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Showing results for tags 'anthropology'.
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Hi everyone! I have to make this decision by next Tuesday (3/27) and I’m at a loss. I applied to about 8 schools this round and didn’t fare so well with an undergraduate interdisciplinary degree in Global Studies, despite a high gpa and undergrad publication. I’ve been accepted to a one year non-thesis MA social anthropology program at Concordia university (MTL), which I’m hoping could be a launching point to help me reapply to some fancier programs. But I’ve also received full funding from my Alma mater, Temple University’s Anthropology full PhD program, which is pretty exciting!! What should I do?? The clock is ticking and I’m at a loss... -
Hey everyone, I'm hoping to get some insight or guidance from those of you who either are, or have been, in my position. I will attempt not to drone on endlessly with this, so please hang in there! I finished my BA in Classics in Chicago last year, and have just about (two more weeks) finished the Post-Bacc Program in Classics at UCLA (did well, feel confident in some strong letters of recommendation). I will be applying to PhD programs this fall. From the get-go, I always intended on applying solely to Classics programs, but the Post-Bacc Program has served me very well in tailoring my research interests to what very well may result in applying to programs outside of Classics. I am a Latinist, and at the mid-point of fluency in Italian. Many of my research interests involve applying modern theory to the ancient world. To be candid, I do not enjoy Greek at all, nor do I really have any interest in pursuing Classics as a whole (I think?). What I am thinking of doing is taking more Italian and Latin courses while sending in apps for fall 2018. To give a better example of what I'm interested in, I am currently doing research and writing on the reception of Plautine humor among Romans during a time of political turmoil, its relevance to Freudian theory on humor, and the use of comedic violence as catharsis while still acting as a tool for maintaining social boundaries. In a nutshell, this is almost like a history of humor. I want to study things such as the transition from the Latin-speaking world to the Italian-speaking world, the evolution of combat sports in Rome through their reception an development in modern times, etc. BASICALLY: I love the Latin language, the Italian language, sociological theory being applied to Roman contexts, and the development of the Roman world into Italy. So...please, if you have any suggestions, I would love to know what umbrella you think this falls under. As of right now, I'm thinking of applying to anthropology, sociology, and classics programs. I'm finding it hard to see where I would fit. Maybe even a history program? Maybe Italian programs?? What do you think? I'm also reaching out to members in several departments to hear their input, but I'd love to find out what everyone here thinks, seeing as you may have been in this predicament yourself. Thank you!!
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Choosing a PhD supervisor: young and dynamic or mature and established?
posi+ivity posted a topic in Anthropology
Dear all, I've been offered admission by two universities (UCSD and UVa). I am currently weighing these two wonderful options, and I’m considering a lot of factors including prospective advisors and mentors, academic culture, university resources, graduate placement, funding, and location. I know that the most important of these is my future supervisor. Now, if all other things were equal, I'd be left with what seems to be a Manichaean dilemma. My recruiter/prospective supervisor at UCSD has been simply great. Besides the fact that my research seems to be perfectly aligned with their* work, the current students at UCSD with whom I've had the chance to talk have had nothing but superlative praise for this particular professor. My prospective supervisor already has plans for me--for example, they're already including me in a panel session that they're preparing for the AAAs in San Jose this year. That being said, the said professor is young and is a very new hire in the department. I believe this is their first job post-PhD, and I also think I might be the first PhD student they will supervise. I can't help but worry about the possibility that my prospective supervisor might eventually want to move to another university before I finish my PhD there. The work of the other professors in the department isn't as aligned with my research interests, although I'm sure one of them would be able to supervise me if I were to stay there. My prospective supervisor and I are going to have another Skype session soon. What should I ask? My situation at UVa is quite different. While I'm not aware of any specific professor at UVa who really wants to get me in the program, I think there are more members in the faculty (than at UCSD) who can supervise me. One of them is a very famous scholar in the subfield of anthropology that I identify with, and I would definitely love to work with them. Current students there have told me that this professor seems like a likely supervisor for me. However, I know that because they are older and more popular, they are definitely busier and in greater demand. I am afraid that I might not get as much attention and support from them because of this and that this would somehow hurt not only my PhD but also my professional career. What do you think? Both universities and both professors are really, really great, and I am having such a difficult time deciding. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts! If anyone is interested in specific details, I would be happy to provide them in a PM. If you know anything specific about these two departments, please PM me, too! Looking forward to hearing from you! * I'm using the gender-neutral singular pronouns they and them. -
I am wait-listed at my top choice (ivy league) and I'm wondering where everyone has been accepted, what your subfields are, and which offer you may accept. Thanks!
