huntress

OK everyone. I did some research and I'm settling on getting my MA in bioarch. at Illinois State University. I was looking at the bios of the faculty and I'm really interested in Fred H. and Maria Ostendorf. Website here. Does anyone know if the program is impacted? As for my background, I have a 3.3GPA currently (plan on making it better--transferred with a 0.0GPA, so RN only last quarter's grades are calculated; I received two A's, a pass in my internship and a C from a class that everyone failed in). I plan on getting a 4.0 this quarter. I was wondering if being a minority would also help my chances? I know that being an URM helps for med school, but I'm assuming not so much for anything else? I know that a lot of schools like to pretend they're not doing affirmative action, but it definitely feels like they are a lot of the time. Especially since I'm a Black female. What do you think? I am a hard worker and I am working and communicating with my school's faculty, so I hope that helps my chances. I'll start studying for the GRE after winter quarter.

So, I am assuming I should get my MA at another school (which is something that I would actually prefer doing) and apply for a Phd program at another school?

Hey everyone, I am new here, etc. Anyway, I am currently a third year at UCSB (I am a physical anth. major/minoring in art history) and I would really like to get either a MA or Phd in bioarch. Problem is, I am not 100% sure what I would like to focus on--although I am interested in paleopathology as well. I was a transfer student, so I do not have a lot of research under my belt, but I have done two internships. One working in my department's repository and another one doing lab work/analysis. I spend the majority of my time sorting through unsorted bags/boxes, identifying: artifacts, otoliths, etc., and sorting the remaining material. And some other things as well. I am also a research assistant. I'm helping a grad. student conduct research work for psychological anthropology. I honestly enjoy my "job" and I would love to actually work in academia. As for schools, I am not sure at the moment. I am currently researching faculty members at different schools. Although, I do love my current school, I feel like I am not a perfect match with a lot of the faculty. I am not that interested in Latin America or Native Americans. Although, I do believe that UCSB has a good physical anthropology department. But I feel like I should "branch out". Lab work has made me realize that I do love bioarch., but I also do love art history (I know this is beginning to sound ridiculous, but I do think anth. and art history relate to one another in some way). I am mostly interested in prehistoric peoples & the Old World. Mostly Africa and Mesopotamia to be a bit more specific. I am desperately trying to morph everything that I want to do, but I'm having a difficult time. Please advise? Also, I am mostly looking for schools outside of California because the cost of living is way too high.