mutualist007

What schools are you considering? There are a lot of good places really, but off the top of my head Pittsburgh has several good biological anth profs, and I would second any Penn school, then throw in Ohio State and Arizona.

I'm not very good at the more social skilled focus sides of things like how to build rapport early and quickly and how to ask for lab time and ask about funding. Horrible actually like the most terrible absorbed consumer asking for product guarantees. So I have met with profs a couple of times, but did not get far and I'm afraid I did not come across as committed and sure as I needed to be. It's already late in the first semester and I am doing well academically, and my grades are great. I may not be living up to my full potential since I am still sloppy with editing (typos). In terms of getting "connected", I am woefully behind. I have been very slow to build a "relationship" with the faculty members I am interested in working with. While my colleagues are already locked in for lab time/space and for TA'ing, I have yet to develop work/research prospects. I am a little worried now (and probably panicked) that I may find myself with research interests but no lab time and no ways to develop a working rapport as a graduate student. I guess I had assumed that they would seek me out or suggest something. I failed to realize that most of this was up to me. Faculty is wonderful, all of them and I would really like to work with them. So how and when do I ask about those direct questions regarding working in their labs and ask about whether or not I will be offered funding? (Note - Our funding is usually offered semester-to-semester, or definitely after your first semester.)

More power to you. I prefer to work with dry materials myself. But anyway, if I was only doing Forensics I would apply to UT Knoxville, some fine forensic specialty schools in England, and Mercyhurst mainly for the sheer number of Forensic Anthropologists they have on faculty. Mercyhurst Forensic Anthropology http://mai.mercyhurst.edu/academics/applied-forensic-sciences/undergraduate-studies/concentrations/forensic-anthropology/ UT Knoxville http://web.utk.edu/~anthrop/graduate.html It may be a tight market but it seems like JPAC (Defense Dept) is always looking. Train with Forensic in mind, get some other chemical skills under belt and prepare to teach. A lot of professors end up getting some aciton (legal examiner/forensic identification calls) on the side. More about JPAC http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/index.php?page=fsa

Nice profile pic. I need to get one myself. So far both my cross-listed classes utilize the extra reading -extra pages approach. The discussions are great and about 1/3 of the undergraduates in there gives a run for it. But I guess its not so much that I doubt the undergrads. Really, it's that I really enjoy the smaller seminar class more. There is more time for discussion and get in depth if the discussion is good. I like having more of a cohort feel to it and it really allows you to talk more to your peer group when you normally don't get a chance.

It appears that the majority of mine are. I kind of expected a few, but all of the sub-field specialty classes are cross-listed. The only classes that are masters only are the overall theory and praxis classes, and the directed reading/research classes.

I skipped the professional schooling but I wish I could work some in. I think that lab and research skills should be crucial and I personally admire/envy the medical anthropology people who came from nursing backgrounds.

I know this may seem like a naive question, but every program I knew before, and every program my friends and associates enrolled in from other disciplines, specially designed graduate classes for graduate students to take with their cohorts. I am really surprised and honestly kind of let down that I have to take classes with dozens of undergraduates. the only difference between the undergraduate and the graduate cross-class is that faculty has higher expectations for the graduate students, and the grads have to write longer papers. I feel like I could have gotten the same education as an undergraduate if I chose my current school for that degree. Is it the same everywhere in Anthropology or only at schools without PhD programs?

What is your primary major? Do a minor in Anthropology and tailor it to a specific subfield and include one foundations class.

If I was going fully full on forensic anthropology in the criminal justice system or Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (yes!), I would consider UT Knoxville or maybe Mercyhurst. The UK has some great MS programs as well. I know I am unintentionally leaving out other schools I simply don't know about that specialize in FA, but I know those schools house multiple forensic specialists. Bioosteology is another matter altogether.

I'm in the US and thanks for asking! I'll check out GraduatePlus.

I can submit to cultural orthodoxy so long as that group does not insist on keeping individuals in the dark.

Did anyone here send an application to Georgia State? If so, when do they usually reply? Should I try to rush another application through in a week as insurance, or just forget about it and wait?