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Hi everyone! I was recently admitted to Syracuse's PhD program in Anthropology and was initially told that the department was "working hard to secure funding" for me. However, last week I went to their admitted student's weekend, talked to the graduate director and he told me that there was a wait list for funding and I was at the bottom of the list. I really cannot attend this school if I do not get funding. I also got an email from graduate admissions telling me that they were unable to issue me an official acceptance letter if I do not secure funding since I am an international student. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Is there anything I can do? What does this mean for me?
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Top anthropology PhD program but no professors in the sub-field?
Paula34 posted a topic in Decisions, Decisions
Hello, So I have been admitted into a top PhD program in anthropology at one of these northeastern ivy league schools that I never thought I would actually get in to. The program seems great, the funding is amazing but there are no professors really related to my topic (in the broad sense). They are some professors related to my secondary field of interest (environmental anthropology) and to the region I want to work, which is what my potential advisor's research is on but my main field of research is not represented. The other schools I got into have professors more linked to my topic but are not top programs (and sometimes with less good funding), so I don't know if the main criteria should be to have professors in the department linked to one's field of study. -
Hello, Has anyone attended or have any information on the Social Anthropology MA program at Lund University in Sweden ?
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Top 10 North American PhD programs for medical anthropology and STS?
MandarinOtter posted a topic in Anthropology
I just went through the PhD application cycle for Fall 2018 and am wondering what the reputation is for the program I got into. But so as to not bias anyone, which programs would you say are the top 10 North American PhD programs for medical anthropology and STS? -
Hello everyone, I am hoping to apply to a graduate program in anthropology this calendar year. My research interests, broadly speaking, involve perceptions ofcommunal identity in South Asia and its intersection with historical, political, religious, and ideological processes. However, I am also interested in religion, spirituality, and cultural interpretations of the "human journey". Given these broad topics and my interest in South Asia, I am looking for recommendations for suitable graduate programs to which I might apply. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you! Austin J.
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Hello! So I've been fortunate enough to be accepted into three different MA programs this cycle, and I'm still waiting on one more school before I hunker down and start making my decision. During the application process, I was trying really hard not to get my hopes up, and so now I'm at a loss as to what I'm supposed to do now, because quite frankly I wasn't sure that I would get this far. Currently, I've sent emails to my POI at each school I've been accepted at thanking them for the offer and letting them know that I am very excited about possibly attending their program, that I hope to make my decision in the next few weeks, and plan to reach out to them if I have any questions. Is there anything else that I should be doing in order to keep lines of communication going and to follow appropriate etiquette guidelines? I've had a really great support system of undergraduate professors and graduate students that have given me some advice, but I would also love to hear what everybody else is doing post-acceptance to ensure that professional relationships stay open and friendly even after decisions are all made! If anybody else is running into any other etiquette dilemmas or has any need to vent about navigating this limbo period between acceptance and final decision making, feel free to use this thread as well!
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Hello~ Anyone else been accepted by UGA's Anthropology? I would like to connect myself to other prospective classmates if who's there received admission from Georgia. Take care!
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Hello, Initially planning to apply to Canadian programs only (I am an anthropology student) I decided to take the GRE and change most of my applications to US programs after learning that funding and quotas for international students were limited there. I have been accepted to the PhD program at UBC with 4 year funding at CAD18,200 and informed that there would also be possible TA'ship positions later at CAD 12,000. It would be great to study in Canada, as while I know that PhD programs (perhaps just for the social sciences) are more 'valid' when from the US, my homecountry is a mess right now, and my spouse (who is an architect) and toddler will be accompanying me and Canada does give the chance of PR'ship after 3 years which we might consider as well as work permits on arrival etc. etc. I'm wondering if I'm not mistaken in thinking that a monthly CAD1500 is a bit too low for a student to manage in Vancouver, even if I were to go alone? (We will have a little extra funding set aside but it will be spent on childcare) The rents for one thing are so high! I'm still waiting for the results from Queens (Cultural studies) and York and a few other US universities (I have received one acceptance) but am wondering if anyone could advice me before I decline.. I know there are gov grants that can be applied to but most seem to be for Canadian citizens and also I'm not sure if I should count on those.
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Hello all, In going through the interview/admission process, I keep going back to this question. For anthropology, how much do rankings matter and/or predict securing a permanent position after graduation?
