Tips for applicants not coming from an anthropology background?

[NOWAYNOHOW]

I'm not applying this round, but would be interested to hear about your experience applying (and potentially getting accepted) to cultural anthropology programs without having a BA or MA in the field.  I will be applying in the fall with an MA in media/cultural studies that includes a semester's worth of credits taken in my university's anthropology department.

 

My work lands somewhere between STS/science studies and medical anthropology, so not every anthropology department is right for me; however, there are definitely a few (NYU, for example) that do welcome this kind of research.

 

Thoughts, anecdotes, serious warnings and ominous portents are all appreciated. 

 

Hope you're having a lucky application season!

 

 

[blablupp]

At my department (which has a terminal M.A. program) students without an anthropology degree are usually rejected.  However, many of those people are encouraged to take post-bacc classes at the department. Many of the ones who end up doing that, actually get into the program a year later. I would advice you to take post-bacc classes at your top choice university. I know it's expensive, but it will seriously increase your chances of getting into a FUNDED grad program.

 

I wouldn't go for a PhD right away. Instead, I would try to get an M.A. first. This will increase your chances of getting into a competitive PhD program such as the one at NYU. There are more M.A. programs, meaning less competition. You could build a great basis and use it as a networking opportunity. Many of the professors at the smaller, less known departments around the country are really motivated and super helpful when their students are applying to PhD programs. The subfield of medical anthropology is small and many of the professors know each other.

 

If you do apply to a terminal M.A. program, it wouldn't be a must to find a professor who 100% aligns with your interest. I know that's the ideal, but it would be much more important to work with someone who works in the field of medical anthropology and is familiar with the research methods in the field.

 

Another important point is experience. I know this is easier in subfields like arch. But even if it isn't completely in your own subfields -- like an internship at a museum -- experience will demonstrate your general interest in anthropology. Also, keep in mind that many grad students are also teaching assistants. Knowledge and experience beyond your subfield can be helpful. There are a few field schools in medical anthropology, which I would strongly suggest. They, also, would be a good networking opportunity.

 

Conferences are also a great chance to network and get to know professors. The AAA has a very large conference every year.

 

 

I know this is a lot. But remember that the more qualified you are, the higher your chances of getting in and getting funding. Spending a lot of money in preparation might be a lot cheaper than paying for graduate school.

[panda_bear]

i think given your unique educational background, perhaps a terminal MA in anthropology isn't the completely necessary route. also, unless you have 60K lying around, it's not really worth it. i'm of the opinion that unless it's a professional degree, MAs aren't really worth their price. i'm speaking as someone who has talked to faculty about this at an ivy league university that has a terminal MA program filled with students who think their MA will give them a leg up in PhD admissions, when in fact their department just treats them as a cash cow for funding. sad but true.

 

the best bet is to look at the departments that you are most interested in applying to (or, emailing the faculty you are most interested in working with) and asking their advice, with the clear intention of applying to their PhD program. i would wait until the summer to do this, given the periods of busy-ness most departments are entering (admissions now, midterms soon, finals later, etc). 

 

conferences are great, but only if you're in the discipline. they are expensive, and to be honest, i know for a fact that academics don't have time/really care to be talking to prospectives at their discipline's one big social event of the year (AAAs is really just a big party where you get to see all your friends you haven't seen in a while; that's the main reason to go ). i went to the one this year as a prospective (opportunity just arose; i didn't pay or anything...) and it was useless for networking unless you have a mentor to introduce you/talk you up. it was fun/enlightening to be there, but it's really not a useful tool unless you're "connected" so to speak.

[blablupp]

As you can see NOWAYNOHOW, different people have different experiences   .  A lot of this depends on personality/experiences of the applicant. But a lot also simply depends on the right professor looking at your application at the right time. I know some very qualified people who have applied to grad school for years and with others I wonder how they got in. 

 

 

Good points panda bear. Of course, getting into a PhD program right away would be ideal. I am just trying to give advice for when it doesn't work out.  A large part of students in terminal M.A. programs don't actually pay tuition. If there are no PhD students around, they are the ones who get the assistantships. I didn't pay a cent for my M.A. But panda bear is totally right -- it is expensive without any assistance. And it doesn't guarantee that you will get through the PhD faster. I must admit that all I know is things I know from friends in PhD programs as well as university faculty I have talked to over the years. I am myself in the process of applications. So there are certainly many things I do not know. 

