[Current grad students: how many tries did it take?]

6 hours ago, enfp said:

I came across this article on rejections by an anthro PhD candidate who was successful this cycle, it might be helpful: 

https://qz.com/950763/how-to-get-into-graduate-school-according-to-current-phd-students/

I know it's kind of trite, but the author does lay out the basic skeleton of what one should be thinking about. Also, as many have said - your GRE only matters to the extent that it's not terrible, what's important is fit, SOP and recs - my GPA in undergrad was terrible (3.16) but an MA degree from Columbia, good recs and a strong SOP helped me get into a top program this year. And yes, sometimes, it's just really horrible, horrible luck. Good luck, and don't get down - I have a friend who got into UCLA on their third PhD apps round, and another who was rejected from everywhere in his first round but in his second round (after completing an MA) he made it to 3 top unis including Chicago and Duke. 

I met Levi at Columbia's visit weekend!

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

4 hours ago, DancinFool said:

Hey guys,

What's the protocol for asking for feedback on applications? 

I was rejected from the PhD programs at my top choices, but several of them offered me admission into their MA programs, which is encouraging (though I won't be accepting any MA offers.) Obviously I want to improve my PhD application for the next time around -- what's the best way to get feedback from those departments?

 

You could try emailing the DGS at these departments, or perhaps specific profs you want to work with. Send them your SOP and writing sample, explain your background, and ask for feedback. The SOP is super important-- basically don't assume they'll know who you are, and what your application entailed. There has to be something for them to read and thereby provide feedback. 

If I may ask: is there a reason why you don't want to do the MA? It sounds like from your first post way back, you'd only be interested in the MA if that would allow you to enter a PhD program as a 2nd year student (which I've never heard of).  I guess the question is, why the rush? Especially if you only graduated with a BA back in 2013. Plenty of people enter grad school a few years out of undergrad. Btw, you might want to look at applying to Ox/Bridge Masters programs as a backup. They're quick-- 1 year. I had a TA that did that in order to convert her history degree for PhD apps. 

[TAship at UCSD?]

@transmodalnut I wouldn't recommend going to any PhD program-- even if your POI is your academic soulmate-- without funding. As you mentioned, this $20K TAship tends to last one year, in which case, you have to consider how you will manage the remaining 5-6 years financially. I would ask your POI if they can try to obtain more than a year's worth of funding before attending. Honestly, I feel rather bothered that he would encourage you to go, even with the knowledge that the program can't afford to fund you. That strikes me as selfish and self-centred. Has he thought about how you will pay rent, eat, etc.? Every single academic I've spoken to has consistently mentioned that one should never attend any program that isn't funded (maybe, unless your parents are super loaded, and even then, I'd pause because you would essentially be working your butt off without any compensation). The job market is as bad as it is, and going into debt over a PhD in anthropology frankly does not sound wise. I say this as a fellow anthropologist.

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

@ironshieldmaiden Hmm, I think the rule is that if your application is incomplete, they don't look at it. Did anyone specifically tell you that they're currently deciding now? Because it would be rather surprising, considering how offers and rejections have already been sent out. I doubt any department would be as kind as to seriously look at it now when the 2017 cycle is pretty much done at this point. From what I know, Columbia doesn't have a small committee (unlike Stanford) to make decisions, but instead gathers their faculty together, making it even more difficult logistically. It is possible that the reason why a decision hasn't been recorded is because the app was incomplete in the first place. The admin honestly should've contacted you earlier to say that the letter was missing. (MIT sent me an email a few days before Christmas warning me that they wouldn't look at my app until the last letter arrived). Definitely a shitty situation; I'm sorry.

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

1 hour ago, ironshieldmaiden said:

I'm still waiting on news from Rice and Columbia. Columbia told me I would hear something in late March. I haven't heard a single word from Rice and it's driving me absolutely bonkers. I've emailed the department as well as the director of graduate studies and I haven't heard anything back. I even tried calling the director of graduate studies and didn't get an answer. Should I just assume I was rejected at this point?

Columbia's unfortunately already made decisions. I was at the admitted students' event on Tuesday. They've accepted 9 people (8 sociocultural; 1 archaeology). I imagine the waitlist must have gone out as well? Can't confirm that bit though.

[Anthropology 1st month results]

23 hours ago, Briea said:

So does mean that U.Chicago, U.Penn., and Columbia U are still considering Fall 2017 applications? If you are not selected for an interview yet, are you still in the running? Does anyone have any advice?

