Anthropology!

[Phoebed]

Dwai, as you observed, I'm also a potential NYU-er. I'll try and send you a private message so we can correspond.

[Weber]

What is up with the person who posted they were accepted at Columbia and then that it was the result of misunderstanding? Just curious.

[vilanelle]

hi all,

i was wondering what everyones first choice schools are and why?

and also, did anyone apply to the new school or know anyone whos currently in the program and what do they think?

thanks!

[Phoebed]

I got an offer from the New School for Anthro with a Dean's Fellowship. I haven't made up my mind - they're being so great about it and seem like an amazing bunch of people offering a really good programme. Problem is there's not much money! what's your first choice?

[kellygirl]

The faculty at Columbia are trying to get a sense of who will accept the offer of admission before they offer it (they lose the spot if the offer is declined). I don't know if that had anything to do with the weird Columbia post, though.

[Weber]

Interesting. Do you have any idea of when or how they will notify?

[kellygirl]

I was contacted by the prof I want to work with this past week. But I'm also an archaeology student-so I'm not sure if my situation applies to all anthro prospective students...They only take one or two archaeology students a year so I think its really important to the archaeology faculty that they retain that many in the actual matriculating cohort. (I really have no idea what the process is but I suspect they would finalize their shortlist next week and make actual offers soon).

[Weber]

I called Columbia and was told that many decisions have been made but that we would know "by the end of march, beginning of april" (!!!). Based on what you said, I've decided to withdraw my application just in case, as I would not go there anyway. Of course, they may have been planning to reject me anyway, but as I said, just in case. If I didn't think it would affect anyone else, I would have waited for an answer, but since there is a possibility that another student could lose their place because of me, I didn't want to risk that because it seems unfair. But I don't want to sound pretentious--it is likely they didn't think I was a good fit for their dept either!

[vilanelle]

phoebed - theres not much funding at the new school even WITH the deans fellowship? eek!

im torn on the new school, to be honest, i like the direction of their program, their lecture series, their location, etc. but im unsure if i want to spend 5 - 7 years in a place without the greatest resources.

i went to an excellent school that was severely underfunded for my masters program and found the dearth of resources (particularly in the library) to be really frustruating, esp. after attending an ivy league with all the resources in the world as an undergrad....

my first choice is stanford b/c the professor profiles perfectly fit my interests - but im on the waitlist with my fingers crossed right now so we'll see.

[anthrohopeful]

I called Columbia and was told that many decisions have been made but that we would know "by the end of march, beginning of april" (!!!). Based on what you said, I've decided to withdraw my application just in case, as I would not go there anyway. Of course, they may have been planning to reject me anyway, but as I said, just in case. If I didn't think it would affect anyone else, I would have waited for an answer, but since there is a possibility that another student could lose their place because of me, I didn't want to risk that because it seems unfair. But I don't want to sound pretentious--it is likely they didn't think I was a good fit for their dept either!

Thanks Weber! That's very nice of you. Now, I'm the one sounding pretentious...perhaps that won't affect me in the end anyway...

Anyone waiting on CUNY?

[Bananas]

I have heard from everywhere else, have three offers, but am really interested in the NY schools--should I be giving up hope? Is anyone else still holding out? Has anyone heard either way from CUNY, NYU or Columbia?? I dont want to wait in vain. . .

[Bananas]

vilanelle--my first choices were Berkeley, Chicago, and Harvard--as they are the best places for my particular interests in medical anthropology, but I think that this varies largely from person to person. --I didnt get into any of those schools, so they are no longer my top choices.

[kellygirl]

I've heard from Stanford, UCLA (Interdisciplinary Archaeology PhD) and Columbia (unofficially). I actually turned down the Columbia offer this morning so that will open up a spot (for another archaeology student, I'm assuming). The needed to know my thoughts ASAP so I'm sure they are close to sending out decisions.

So now I'm debating between UCLA and Stanford. My main concerns are the upcoming merger at Stanford and the Archaeology PhD at UCLA....

I'm still waiting on NYU and Brown (Old World Archaeology program)...

[shabibih]

So Weber, I'm curious about your final decision!

[anthrohopeful]

A small number of decisions have already been made, but the majority of

the applications remain pending. The committee expects to meet once more

before spring break (April 2-10)and they are likely to report more

decisions to the Graduate Center's admissions office after they meet.

When decisions have been reported, notification letters will be sent out

by the admissions office. Occasionally, the admissions committee may

decide to contact an applicant by email or telephone, but this is not

always the case.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

[Bananas]

I recieved an acceptance from CUNY yesterday via regular mail.

[Bananas]

Has anyone already heard from NYU anthro either way?

[Bananas]

Ok I answered my own question. . .I called NYU, they have sent out their letters to everyone except for a very short list of unofficial alternates. Columbia has sent out all of their letters, we should get them next week.

[anthrohopeful]

Hi, Bananas--just a quick FYI, since I'm also waiting on word for CUNY--what's your profile like? Area of interest, educational background, outstanding factors in your app?

[Weber]

So Weber, I'm curious about your final decision!

Either Princeton or Harvard, I'm visiting in April and haven't yet made a final decision...

[kellygirl]

I emailed a professor at NYU last night to ask about admission decisions (I'm pretty sure I'm heading for Stanford-but have been waiting for two last decisions to come in before doing anything official....as we all are, I guess). Anyway-she said all acceptances had been made and letters already sent out.

[anthrohopeful]

Fellow Columbia Applicants--

Did any of you have a strange email exchange with GSAS? I got an email from them sending me the link to my application tracking--(which should have been sent to me months ago!) and then another one telling me to disregard it...Both were automated form letters...

[kellygirl]

I think everyone got the GSAS tracking email...must have been some sort of glitch.

[kmh]

(I posted this as a separate thread as well, but I thought I'd try adding it here too!)

I've been accepted into a MA program in archaeology at a top tier school that is is well-known and highly respected (we'll call it school A) and a PhD program in anthropology at a lesser-known but respected school (school . School A offered a good financial package, has a greater breadth of courses (though offers fewer options each semester), and offers a lot of flexibility and courses that could be used to enhance my overall knowledge base. School B did not offer any funding, but they do have more course options each semester (though with a more limited breadth of topics), a reasonable amount of flexibility, and a lot of courses that could supplement my program. The schools are located near each other geographically, and both have professors that I have gotten to know and would love to work with!

I suppose my question is this: do you think that one option is better than the other? Is it wise to do an MA before a PhD, or does it really matter? Can having an MA make it more difficult to get into a PhD program later? I will definitely pursue a PhD regardless of which I choose and want to work in academia...who knew it would be so hard to choose!

[anthroapp]

I suppose my question is this: do you think that one option is better than the other? Is it wise to do an MA before a PhD, or does it really matter? Can having an MA make it more difficult to get into a PhD program later? I will definitely pursue a PhD regardless of which I choose and want to work in academia...who knew it would be so hard to choose!

I would go for a funded MA at a top tier school over a non-funded PhD program. I did my MA last year, and found that it definitely helped in getting funded PhD offers from good schools this year, versus straight out of my undergrad. I was also switching areas of study from undergrad to grad, so my master's provided a lot of the groundwork I needed. I've heard the argument that having an MA can hurt later, but I think in the end, if you're a strong student with an MA, it's not going to hurt your chances when you apply afterwards.