scrapster

It really does depend on what you want to do after school. With an Anthro masters degree and some GIS skills, you can find jobs in various environmental fields. However, those jobs may be heavy on the GIS and have only an indirect connection to anthropology. An Anthro PhD is inherently a research degree. You can work outside of research, and outside of academia, but it's a LONG road to get there. I've also found that, unfortunately, many socio-cultural Anthro profs have no clue about how to apply the discipline outside of academia, or what anthropologists can even do in non-academic settings. So don't be surpised if you feel cut off from the "real world" of environmental issues (policy, advocacy, etc.) if you enter a PhD program. I should probably note that I graduated from a masters program with a heavy focus on applied anthro. With the standard anthro skillset, most employers don't know how to use you. On the other hand, it's easy to oversell yourself, because we're trained to think that cultural knowledge is key to doing anything and everything. (Yes, you can learn to fix a copy machine using an anthropologial approach, but non-anthros can do it just as well!) In the end, I found myself tracked back into doing research, but prevented from advancing at my job because I didn't have a PhD. In the end, if you want to work outside of academia with either a masters or a PhD in anthro--you have to be very creative in seeing opportunities and selling yourself. This is especially true if you want to live somewhere in the US other than New York City or Washington,DC. A PhD obviously is the right degree if you decide on a purely academic career. But either way, it really pays to bulk up on complementary skill sets (like GIS, stats, etc.). Folks withAnthro degrees are a dime a dozen. Prove that you can DO something with your knowledge and skills and you'll do fine--because the diploma itself won't open many doors for you.

Good to know. Thanks! They're requiring me to attend job counseling in the next month where I'll develop a career plan This should be interesting. Now we'll find out if the system is really meeting the needs of the diverse folks who are currently unemployed, or is just treating everyone according to stereotype. I'm tempted to approach the whole thing from an anthropological perspective...

Just curious--does anyone know when a new student's enrollment in a program actually begins? I have a gap in my employment from when I was let go from my job and when school begins. I'd like to collect unemployment for as long as I'm eligible (it really helps with the kid and mortgage!) But it also seems that enrollment in school is a disqualifying factor. Any ideas or hard facts?

Just heard from UMass Amherst--accepted off the wait list!!! Super excited. I have a few logistical decisions to make, but things are looking very good. If any other UMass acceptees visit this thread, send me a message through my profile. I'd like to compare notes

There was a big thread on the Cafe about UMass last year. Not much talk this year (though lots of folks reported acceptances on the results page.) Anyone out there mulling over or waiting on a decision from them, besides myself?

I guess that depends on what makes them "less than ideal" for you. Of course, we all have our own ideas about what makes a place desirable. From my perspective, all of the places you list in your sig are eminently livable--but then again, that's my perspective. I tend to think location is most important if you plan on staying in the area after school. If not, the question is, can you get through X number of years there? Deciding factors on that level could be things like: distance from family & friends, climate, social/cultural comfort, safety, cost, etc. On a personal note, after chasing school and jobs around the country for two decades, my wife and I were tired of living in places didn't like. I chose a school (professional MA program) based on location and funding and we set down roots. It's worked out well in terms of our careers, but when it came time to apply for PhD programs, I didn't want to leave the area and had to put all my chips down on one school. Luckily it was a good fit, though I'm still waiting on the admissions decision. so, lots to consider. Good luck!

Received a very nice email from the Admissions Director confirming my wait-list status and acknowledging the time constraints that I face. Given that, she mentioned the department would get word to me quickly when a final decision is made, hopefully in the next few weeks. The timing MAY just work out to not close any of my options prematurely. As for my chances of admission---"reasonable." I'll take that ray of hope!

I randomly checked my application status at UMass today and saw that I was officially wait-listed. The change came the same day I sent my inquiry email, so I suspect I may get an email response too after the holiday. It would be great to have more information (or just be accepted outright ), but heck, I'm honored that I'm still in consideration. Fingers crossed!

Good to hear that other profs are counseling similar actions. Otherwise, I could easily get into the "Who am I to be asking for special treatment or inside information" frame of mind. Luckily, I've always been courteous--with both the secretaries and the faculty. (I've been around enough academic departments to know that secretaries are often the key to unlocking many things, and they are often not treated well and paid even less. A little sincere kindness goes a long way!) Now, I plan to just enjoy my weekend--taking the two week old for his first stroll outside!

Well, I sent "the email" describing my situation to the grad secretary on Friday (trying to be respectful of the chain of command). Of course I didn't ask for a decision, but simply any information that might help me navigate the choices before me. Remember, I'm not even sure I'm on the wait list, although all logic points in that direction. Hopefully I'll hear back next week. Of course, I'm completely second-guessing myself now. It didn't help when my sister, a professor on a PhD admissions committee, grimaced slightly when she heard that I sent such an inquiry. Geez, I've worked on campaigns where I've given less scrutiny to every word I've written and every action I've taken. I can see how the the grad school application process can easily veer away from constructive self-assessment to much less healthy places. Hang in there everybody!

That thought has crossed my mind too. In the end, they still thought pretty highly of you if you make the final cut. And who knows, you may end up outperforming everyone else by a mile once in the program.

Again, great advice! It's really cool that non-academics can submit journal articles and conference presentations. The flexibility and crossover between research and practice is one of the aspects of Communications that's so alluring to me. So that route, as well as online or non-matriculated classes, is definitely on my radar. (Though non-matric classes at UMass are quite pricey per credit.) I already have a social science masters too, so methods shouldn't be a hurdle.

Thanks so much fanon-fanatic. It's very good advice. I really wish I had found this forum earlier. It would have improved just about every aspect of application experience! As you know, applying to grad school is such an all-consuming and personal process, it's really easy to fantasize about its outcome as being the best and only option. Plus, I must admit, having a newborn makes the future prospect of a secure, tenure-track position wonderfully alluring. So, it's good to step back. And BTW, LOVE your handle! I remember reading the Wretched of the Earth back in undergrad. A poli sci prof from Uganda had assigned it for a class. All the other profs were shocked--they thought it was pretty hard core stuff

Okay, I really need some advice now. After due diligence in making contacts with faculty and the DGS at a school, I had pretty much decided to hang back and let the decision process take its course. On a visit with the grad director/my POI in early December, he mentioned that I would likely hear back on a decision in March or April. Frankly, part of my own decision to hang back was a feeling that I may have contacted the department too much early-on. I'm new to the discipline and used email with faculty and two campus visits for fact-finding. (Aside: I should have viewed the visits more as candidate interviews, but I was regrettably naive and genuinely just looking for information.) Overall, people were extremely helpful, and I learned invaluable things about the department and the field that I could have never have found out otherwise. Fast forward--the first round of decisions went out last week, and I have not heard anything. All signs point to the wait-list. But now, my hand is being forced. Despite all attempts at delay, I have to decide on an important job offer NEXT WEEK, before I even hear the final outcome of all my efforts to apply to grad school. Since the job is high-profile, taking it would be at least a one or two year commitment. Could I do both the job and grad school? Possibly, but I think both sides may frown on that. So, what do I do? The process is the process, right? I don't think that applying pressure or appearing desperate will really help my cause at all. And from what I can tell about the wait-list, it often does take until mid-April to resolve itself. AArrgh!

Yeah, U Washington has been pretty brutal too. I just have to keep reminding myself that the Results Survey isn't a representative sample. If it was, the entire world was admitted to UMass last week while I'm twiddling my thumbs still waiting to hear from them.