modernity

It is definitely possible if you have the research/publications/recommendations/sop/gre (or some combination thereof) to off set a lower GPA, and if you have legitimate reasons for why its low (i.e. you were hospitalized during a semester). There are quite a few schools I have seen (I'm in an entirely different department than you of course) where they will admit people conditionally to the program if you have a lower gpa than they prefer. I've also seen a few (very few but still there) schools with a 2.8 rather than a 3.0 requirement. So its out there, but it certainly will make the process harder for you. Also, to balance out this statement, I will also say that there are plenty of people with the above qualifications and a decent GPA that aren't accepted. I would say just make sure that the fit for the program is perfect, you've gotten into contact with the professors at the universities you are interested in, and that you do everything you can to use your time between now and then to improve your credentials - I don't know much about biotech, but I assume getting in some more research couldn't hurt you, and neither could the certificate you are planning on getting.

I am still picking schools. I was originally going to apply to PhD programs, but now I don't feel like my stats are good enough. I think I may just apply to MA programs, and hope that I can improve upon things there. I need to hurry up and decide though!

I am with you on the SOP writing. I've written one before, I helped friends with theirs last year, but when it comes to writing mine this year...I just keep scrapping everything I write. Its so frustrating. I am sure it will be fine in the end. I just really want to be done with the process early this year, and so I am putting a lot of pressure on myself to get it done. I guess its just a matter of getting through everything piece by piece and breaking it down. Perhaps trying to write a paragraph here and there?

Wow. That list is VERY helpful. I'm using it to fill in the blanks of my list, since there were some things I forgot. I think that will definitely help with my organization issues if I use excel and put it up somewhere easily accessible. Good tip!

Anyone else? I know its early in the process, but I think that might be why. I just have such a long list of things to do: retake Gre, finish writing sop, revise SOP (repeat 20 times), order transcripts, contact professors, etc. I am also applying to quite a few universities, so that multiplies the process as well (as I am sure it does for most of you!) What are you doing to get yourself organized (How are you keeping all the dates, universities,etc. straight)? What are you doing to relax/focus? Any suggestions for SOP brainstorming/revision?

I don't think that you can make a catch all statement like you are kfed. I think professors and their departments are like any other group of people in the world. Some of them are certainly going to be emphatic that all of their students have very solid goals to become professors (despite how unrealistic this has proven to be given the current university system, and the path it seems to be going down) and others are going to recognize the current state of the university, the economy, etc. and be more inclined to accept students with whatever ambitions they may have. Making sweeping statements about what departments want is a very difficult task at best. There are a few programs that I am applying to this year that have statements on their applications page that say things similar to "while we usually encourage our students down the academic path, and will certainly support that, it is also our duty to point out the few academic jobs available and the large pool of applicants competing for them. Given these circumstances, we encourage students to consider positions outside of this realm..." So I have to say that I've seen direct evidence to the contrary, though with some other programs you may be exactly right. I certainly don't think you should be plugging in every possible idea you've ever had for your future into your SOP, or debating which path is the correct one. However, as with every aspect of the SOP a potential candidate needs to research the schools philosophy, talk to advisers there, etc. and feel out what the school's opinion on this might be.

I wouldn't worry just yet. A few things - if you're in touch with this professor, ask them how seriously they take the GRE, and given your other stats should you retake it? If you need to retake it then do so. It is possible to change your score. Did you study before you took the first one with princeton review, or a similar book? The GRE is a somewhat unique test as compared to other standardized ones, and there are some tips and tricks you can use to help improve your score. Those books tend to have "hit lists" of words that are frequently used in the GRE that can also help you out. I think these items are far more helpful than the practice tests... I did exceedingly well on the practice tests that ETS offered, and bombed the real thing when I took it. I know some people get the same scores regardless..but I've also heard a number of people that practice scores are quite a ways off from the real thing. You're being too hard on yourself. Get some more information, perhaps try again, etc. You still have options!

I had professors suggest 4 or so- but I am applying to about 10, I think. I am also applying to a mix of PhD and MA programs. Normally I wouldn't go so high, but I'm paranoid about the economy and other things playing into my chances as much or more so than my credentials. I've taken my time off from school, and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I would be happy completing an MA first if that is what I needed to do to strengthen my chances at a PhD.

Glad to see more people talking on here, I was beginning to feel a little lonely! Are you all applying for PhDs, MAs, or a combination?

At the first university I went to for undegrad I became very ill, and had to drop out only about 2 months into the semester. I have no credits from this institution - do I need to report this when I apply to grad programs? Some schools say "report all universities from which you received credit" and others say "report all universities" - I am not sure whether the "with credit" is implied on the second one or not. My instinct is to say I don't have to, but I also don't want to be tossed out on something simple like that.

