course load) and then my grandmother suddenly passed away, I had to miss 3 weeks of class because my mother completely fell apart emotionally settling up her estate. I pulled out with that tough semester as an undergrad with 3 a's 3 b's and 1 c and graduated. A lot of drama, which is not normal for me, I don't have ADD or depression of anything like that. I knew this wasn't enough to get into grad school and pursue my dreams and passions. I did a year at the University of Chicago as a non-matriculated student taking graduate courses in my field where I earned a 3.8. I have excellent recommendations, 3 seasons of field experience in a supervisory role, a research project I submitted, a carefully written SOP, and I even went in and met with the department over the fall and sent them thank-you notes and I am about to throw up thinking I am going to get rejected on the basis of my crappy GPA. I also have 1260 on the GRE with a 6.0 on the writing part, which may not be the best but it's respectable. Seriously, thank you, I'm not this neurotic in real life.

Got my first on Tuesday. Currently in a nervous state of flux between hope and impending doom for the other.

Frankly, I didn't want to move to Queens and face a 1 and a half hour commute one way everyday anyway. Plus if I don't get into NYU I can spend more time on my ass and get the courage to face the mean ladies at the food stamp office again. Yes, they are bullies and I am small. Oh yeah and I can continue to apply for meaningless jobs because my undergraduate degree is useless without at least a master's! OR, and this is better yet, I can do ANOTHER year as a non-matriculated student attempting to fix the damage that my undergrad GPA of 2.7 has done to my future! A year at U of C's non-matriculated program getting a 3.8 was apparently not enough! This time though, I'll have to take on MORE DEBT due to the 18 months of UNEMPLOYMENT! AND I can study to take the GRE AGAIN! because you know, the 1250 + 6.0 writing score just can't cut it! AND take the Chinatown bus on MORE semi-humiliating campus visits of trying to charm potential advisers before the whole process begins, for the third year in a row!!! hi5!