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Programmes with focus on psychoanalysis (non-clinical)
Inno posted a question in Questions and Answers
Hi everyone! Do you know any good graduate programmes (either US, Canada and Europe) in cultural studies/anthropology/etc. with a strong focus on (or supportive to) psychoanalysis? Or any psychoanalytic graduate programme which doesn't require previous major in psychology? I've heard about exclusively psychoanalytic programmes in UCL, Birkbeck and Essex, but I wish I had a wider choice. Thanks in advance! P.S. btw, my work lies in the field of psychoanalytical criticism of video games and digital culture as whole. So, I guess programmes in comparative literature (which could often be psychoanalysis-friendly) would not be a good suggestion. -
I am an undergraduate from China majored in archaeology, my department is ranked #2 in all Chinese Archaeology departments. I am now applying PhD for several universities, and I wanna know my chance. My GPA is 3.7/4.0, and I have a TOEFL score of 108 (R29, L30, S23, W26). My GRE situation is a little weird: I took it twive. One is V 164(94th percentile)+Q 159, the other is V 157+Q 166(91st percentile). I am now applying: Columbia (PhD), Berkeley(PhD), UPenn(PhD), UCLA(MA), Michigan Ann Arbor(PhD). Most of them I applied for Prehistory. Here are my 3 questions: 1. Will my 94th percentile GRE Verbal be an advantage? Especiall for Berkeley. It states that they do not need GRE score for international students, but still I handed in mine. So, will my 94th percentile Verbal be an advantage? Also, as for Berkeley, I applied for Classical Archaeology, is it harder to be accepted than other anthropological programs? 2. Will they take my two GRE tests both into consideration? 3. What is the chance for me to be accpeted by the above mentioned universities?
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I submitted my application to Harvard just in time for the December 15 deadline, and I reviewed my application materials after hitting the dreaded "Submit" button. To my horror, I realized that I had written "Sociocultural Anthropology" in my statement of purpose instead of "Social Anthropology," which is what Harvard offers. I had checked the same document over and over again before uploading it, but as luck would have it, it was too late when I realized my mistake. Do you think I should I write to the DGS to "correct" this mistake or at least to save face by apologizing for it and explaining that I am aware of the differences between "social" and "cultural" and "sociocultural" in terms of academic tradition? Or am I just obsessing about this detail that they probably won't notice or care about?
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So very confused (Canada vs US PhD SOP)
bananabear posted a topic in Statement of Purpose, Personal History, Diversity
Hi everyone. I have no idea who to go to with this question so I am posting it here. I'm Canadian and applying to both Canadian and US Ph.D. programs in anthropology. In the Canadian schools that I'm applying to, the process is that I find a POI to work with and then I apply. After I find a POI to work with the process of applying/getting in is pretty straightforward. This was the same thing I did for my masters (I found a POI, I applied, I got in). In America (particularly at Stanford) I'm confused because I haven't gotten a response from POIs that I'm interested in working with (I've only e-mailed 2). Their admin assistant told me that it's not common for people to have POIs before coming to the school... but then how can you write an SOP with a research interest/question in mind without knowing if the POI you're interested in wants to work with you or not?! Anyway, if I don't hear back, does this mean they don't want a Ph.D. student? Should I not be writing my SOP in a way that is directed toward their kind of research? Also, it says on their website that Ph.D. students work under a committee and not a single advisor. If that is the case, then I assume my research can fall under more than one person's research agenda. Is that correct? It just confuses me that I'm supposed to apply to a place without knowing if the POIs I'm interested in working with are taking students or not! Isn't it kind of a waste of their time and mine if I apply without knowing that my POIs are taking on students? Sorry...very confused by this method! Someone please help clear things up. -
Hi all, I'm wondering if those applying this cycle or others who are already in graduate programs might be wiling to share their experiences with contacting POIs, even if the school has a "no contact before admissions rule" ? I am wondering about this because I want to be respectful of these policies and not to bother anyone, but I've heard from others that some department faculty will speak with potential candidates, despite these rules. Would anyone be willing to share their experiences with this? Thanks so much!
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I'm a senior in undergrad applying for sociocultural phd programs. I'm wondering how specific to make my SoP. I know the general area I want to study in, and I'm writing my senior honors thesis on the topic, but how in-depth should my SoP be? Do I need to clearly outline a specific problem/theory or I can I generally say: I'm interested in the intersection of racial white privilege and poverty and the ways in which these individuals utilize resources to construct meaning and identity in relation to notions of health, beauty and education. My work will draw on a framework of political economy, practice theory, and critical whiteness studies. I elaborate a bit on a lack of previous ethnographic research in this field, but I'm not too sure how specific I should get. I think I prefer to dedicate more space to how my work will fit into a certain program? I'm applying to UCLA, U of T-Austin, Johns Hopkins, and CUNY if that matters I appreciate your thoughts!