 

I do know, however, that getting my M.A. has helped me add important research skills and to zoom in on my research interests. I feel like my statement of purpose is very different now than it was after my undergrad.The reason I applied for the M.A. first was because I came from a very large undergrad program where I didn't receive as much hands-on experience as I would have liked.  Working on an M.A. thesis has taught me much more about myself, my preferred research methods, my interests.... Many of my friends came into the program for similar reasons and many have changed their interests slightly or drastically. Others, like me, kinda new but ended up really zooming in.  It was worth the two years for me and I am very glad I chose this route.  You can learn the same things going right into a PhD -- the only difference is really that it might be easier to get into the M.A. program. There, also, you don't need to look at expensive schools since it is just a small stepping stone. I know, NOWAYNOHOW, you probably know exactly what your research interests are. But the problem is that you will also have to convince an adcomm that you know. I heard from a few people that they got rejected because the adcomm felt like applicants didn't have the experience to commit to such a long program. This is where I think an M.A. could help. Like I said, I am trying to give advice for when the PhD doesn't work out. 

 

The conferences also  depend, of course. I can think of at least 2 people right away who have gotten assistantships out of introducing themselves to people at a conference. That said, one was already accepted into program with no word on funding and the other was in the process of applying. Just walking up to someone and introducing oneself takes confidence though. People will react differently and you can either have really good or really bad luck (mainly for the reasons panda bear mentioned). I realize that this is not for everyone. 

 

Panda bear's advice of contacting faculty is a very, very good point. 

[anxiousanthro]

You might consider applying to a masters program in the UK as well.  It appealed to me because the program I am in is only one year.  This allowed me to really focus my research interests to put forth a more specific proposal for future research (as anthropologie mentioned).

 

I agree with panda bear and anthropologie about contacting faculty members.  I would add that contacting current graduate students with similar interests is also an incredible idea.  It can be intimidating, but they will tell you all of the internal politics of the department, give you insight into who you might be best suited to work with, etc.  I was also able to mention things that current students told me about the department in my interviews, which really makes it look like you have a thorough understanding of how things work there etc. (which you will!).  

 

Best of luck!

Edited February 16, 2013 by anxiousanthro

[anthropologygeek]

If you go to a terminal masters with phd program, yes there are good ones, they fund their students. Just saying. And my current phd program doesn't accept anyone without a masters for their phd program and if you apply without one, they will only consider you for a masters.

[panda_bear]

Shows how much I know re funded MA programs. That's awesome that yours was funded, anthropolige! I feel like that MAY be rare, especially if its a department with a reputation for a great PhD program (again, speaking from knowing the set up of an Ivy League institution only, where the MA program is highly problematic and gives me automatic pause regarding the value of that degree). With that, I would really, really recommend only going for it if it's funded.

[NOWAYNOHOW]

I'm so glad you all responded! Thank you for the awesome advice. 

 

At my department (which has a terminal M.A. program) students without an anthropology degree are usually rejected.  However, many of those people are encouraged to take post-bacc classes at the department. Many of the ones who end up doing that, actually get into the program a year later. I would advice you to take post-bacc classes at your top choice university. I know it's expensive, but it will seriously increase your chances of getting into a FUNDED grad program.

 

Anthropologie, I guess I should clarify, I am at NYU now doing my (mostly-funded) MA in another department.  It's a pretty interdisciplinary degree, so I am taking multiple courses in the NYU Anthropology Department with anth facutly.  I think that probably translates into what postbacc credits would do for my transcript, except now they count toward my current degree! 

 

I think I am more worried about being able to translate my experience in the discipline to departments at other universities.  Is it just having anth faculty recommenders?  Do I need field experience?  Is it just a matter of really connecting with professors that dig my interests?  Or proving that my work is relevant? 

What sparked all this is one of my profs saying that the department preferred more traditional candidates, though they do make exceptions.  But aren't most departments moving toward a more interdisciplinary approach anyway?  I find it hard to imagine "traditional" candidates when even places like Columbia have really let loose a little...

Edited February 16, 2013 by NOWAYNOHOW

[Platysaurus]

I did a grand total of 2 undergrad courses in anthropology (although I always orbited around the social sciences and area studies) and I've currently gotten 2 acceptances, a waitlist, been shortlisted for one university and interviewed for another.

