Chances/Where should I apply?

[Seneca]

I'm about to start working on my apps, but I don't have a very good sense of what my chances will be and where I ought to apply. Normally I'd ask my advisor, but my university's classics department is so tiny that we don't even have one. Anyway, here are my statistics:

3.97 undergrad GPA, summa cum laude with a double major in anthro (highest honors) and classics (likewise). I have two and a half years of Latin, all A+s with the exception of one A and I've been a tutor in the language. Likewise for Greek (minus one year). Reading knowledge of French and German. GREs: 720 verbal, 710 quantitative, 5.0 essay. Undoubtedly I'll receive strong letters of recommendation; in my last quarter my classics faculty chose me for their annual merit-based scholarship.

Obviously I don't have nearly as much experience in Latin or Greek as I should. With that handicap taken into account, what sorts of schools (on either coast principally) should I be applying to? If possible I'd like to avoid going for a postbac, but if that's the only way to make myself competitive, I will.

[Parnassus]

It depends, what would you like to study?

[Seneca]

Part of the problem is that I'm not entirely certain. Really, I'd love to do anything with classical literature (particularly Latin; Ovid is my favorite author), but as far as objects of advanced studies I'm unsure. I'm interested in Indo-European and the linguistic processes we can trace stemming from Greek and Latin, and I'd like to eventually work as a teacher or professor of the languages at some level. In my work as a tutor I've spent some time thinking about the issues in standard pedagogy for the ancient languages (and for modern ones as well) and some glaringly obvious ways to improve, but that probably won't correlate very well to anything I could focus on in grad school. With my app season finally looming, I realize that I should've been thinking about these issues long ago...

[marlowe]

Whoa, your school gives "A+'s"??? That is badass.

[Conscia Fati]

I'd definitely recommend doing a terminal (funded) MA program. It sounds like your stats are really good -- you just need more time with the languages. Good luck!

[rkg2012]

I'd definitely recommend doing a terminal (funded) MA program. It sounds like your stats are really good -- you just need more time with the languages. Good luck!

I second this opinion. Although you've done well, more language courses are always better. As a potential philologist, only 1.5 years of Greek isn't that competitive against all the other applicants with a post-bac or MA. Furthermore, with the limited coursework, I would guess that you've only read a limited range of authors. The two years for and MA would give you the time to explore more authors and really think about what direction you want to go in.

Also, as a heads up, post-baccs often have later deadlines, so that could always be a back up plan. If you want to end up at the University level, it's better to take your time and get into a good PhD program, then rush into a mediocre one. If you want to teach HS Latin, than an MAT might be a good route.

[videro]

I agree with Andromache 2012. Languages are big for classics. Don't go anywhere you won't be funded, but do yourself a favor and get a funded MA. If you do as well in the Master Program as you did Undergrad, you'll be able to set your sights on the school of your choice.