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nmpps

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Everything posted by nmpps

  1. It sounds like you have a really strong head start on your application! First, given that your degree is in something unrelated to anthropology I'd double check the application requirements to make sure that the program doesn't require a BA or BS in anthropology or a related field. I have never really run into this issue and because your minor was in anthropology you should be good. Even so, it's good to double check. I also don't think that having broad research interests limits you to only MA programs, especially since you have loads of experience. I'd recommend reading through stuff written by your POI and ask yourself about what's missing and where you could improve upon their work. Regardless of program type (MA or PhD), I think it is important to have a well thought out, contextualized plan of research in your statement of purpose, even if its not specific because you'll flesh it out even more as you go on in your graduate career. Last, I personally hate the GRE and I think the only reason I could get away with my abysmal scores is because of my breadth of experience and high GPA. That said, if you feel like your overall GPA is weak, then retaking the GRE and scoring well in the quant section could offset it. According to other anthro graduate students, GRE is also super important but having a higher score can't hurt you. Overall, I think that there are so many factors that play into admission decisions that it won't be one thing that gets you accepted or rejected. By strengthening your application in its entirety you definietly increase your odds. I hope this helps! I'm not very good at giving advice so hopefully this is all clear!
  2. In January I was given an informal acceptance from my adviser, also mentioning that a formal acceptance would come later. It took a couple weeks to actually receive a physical letter in the mail and even longer to receive my funding offer. I think its mostly a matter of cutting through red tape: notifying the graduate school, printing the letter, mailing it... etc. Hopefully this helps put your mind at rest!
  3. Hello! I was wondering who will be attending Washington State University, if anyone? Haha! Have y'all worked out your living situation? Have you visited? Thanks!
  4. Hey! I realize this is a bit late, but one of my advisers previously taught at Texas A&M and told me some unfavorable things about the program there. I can ask her questions about it, if you want! ASU is awesome but funding is a bit iffy and highly competitive. Another great program (that ranks higher than ASU) is the University of Arizona, which has a pretty good Mayan bioarchaeologist. Funding here is also a bit iffy and varies between semesters. My friend (who also had iffy GRE scores) had to wait about a semester before receiving a TA-ship. I'm currently an undergrad here who works closely with the archaeology faculty and museum curators, so feel free to ask any questions. I was also in the same boat with GRE scores (like waaay worse than what you have been getting on your practice tests) and I still got accepted into my top choice so don't lose hope!
  5. I have applied to 4 PhD programs (I can't really afford the 5th MA program app fee... oops!). I'm archaeology, too! Although my experience is in the American Southwest/zooarchaeology. My experience is very similar to yours: solid experience/GPA with "ehh" GRE scores (156V/141Q/4W). I also had some solid LoR but your application seems to be a lot stronger than mine. I think my anxiety came to a head to day and fate decided to have some pity! I was accepted into one of my first choices so I'm super excited! Of course I'm still a bit anxious because I'm waiting to hear from my 2nd choice but I am a lot calmer now that I know my career isn't completely over. My friend who is getting her PhD relatively soon has always iterated that programs in anthropology truly emphasize "fit" in their acceptance decisions. I believe her a little bit more now! Good luck!
  6. @RevTheory1126 thanks for this. I just happened to receive my first acceptance today.
  7. So it looks like some people started getting informal notifications from the department as early as the 20th. My application still says "In review" so I'm super nervous right now...... but I don't want to contact the department because I do not want to make it seem like I'm impatient...AHHHHHHH, I'm so nervous.
  8. Hello there! I am a senior anthro. major, hoping to get into graduate school for SW archaeology. I am taking the GRE on Saturday, and I know know know it will be the weakest portion of my application. My practice tests put me around V:154 and Q:144. At this point, I've done everything I can do to prepare and standardized test taking is not my strong suit. Otherwise, I think I have a pretty strong application. My GPA in major is 4.0, in general it is 3.8 My letters of recommendation will include three well-ish known SW archaeologists: one is my internship advisor, the second my senior thesis advisor/field school instructor, and the last a professor I am currently working with I have done two directed research projects in my minor (linguistics): one doing research on SW languages to help create content for a SW linguistics class and the other making quizzes for a general linguistics class I have received excellent feedback on my writing sample I am doing independent senior thesis research I intern at a museum I work as an undergraduate research assistant in an archaeology lab If I account for my sub par GRE scores in my statements of purpose, will it be enough? My goals do not really include top-tier schools but rather schools that will mesh best with my research interests. Obviously retaking the test is always an option but it causes me so much anxiety I think I might throw up... Thanks for all the help!
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