 

Don't think of it as a disadvantage at all! I'm sure there are some colleges who do prefer anthro undergrads, but one of my acceptances (Cornell) states explicitly on the website that they strongly preference anthropology students and even before I submitted my application this was the one that had given me the best initial response based on communication with a POI.

 

Having said that, with my interview I was asked very specific, theoretical questions about sites, micro vs. macro-ethnography, and what framework I would use that would allow me to explore agency (I want to do prisons and all the stuff written about them is very structural/ideological, ie foucault).

 

You need to make sure your proposal is anthropological and is also a feasible ethnography, but don't let your background hold you back! I would also justify in your statement of purpose why you're switching to anthropology though, that gives you a chance to show that you know the discipline, it's strengths/weaknesses etc.

[PhDreams]

 

You need to make sure your proposal is anthropological and is also a feasible ethnography, but don't let your background hold you back! I would also justify in your statement of purpose why you're switching to anthropology though, that gives you a chance to show that you know the discipline, it's strengths/weaknesses etc.

 

THIS. So according to Penn's website, there's no "magic formula" for who gets in or doesn't. I think the point is that holds true across the board. Some competitive candidates are your traditional candidates with plenty of anthro experience, some have close to none but have experience that they can translate into the field, and some are a blend of both. You have a masters so that should be enough to prove that you can handle graduate work. It may, however, be a good idea to get all your recs from anthro professors, if you can. If you can get strong letters from professors and they happen to be anthro, i'd say opt for those. It can only help. Lastly, the most important part is the advice above. Make it clear why anthro and why that school, dept, POI, etc. The clearer you can be about those things the more successful you will be. Best of luck! You are in a better position that you believe already having been in a graduate program that exposed you to anthro. Make sure to leverage all of those experiences and you will do a great job!

[the green saint]

Hi,

 

Although I think most of your questions might have already been answered, I thought I would add my experience here. I have no anthropology background, and have just been accepted, with funding, to the cultural anthropology department in Kentucky. 

 

About myself: Born in South Africa, but schooled in the UK. Have a BSc in Accounting and Finance, and a MA in Critical Global Politics (so I've strayed quite far!). Research interests in Fair Trade and global commodity chains. I also worked for a film production company in SA for 2 years. I have good results but nothing extremely exceptional. GRE V158, Q155, AW 4.5

 

I got to anthropology (cultural), basically through my research interests - my main interest of Fair Trade (interactions with values and global commodity chains). I think I got accepted because I am the 'perfect fit' for the course and supervisor - I really emphasised why my unique background would be of benefit to them . I would say that my MA definitely helped - although as I did it in the UK, so it was only a one year course . However, much of the social sciences overlap - so I think that although i didn't have specific anthropology units, i have covered a lot of the same topic area's - globalisation, gender, class studies. I also used my South African background to explain that I want to do research there - an added bonus because Kentucky have links in the area. 

 

My advice is to really research who you might want to work with - what the departments have to offer - what research is already being conducted. Although many departments say that you dont need a specific topic area, I think it really helps, and means that writing your SOP becomes easy - make sure to explain why your MA gives you a different perspective than the usual route. In addition, if you can write a well formulated research proposal to back this up (as I did) that should help. It's all about taking your background and making it fit to where you want to go. 

 

All the best, and make sure to STAND OUT

[MWolf-Meyer]

I maintain a professionalization blog and have a post on applying for grad school in anthropology that you might find helpful:

 

http://nequalsone.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/so-youre-applying-to-graduate-school-in-anthropology/

 

Good luck!

[wowand135]

I don't have any advise to offer but am also a non-anthro background (currently a lawyer). I always wanted to be an archaeologist when I was younger but went the "practical" route and studied business then law (and hate it.) I plan to take all the intro courses this summer at a community college, then apply to a local MA program. Just from my online researach, I think this will help chances of later applying to Phd programs.

 

One thing I have found (by actually calling phd programs at the UCs here) is that some of them will give you "credit" for your MA, or part of it, while others will essentially make you repeat whatever courses you took for the MA, because they expect you to obtain your MA on the way to the phd while in their program. That makes this a tough decision, because the MA can therefore set you back a couple of years, depending on which program you end up at. Overall, for me without a relevant background, I think this will be worth it.