Pius Aeneas

I went ahead and accepted UArizona's offer a few days ago. Now that this part of the process is over, I guess I need to start worrying about moving and all the headaches that come with it...

This is all very helpful info, Veilside. Of all the programs I applied to, UArizona really does seem to be the best fit, and it's good to know that the department has an excellent track record for sending students to top PhD programs.

So I'm really thinking that I'll accept UArizona's offer. I knew that UArizona had a strong Anthropology department, but as I've done more and more research on the school I've come to realize it's a great department, to the extent that I could imagine myself doing my PhD in Mediterranean Arch. there. I'm also wondering if it might be easier to get into the program having worked with some of the professors already.

Congrats Veilside!

Thanks!

The DGS at WUSTL was very clear, in addition to being very helpful and giving me extra advice about how to strengthen my credentials when I go on to apply for a PhD. Missouri just ignored me, and I haven't gotten around to asking BU. I guess it varies from department to department. There's nothing wrong with asking, though, and since the information pertains to me, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to find out.

This is a really good question. I've been wondering this because I'm debating on whether I should do a PhD in Classical archaeology or a PhD in Anthropology with a focus on Mediterranean archaeology. I have not heard back from FSU about funding. I know that there's a month left to decide, but I hope they say something soon. I really like the fact that Arizona has a strong Anthro dept, because I intend to stay connected to that field.

Wow, that's a long time to wait. They have a good program though, one of the Archaeology professors at my school did his PhD there.

So I got an email from UArizona saying I'd been recommended for admission to the Classics M.A. program, per confirmation by the graduate college. So I guess that means I'm in? Excited!

I'd guess that a decent number of Catholic schools still offer Latin, as well as college prep and private schools. I attended a public college prep high school and I took Latin for two years.

So I received my rejection for Boston University today, and University of Missouri a couple days ago, which just leaves UArizona. I also haven't heard anything more from Florida State concerning funding...what's the latest that schools usually send out info about funding?

That's what I thinking--I know some places do it the other way around, they'll accept students for the MA who applied for the PhD. Btw congrats to everyone who has recently been accepted to (some great!) programs.

That's good to hear. I really like BU's program, but the lack of funding for the MA is a bit of an issue. However, I've kept my undergrad debt pretty low, so the example you mentioned with footing the cost for one year if offered the PhD wouldn't be so bad. Btw, is this the only instance where you've heard about someone being offered a place for the higher degree?

I've only heard from Florida State. Still waiting on Boston University (archaeology), University of Missouri (art history & archaeology), and University of Arizona (classical archaeology). I know the last one's deadline was just ten days ago so I'm guessing it'll be at least a few more weeks.

Rendar, I really agree with your last point. I decided to do a double major as an undergrad, coupling Classical Civilization with Anthropology, as well as minors in French and Francophone Studies and Latin. My motto is "be interdisciplinary". Obviously you need your special area of expertise, but it doesn't hurt to be versed in a variety of areas. For Classics and Anthropology, if you focus heavily on the interplay between the two, you can probably find a position in either type of department.

I just want to say that I'm pretty sure that anyone who seriously considers going into the academic world at all has some kind of idea how bad the job situation is---give people some credit. I was given the same talk discouraging pursuit of a PhD by a professor in my department whom I asked for advice. I was essentially told that I wasn't serious and that no Classical Archaeology program would accept me, and that job market was so abysmal that I shouldn't even try anyway. Did I listen to this person's advice? Of course I didn't. I applied anyway and I've been accepted by one program so far. Someone else mentioned this already, and it personally applies to me: if you can't imagine yourself doing anything else, then go for it. I can't imagine doing anything else. I suppose it's different for me as I'm only 22 and going straight from undergrad, but again, if you cannot imagine doing anything else, then go for it.

Thanks, Veilside1! If I've been accepted at UArizona when the time comes to make a final decision on programs, I'll be sending some questions your way.

Thanks! Waiting for good news was really starting to get to me.

Received an email from Florida State today notifying me that I was accepted for an MA. I feel like I can breathe a huge sigh of relief, now that I know I've been accepted by at least one program. Still waiting on Boston University, University of Missouri and University of Arizona.

Rejected from WUSTL for Art History and Archaeology (Classical). Still waiting on Boston University, University of Missouri, Florida State, and University of Arizona. I heard about IPGRH last week. Someone else I know still hasn't heard anything so I am guessing that no news is good news at this point! That would be a super program and is suppose to have really cohesive cohorts! Good luck!!

Does anyone know when departments start notifying about M.A. applicants? Do they normally do it immediately after they've chosen their Ph.D picks, or is there a lull before they start notifying for M.A.s?

Does anyone know how long after their deadline UArizona starts notifying? Their deadline is pretty late (Feb. 15th).

You should definitely trust your professors' advice, especially if they know very well what all of your strengths and abilities are. I happened to have one extremely helpful professor guiding me through the process this past semester, and it made some things a lot easier. Good luck, btw!

I'm not familiar with Madison's programs, so I can't comment on that, but I can give my opinion on the recommendations; I don't know that this would be a good idea-- Here's my experience for this semester: I got the greenlight from my recommenders way back in mid-October and I provided them with a comprehensive list of schools and programs that I would be applying to, along with respective deadlines, a couple weeks after that. Despite doing this so early, they all waited until the extreme last minute to submit letters for the first deadline two weeks ago, except for one prof who submitted all of them within a couple days of each other. At the moment I have a deadline for two schools tomorrow and my two tardy recommenders have not yet submitted, nor are they responding to my emails. My recommenders are great people, they're just not punctual, so for me, applying to more programs this late in the game wouldn't be a question of "would they be willing to do it" so much as a question of "would they make the deadline". However, if your recommenders are NOT like mine, and you trust their punctuality and believe that they wouldn't be tiffed by you adding more schools at the last minute, then go for it. This is a sidenote but on account of the recommendation component of graduate applications, deadlines soon before or soon after the holidays are ludicrous in my estimation, especially when it's not uncommon for academics (at those I know) to travel overseas.

I've put in apps at the following schools, all for M.A.'s University of Arizona Florida State University (FSU) Boston University Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) University of Missouri Only the first two are specifically Classics departments, BU is Archaeology focusing on Classical and Mediterranean archaeology, and WashU and Mizzou are Art History & Archaeology programs that also include Classical Archaeology. I was sort of limited in terms of where I applied just because I don't feel I could make it into a top PhD program just yet. There's also the fact that I must have funding because I refuse to go into major debt.