I was accepted at a school; partial yea; but I am not eligible for funding. They simply don't have it. I asked about being waitlisted and applying for funding the next year but was told that funding comes with entry and if I entered without funding, I would not receive it at all. So what are the other options? Can I qualify for loans? Other fellowships from various other sources?

Thank you! Just what I was looking for! I'm down to my last hopes and terminal masters proving grounds route.

I really felt that my professors believed in my work, but now that I am out of school their responses seem very short and terse. I don't know if I've been more of a bother since asking them for references and advice or what. If a prof agrees to give you a referece, is that enough to assume it will be a good one? Would they agree out of niceness but then give a less than stellar LOR? I have been reminded of the cultural law and orthodoxy that says you must waive your right to see the letters, but honesty, it goes against my own belief in ultimate transparency. Nothing should be secretive, unless the matter is life or death or pertaining to doctor-counselor and patient confidentiality, or sole privacy. Since the LOR effect me and are about me, I believe there is just cause to allow these to be viewed. But in getting back to the original subject, I believe fit and a solid focused SOP can make or break an application.

I don't mean to be skeptical but why do you recommend this method? Just hazarding a guess, maybe it fits into less pages, reads more like an article, and maybe look more polished? Thanks btw

Thanks for the reply. Nice profile pic

I'll echo repeat what I've caught wind of elsewhere. 1. If you are aiming to teach at more prestigious universities at the top of the caste: Go more prestigious or move up the ladder, and then once you're in, makeshift your thesis to your interests if you can. 2. If you're like me and just want a job anywhere but plan on lifelong research that makes you happy, pursue your interests at the school that best meets them. Getting limited to a Masters program may have been a blessing in disguise for me, but I don't know that yet and won't until I've begun 3. Applied: The school that offers you the most hands on affiliations. A lot of middle tier and smaller schools are great for this need. I know this doesn't apply but technical schools are a good model for apprenticeships. Those are my thoughts. But as a neophyte, what do I know?

Do you recommend using a template for that, or do it manually? I'm using Linux w/ OpenOffice but it reads word files if links are out and about. Thanks!

I've seen some non-Grad and Grad school applications that ask for 5 pages or less, and some that ask for a narrative. The ones I'm working on now do not specify a length. Can I send something that is over 20 pages long and expect it to be read? If the writing sample is for a Master program, should I submit "original research" that I planned and executed, or is "review research" acceptable? My original research (more forensics and primatology based) does not specifically match my new research goals. The review research synthesizes material from bioarch, archaeology and ethnohistory, and is more attenuated to my current research goals. All recommendations are appreciated.

Very good example. Thanks! Your masters was paving the way!

I don't think I said anything about discussing admissions with profs, but maybe I read you wrong, and you were responding to your own thoughts. I have a grasp on what should be discussed; What I don't know is how soon should I reach out, and how much is too much or too little? Obviously if I'm calling everyday to talk, they will at some point shoo me away (not that I'd do that). There is also the point where contact has been too fleeting. Thanks and I'll consider the event/convention recommendations.

I've already made my attempts this year and have so far only received one response: a rejection. I'm asking now in anticipation of going at it again next year should a Masters fall-back not work out. I find it amazing that everyone can afford multiple conferences. If I could, I would be at all of them.

I'm resurrecting this in hopes of getting better results next year. If we successfully make contact and get a decent response, what should the next move be for further contact. I sound like a social inept, but I'm still not completely comfortable with prof level social interactions in regards to expectations and tolerance level. Being socially awkward is definitely why I'm not a "sociocult" person. I love economic anthropology, but feel I'll have better luck with subjects that don't talk or with materials that don't have social expectations. I'm guessing - Email - good response - followup with request to visit - .... then call or email before submitting?

RV I think the Exeter and Leicester options would be ideal for you as a follow up to a field school. Do you have a research question in mind? A Problem to solve? That may lead you to the best path. May... It's not working for me now though Now I have to hijack the thread: Can you tell me more about your research sources for Medieval Iceland? Any recommendations for US specialists besides the West Coast which I am about to list, and Penn State? Early Iceland is one of my research interests (in addition to near East and north China trade routes) and something I considered for research, though P. Walker, Byock, Erlandson and all have been on it.