theancient1

Good points and positive thoughts. Since composing the OP, I moved closer to defining my focus. My research focus is vacillating between medical and biomedical/behavioral ecology. Thanks!

I thought I knew exactly what it was I wanted to do, but I threw myself off track thinking "practically" and worrying about the job situation, which was compounded by self observations of my present "forms of capital". It's the what would I love to do in an ideal dream world vs. what do I think will actually lead to work. Age and life circumstance exacerbates the dilemma. I want to know ahead of time that my preparation counts. If you are in the under 30 group and unattached, I would say 'don't worry' about getting the job... just keep floating and doing fellowships and postdocs until you find opportunity.

Four years ago, after an unexpected anthropology bug bite, I decided that I would change my career path and add a new undergraduate degree. Now I think I may have missed the boat on developing a solid background, and worse yet, I may have been to flighty and idealistic in my choice for a new career. I realize this now as I am passing the midpoint of my second semester in a terminal Masters program. During my second undergraduate degree, I failed to take advantage of early advisement as it concerns specialty development and class selection. I asked for help near the end of my studies, but did not really get any solid advice on building my experiential background. My grades were exceptional, but I failed to build up field experience. I treated the degree like I would have treated an education or some other book-based degree: I came to class, took notes, went home or to work, then aced the tests. 3.5 years later, all I have is an excellent "generalist" record. I enjoy everything from paleo, to forensic anthropology, archaeology and complex societies, and medical and economic anthropology. The close I stay towards materials and using both quantitative and qualitative data, the better off I feel. I already know that pure socio-cultural anthropology is not my strong suit. I enjoy reading cultural anthropology, but I don't feel confident doing it, and I am not multi-lingual. What threw me off the trail? Job concerns. After the 2008 economy fallout, my choices had to change. I needed to validate my new choice and make it work for a career. So I began to use career outlook to guide my choices. Given that I need to get serious now and commit to a sub-field, yet balance it with career prospects and a busy non-traditional student life, I seek your help. Which sub-field sub-areas can offer the following for older non-traditional students (over 30): 1) A sub-field where I can enter and work now knowing that I will probably only work for 35 years before retiring or being forced to retire. 2) Less continuous time "in the field". I have a 9 year old son and some other extended family that I can't part with while I go on site for 2 years of ethnographic work. 3) Work and job prospects are more numerous 4) Something that will not require me to add a lot of additional coursework in order to catch up to peers who already have the ideal background like those in Genetic Anthropology who graduated with undergrad degrees in Biology and Genetics. PS - I did not direct myself well during the first semester, and I have no official "mentor", I'm not a TA, and I am not working in someone's lab. I have little in the way of direct advice opportunities or hands on career guidance. Thanks!

Second Americorps or PeaceCorps for cultural people.

You may be able to find some UK schools who are willing to work with you on a limited residency program. I've seen some schools that only require one year of residency before letting you loose (more likely if you already have a Masters) and some that require 3 years of coursework (Emory). I would like to know about this too. If I were starting over and had this figured out when I was 23, this would not be an issue and would be preferable. Since I have attached life responsibilities and less time for new career building, it becomes more of an issue. If you are younger and free to move, take the plunge.