 

Sorry to say, but Columbia's already made decisions.  The admitted students events happened yesterday, and are still going on today. 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

^I second that. Every single grad student I've spoken to said that it's a really bad idea to take out loans for grad school (be it an MA or PhD) considering what the academic job market is like. I don't have an MA, but majored in my general field of interest so my scenario is admittedly different from those who want to switch from, say, archaeology to cultural. However, I have noticed the program that I am most likely going to attend has taken in a few people with BAs who haven't had field research and hell, haven't studied anthro either. It sounds like the most important aspect of the application is the statement of purpose. When I visited the aforementioned school last week, the prof who interviewed me told me point blank that he thought I would have quite a bit of work to do with respect to environmental anthro (my undergrad project was on labour, and I hadn't taken any envt anthro classes) but said that those things can be learned (i.e. you can read books and catch up). What they ultimately evaluate you on is your potential-- can you think creatively and critically? Do you have good ideas? This is where having an interesting project is key. I know some people disagree, but I thought the sample Duke SOPs were useful. What I drew from them was dedicating 80% of my SOP to fleshing out my project, and imbuing the rest of it with more personal info (e.g. why I appreciate anthro) to show that you have a personality. 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

Is anyone in touch with Columbia? Heard anything from them? 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

1 hour ago, usiwenawasiwasi said:

Anth interviews for Stanford and UChi seem to have been sent out and there are some Toronto acceptances posted.... so I'm gradually losing hope/increasingly refreshing my gmail.

 

THIS PROCESS IS THE WORST!

I think the stanford interviews (9 slots) were for archaeology though. I have a feeling cultural does things separately. Looking at older records, they seem to have around 13-15 cultural interview slots. 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

12 minutes ago, giselle baron said:

Hey woooww!! Congrats! I feel like it is one of my good fits but I haven't heard a word yet. May I ask if it is a personalized email or a mass one? Congrats once again! Apparently it is a time to celebrate!!!

It was a personalised email from the DGS, Rena Lederman. She said official letter+ stipend details are to come. But invited me to the official visit day (Feb 24th). They wonderfully cover travel and accommodations.

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

Ahh just got into Princeton!!!

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

16 minutes ago, Boaty McBoatface said:

Thanks for the advice! I have the feeling they haven't seen my app yet, since it still says "materials needed". If they're going to issue interviews in a week, that's not a good sign for me. But thanks for letting us all know!

There's a thin line between "appearing too hungry" and showing strong dedication/motivation, and I guess it's easy to fall from one category into the other when stressed. But it's good advice! 

 I think "materials needed" probably means exactly that. You should double check to make sure that your application is complete-- has Penn received all your materials? 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

1 hour ago, Boaty McBoatface said:

Hi everyone! Thanks for this forum, it's good to see what kind of timeline one can expect to be contacted/interviewed and so on (and to share in the collective hysteria ). Congrats to those of you who have received offers, and good luck to everyone else!

I am applying again this year after a 4 year hiatus. I am particularly interested in UPenn, and my application status on applyweb still says "materials needed'. English proficiency status: needed."
I haven't taken any language tests, but the admissions office said I wouldn't need to as I already have two degrees from English-speaking institutions. In late December, I emailed them and they said not to worry, they would waive this manually when they started looking at applications. However, the status hasn't changed yet. Does that mean they haven't started looking at apps, or that mine has fallen through the cracks for some reason? I know I should just be patient, but I'm getting increasingly nervous.

Should I email them again? I don't want to be annoying. How likely is it that they just haven't started reviewing apps or haven't got to mine yet?

Any comments or tips would be greatly appreciated. (If anyone has been in touch with UPenn, or been in that situation?)

Thanks! And good luck to everyone.

 

 

I have a bit of inside info re: Penn as I graduated back in May, and still remain as an RA to one of the profs there in my spare time. I didn't apply but I can tell you that they will prob issue interview requests in a week or so. I would recommend NOT emailing them. I've been trying to resist emailing the schools i applied to as well because it's really not a good idea to irritate them. The Penn prof I work with advised me "not to appear too hungry" during interviews. 

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

@enfp can you let me know once you've received the official email from UCD? I haven't heard anything from them, so I'm assuming them once you get the official offer, it will translate into rejections for the rest of us who haven't heard back. Congrats btw!!

[Fall 2017 Applicants]

@homogenius I got the Yale interview. I'm in cultural though, and received the email from the "Coordinators, Doctoral Admissions, Sociocultural, Linguistic, and Medical Anthropology at Yale." Not sure how it works for biological anthro. 

[Skype Interview for George Washington Hominid Paleobiology program?]

This may sound silly, but what questions do people tend to ask faculty during interviews? Besides the usual questions regarding how advising works (whether you're assigned someone right away or if you have more time to explore), I feel as though the questions i really do want to ask might not be a good idea before getting accepted. Examples: funding, job placement rates, etc.

I'm not in paleobiology-- just asking in general!