latinist

Completely normal.

Three years is obviously an arbitrary measure. What one university covers in a semester may significantly vary from another university. For example, an advanced Latin course at my university may be Georgics 1-2 or Horace Epistles 1, an advanced Greek course may be Odyssey 5-8. I know that many universities in Australia and America cover much more in a semester and some less. Furthermore, one student may demonstrate a greater language aptitude and attain fluency ahead of their class and, even with less study, may excel those students who have undertaken three years. I am sure that those reviewing applications will have to consider the amount of reading each semester involves and the language aptitude of the applicant. It's the whole package. As I said, there are some graduate students at Cornell with less than three years preparation in one classical language.

Also, with UCLA, you have several options. There is a classics PhD program, an indo-European program and a separate linguistics program and applied linguistics program. Be careful that you match the department you apply to. The IE program which allows you to study quite a number of Indo-European languages is likely the best fit but the classics program allows you to take courses from the IE program too. Someone I studied linguistics with is currently undertaking a PhD in the linguistics program and it is extremely geared towards phonology and syntax and, something I find very curious, is cut off from applied linguistics (i.e. pragmatics, language learning and teaching, stylistics, discourse analysis, etc). The linguistics program definitely expects the equivalent of a major in linguistics and may not be the best place for you to apply.

Obviously the level of competition varies each year and individual programs will be more selective than others. The Latin and Greek Linguistics program at Cornell may require more of applicants. You can look at graduate profiles (and their CVs on linkedin) to gauge what level of language attainment the students had when they applied. One of the students listed there is in fact originally from my university and took Beginners Greek in her MA before going to Cornell, which probably reflects the flexibility of their language requirements. The actual language requirements of the linguistics specialisation are unclear to me. It says students should have reached an advanced level in both languages (which is usually three years of each). You however have four years of Greek, or doesn't Cornell recognise beginners Greek?

That does't sound like something to turn your nose up to. There are quite a number of Australians I know of with less Greek than that after finishing masters who were still accepted into Oxbridge and Ivy league universities to do their PhDs.

G'day, I am also interested in historical linguistics, particularly Latin and Greek. What exactly does an upper-level Greek course consist of? I am from Australia and I am hard put to think of many postgrad classicists with two and a half years of advanced Greek and more extensive learning in Latin and other languages.