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Hi everyone, I’m deciding whether to apply for a Ph.D. in sociology with my background. I have a BS in Finance (GPA 3.0) and I recently I have received an M.S. in Marketing Analytics from the University of Rochester (GPA 3.5) on a Fulbright grant. I am interested in studying the impact of western popular culture on identity formation amongst underprivileged ethnic and sexual minorities in the Middle East. I’m worried that my unrelated academic background, my mediocre GRE scores (50th percentile), and my lack of research experience will affect my prospects in securing a sociology (or maybe anthropology) Ph.D. admission, any insights, experiences, and tips about changing disciplines is highly appreciated. Thanks
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Personal statement/Academic statement advice and help appreciated!!
phyanth posted a topic in Anthropology
I am getting ready to write personal statements and academic statements, and am drawing a complete blank. I tried to look for examples online, but can’t find any for anthropology! Do any of you know where I could find examples, or mind showing me yours? Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it! -
Hi there! Nervous physical anthropology phd applicant for the 2018 cycle here. A little bit of background from me: - BA from U Mich in Evolutionary Anthropology 2012 - MA from Texas Tech in Physical Anthropology 2015 I tried to see what I could get in the private sector, and worked as an Archaeological Tech, and then as a Medicolegal Death Invesigator/Autopsy Tech for a year and a half. However, I was diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma last month, and had to leave my job. Throughout all of this, I knew deep down that I wanted to continue my masters thesis research at the phd level. It’s an interesting topic that has little specific literature. Health wise, I’m crappy, but had to take the gre today so I can apply this season before my surgery. For having severe active hyperthyroidism and the tumor, I thought I did pretty well. However, after poking around here, I am not so sure anymore. long story short, I would love to know gre scores for those of you who were successful phd applicants, and where you were accepted! I know it’s largely due to fit, but gre scores have some role, correct? For the record, I received a 161 in VR and 160 in Quant. Thanks a bunch in advance!
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I am currently working on a research master's in visual anthropology at FLACSO Ecuador (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences) and my thesis explores the relationship between the production of popular habitat in Quito-Ecuador and aesthetics. With the premise that aesthetics is necessarily linked to politics, I'm making a tour through the evolution of a neighborhood that was illegally built by its inhabitants thirty years ago and the role of self-organization in line with Jacques Rancière's aesthetic regimes. Because of the time limitations of a master's degree, there are several aspects of my project that I will leave behind, specifically visuality and representation. If admitted in a PhD program, I would like to explore those through shared methodologies of documentary filmmaking. Before starting this research master's, I studied communications as an undergrad in Ecuador, then I did a master's in Digital Media & Storytelling at Loyola Chicago. My GPA is 3.6 in both and 3.9 in my second master's. I am now getting ready to take the GRE (I last took it four years ago and my score wasn't bad). My LoR writers are anthropology professors from American and European universities. I am applying to NYU, McGill, and The University of Manchester. I will probably add a couple more universities to my list, but my budget won't allow me to submit more applications than that.
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What are your thoughts on Post-bacc programs for Anthropology? I know Columbia and UPenn for example offer Post-baccalaureate Studies/ Graduate Foundations programs for non-med disciplines such as Anthropology. I am wondering if it is worth it to pursue for someone like me, who is interested in pursuing an MA in Anthropology but has never taken an Anthro class in my life.
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I just recently graduated this past spring with a degree in Film & Media Studies (with a focus on journalism). Because my major was an interdisciplinary program and because I went to a liberal arts university, I was able to take classes in different departments and connect patterns among various ideas. I took many Sociology classes, which I not only did well in, but also loved. However, over time I have realized that the Anthropology perspective is more suitable for me. Additionally, I have much extracurricular experience in the world of journalism, and I’ve found that long-form journalism has ethnographic elements. I hope to pursue graduate school in Anthropology (perhaps Sociocultural or Applied) as I feel it will give me the proper foundation in order to understand other cultures, and provide me with the skills to be a deeper critical thinker, better writer on culture, and more. I am also interested in potentially pursuing either a career in international reporting or user research, which I feel a Master’s in Anthro will help me succeed in (I'm not interested in a PhD program at this time). I hope to enroll in a grad program that is a combination of practice and theory, and I am interested in doing fieldwork. Do you have any advice for me? What programs should I look into?
