Coyolxauhqui

I definitely agree with what has been said. A low GRE score can feel like the worst thing in the world. I am a horrible standardized test taker too and bombing the GRE the first time was like a huge blow to my already fragile ego/self-esteem. I would recommend that you take it again, but before doing so buy/check out and utilize some study prep material (books, workbooks, CDs, flashcards). I did and my score drastically improved. So it can be done. I would not suggest taking one of those ridiculously expensive prep courses. After having prepared thoroughly you will be much confident going into the exam and bet your score will improve too. Best of luck to you.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I did contact the programs that rejected me. My dream school POI unfortunately could only take one student and so he picked an applicant that had been one of his undergrads. He advised (along with the POI at my other dream school) that I needed to gain research experience and maybe try to get something published before I would make the ideal pick. Another school would have accepted me if I would have agreed to attend without funding (it was an M.A. program that only provided students with funding in their third year - which is crazy to me because aren't most M.A. programs supposed to be two years?). Anyway, the next school gave me the "many qualified applicants" line. At another of the programs that I applied to the professor actually left the department. So, before setting myself up for heartbreak by applying again this fall without having remedied my deficiencies I think I will wait until next fall to have another go around. By then hopefully one of my prospective internship/fieldwork/research opportunities will have panned out and I will feel more confident about applying to doctoral programs again. The whole process is so daunting to me now. I have really been knocked off of my pedestal. Well, I would really like to end by saying "thank you" again to everyone for their advice/comments. Best wishes, Coyolxauhqui

Hey Everybody, I would like to improve my chances for getting into a top-ranked doctoral program in bioarchaeology and I am not sure what I can still do about it this application season. In spring I received the disappointing news that I was not accepted into any of the PhD programs I applied to, just one M.A. program. The idea of doing the M.A. and acquiring a massive amount of debt and still not being certain of getting into great PhD program is just not something I can swallow at the moment. I have deferred this admission until fall 2012. Anyway, I was devastated because I thought I had a decent shot with two field schools, a 4.00 in both majors, a 3.97 overall, a GRE score close to 1300, a handful of academic awards, and membership in several academic honor societies. I realize now that I made many mistakes in the application process (not contacting the professors at the programs I was interest in, not scheduling visits to the campuses, and not spending enough time on my SOP's). I would definitely not make these mistakes when I apply again, but in my defense I was entirely new to the process and didn't realize how important these things were. Aside from these gross errors I also do not have any undergraduate research experience (not available at my former university) or publications, obviously. I do not think it would be worthwhile for me to apply again until I have boosted my GRE score and acquired the requisite research experience. So I think fall 2012 is out. I would like to spend next year taking a course or two as a non-degree student at one of the universities I would like to attend as a grad student and also gain more practical as well as research experience. I have contacted a few professors and museums about internships and research opportunities in the meantime, but either I don't get a response back at all or they tell me to contact them again later in the fall. Some of the internships and field schools that I feel are relevant to me are not yet accepting applications for next year so I am still waiting on them to become available. Currently I am feeling a bit lost and hopeless. Although I have all these plans for next year I am afraid that none of them will work out and I'll just be stuck in a crappy temp job in something completely unrelated to anthropology again. Any advice that you all may have is greatly appreciated. Sorry in advance for any mistakes in grammar, spelling, coherency, etc. that I have made. P.S. Nearly all the CRM firms in my state are several hours away from where I currently live and the only one that was even close enough to consider had nothing available when I contacted them.

Thanks for the info lepisostidae. I guess it isn't the end of the world, but at the moment it sure feels like it. Still, a tiny part of me still clings to hope.

Wow. That song was amazing. Boyfriend needs to hear this.

Ditto on True Blood. I can't wait for the new season to start. Oh and who can live without strawberry Häagen-Dazs? Not me. It is the only thing that gets me through this terrible waiting period.

I applied to the bioarchaeology program, but I still haven't heard anything. This makes me incredibly nervous.

Patrick Bateman: (Looking at a business card) Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark. Whenever people talk about business cards it always makes me think of American Psycho.

My mom so needs to read this...

Hey Anthros, I have been lurking on the forum for a bit and this is my first post. I am feeling pretty anxious like many of the rest of you. I applied to 6 programs this year. Perhaps I should have applied to more. I have already been accepted to two master's programs (one with no funding...ugh and the other with possible funding). My top three choices are Penn State, Arizona State, and Ohio State. I have also applied to the University of Pittsburgh. University of Tennessee at Knoxville did not accept me. I didn't really want to go there as I considered it as a backup and it wasn't a good fit. The rejection stung anyway though. I had many communication issues with them and I think they never got my updated GRE scores. So I have seen a few acceptances from these schools on the results board and I am wondering if I have not been accepted. I have not gotten any calls for interviews. I felt at first like I had a competitive application package, but now I am having serious doubts about my chances. Do any of you know anything about what's going on at these universities? Any information you could provide would be much appreciated. Thanks. - Coyolxauhqui