Thanks! I am sure I will need some help during this process and it would be nice to get it from someone who has gone through it.

I think my scores took 15 business days or so...so it was a few weeks before I got them, and then it takes ETS a while to send them to the school, have them received, processed etc. On top of that, I have heard that ETS fails to get the test scores to the universities on occasion so you want to allow time to send them again. That said I think you are okay with the time frame you have, I took mine in November, with a deadline of mid January last year, and everything went smoothly.

I am still narrowing down universities. I'm studying something I guess is a little obscure - ie not SE Asian, or African related..so I think it might be a little harder for me to find the perfect fit. I have taken the GRE but I was sick and bombed it, so I'll be retaking it next month (with lots of flash cards and studying in between). Do you know where you're applying yet?

My list is huge right now, I really need to whittle... I'm thinking about using things like how many professors the dept. has in my area (the more the better in case someone leaves), geography ( a bit arbitrary... but being somewhere I like will only make grad school better), etc. I think though, before I make it too small, I want to contact the professors and see which ones get back to me, how interested they seem, etc. I'm hoping to get it somewhere under 10 as well.

I only applied to two last year, and feel like this was one of my bigger mistakes in the application process due to the current economic climate, and other factors that I could have been unaware of - ie the program just couldn't admit that many, no funding, etc. So I plan on applying to more. What's the number you are thinking about applying to this year?

Don't wait until November. Take it in October at the latest, especially if you want the option to retake. I took mine in November, as I am usually a good "test taker", and thought I would do fine on the first go around. I ended up being quite sick the day of my test (and was not allowed to bring kleenex cough drops or anything in with me because of regulations), and I bombed it. However, it takes a few weeks just for them to get your scores back to you, and then on top of it those months in particular are very packed by other students scrambling to take/retake/seniors taking it during their winter break. So by the time I got everything back, and I saw I needed to retake it, there were no spots left in the time frame I needed and I was stuck applying to schools with crappy GREs that I am positive I could have improved on a day I was actually healthy and aware! Its little things you're not expecting that can cause problems for you on standardized testing.

I think this is one of those could help, but won't hurt situations. None of the programs I have seen so far have required stats. However you may want to check into your specific anthro field/topic of choice to verify this... I took a social science stats course in my undergrad and it found it helpful just to me personally, even if quite a bit of it was a review.

Anyone out there applying for Fall 2010? I've just started really narrowing down schools I'm interested in... and wondering if anyone else out there is doing the same?

Are you applying for an MA in art history? Museum studies? i know quite a few schools have a "museum" path and an academic path... which one of them are you planning on aiming for if you attend an MA this year? That might change whether or not you need foreign languages, and other aspects of the process.

Are there any of you that never heard back from one or more of your schools? I applied to one university all the way back in January, who supposedly sent out rejections to people in March according to the results page (I assume I was rejected), and I still have not heard. I hate to sound bitter... but I paid a pretty hefty sum to have them consider my application. Its fine with me if they don't feel I fit their program but really though, how hard is it to plug my name into a program and print out a form rejection letter and send it to me sometime over the course of 6 months? I just feel its pretty crass to never reply. I can't even be sure they ever looked at my application.

I agree... I think all you really need is a strong SOP. You pretty much have everything else checked off the list. Now its just really a matter of fit with the programs you're applying to, and that you know better than any of us.

I second the above question. Also, would these professional programs look down on the idea of me getting another MA first? If I were to get my anthropology MA, get some work experience in, and maybe in 3 years or so come back and apply for an IR degree..is that possible? I think I have seen a few people with other masters degrees...but I am just curious how common it is/how it is looked upon if anyone has that info.

The practice GRE scores seem to be misleading in some cases... I know there are some people who got almost exactly the same as they did on the practice, but it seems that there are quite a few people who don't even come close. I was getting consistently high scores on the practice, and then bombed my first take of the real thing. I was sick the day of the test, and I know that can have some effect on things... but ugh!

Yeah...there are some things I think I could somehow tie into my SOP about my life/work, that might help...I've spent quite a bit of time in europe as I still have family there (i am 2nd gen), and I also spent my time at the museum interpreting aspects of policy/international relations to the general public (but this of course lends itself more to academics than practical). I just can't help feeling like I'm grasping for straws. It is something that I am very passionate about doing though, and part of me says if I want it bad enough I can make it happen (very cliche, I know). I guess for now I will just try to really narrow down what I am interested in, consider the academic side of things, and keep looking for schools that tend toward the anthro side of things. I have found a few IR/IS programs that rely heavily on their anthro professors/depts and am thinking this might be something for me... Thanks for the input. Anything is helpful.

practical.