How does this look? --PhD Ancient History--

[veilside]

Hello,

I am applying for a PhD in Ancient History, and am quite limited by what schools offer this degree. They tend to be located in either their "classics" dept. or "history" dept. and unfortunately there are very few to choose from...Basically it is the top of the top that tend to have this specialization for whatever reason.

I am concerned because my GRE's are quite low... What do you think of my chances to the following programs of Ancient History are:

Harvard--- Classics

Harvard--- History

Princeton--- Classics

UPenn---Joint Prog.

UChicago--- History

UNC-CH--- History

Penn State---History

Stanford---Classics

with these stats:

Cumm. GPA: 3.55

Major GPA: 3.71

GRE:

Verbal: 530 (68%)

Quant: 610 (51%)

Analyt: 5.5 (90%)

Language Exp:

Latin: 10 semesters

Greek: 5 semesters

German: 1 semester

French: 2 semesters, plus 2.5 yrs High School

I also have extremely strong LOR's, and a very well received writing sample.

My current school is a middle of the road institution, SUNY-Albany. I will have a BA with a dual major in History and Classics.

Thanks.

[academiccricket]

It is hard to say.

Classics and History are going to be really tough in the first place, because they are INSANELY competitive and nothing really guarantees an acceptance. Going on numbers alone, I'd say you stand very little shot at the "best of the best" because people with 4.0's and 1300+ GREs get rejected in these fields. And often.

Lucky for you, it isn't all about numbers. If your research is an absolutely AMAZING fit AND you have an "in" at the school (let's say your LOR is best friends with someone who might influence a decision)...it might work out in your favor.

You should have a back-up plan. You should think about trying to do an M.A. at some place where you perhaps work on publishing/presenting/gain teaching experience--all that jazz. In fact, some of these schools might offer you an opportunity to get an M.A. before a Ph.D. (unfunded, of course). If you're set on getting a Ph.D. there is nothing wrong with studying with someone who is brilliant--but just teaches at a lower-ranked school. I find it hard to believe that only prestigious schools offer what you're looking for, because often you can work interdepartmentally to "make up" for whatever might be lacking in your department (and sometimes, taking the initiative to seek these things out is impressive to the program adviser).

For what it is worth, I have similar stats to yours (3.7 Masters GPA and 1190 GRE--slightly higher on the verbal, and more language experience than you--but I'm not applying to Classics) and am applying to top-tier schools, but also some ones that would probably be glad to have me. I'm applying to 8 Ph.D. programs (including an Ivy, because the Chair rocks in my sub-field, audited a class in the dept, have friends in the department, and I have really great LOR from someone well-respected in the dept.) and am hoping for two acceptances--anywhere.

[rising_star]

You should have a back-up plan. You should think about trying to do an M.A. at some place where you perhaps work on publishing/presenting/gain teaching experience--all that jazz. In fact, some of these schools might offer you an opportunity to get an M.A. before a Ph.D. (unfunded, of course). If you're set on getting a Ph.D. there is nothing wrong with studying with someone who is brilliant--but just teaches at a lower-ranked school. I find it hard to believe that only prestigious schools offer what you're looking for, because often you can work interdepartmentally to "make up" for whatever might be lacking in your department (and sometimes, taking the initiative to seek these things out is impressive to the program adviser).

There are definitely programs out there offering funding in Classics and History at the M.A. level. Usually you work as a teaching assistant (either teaching intro greek/latin, grading papers for a large history course, etc.) but opportunities exist. Look into state universities (like UGA, UVA, UF, UT, etc.).

[Minnesotan]

Moved to Humanities>Classics