Chances of getting into UCSD Bio Anthropology PhD program?

[strudelle]

I am a senior graduating in the spring with my BA.  I want to get into UCSD for biological anthropology. I know exactly who I want to work with and have a pretty clear idea of what I want to research. 

I am very doubtful that I will be accepted to UCSD, though it is my top choice. I do not have the greatest GPA - it's a 3.4, or a 3.6 if I include the time I spent at a community college before coming to a four year institution to complete my BA (have no idea if I am supposed to include that?) and have not participated in very many projects outside of my general schooling. 

It's my understanding that field experience and research are highly regarded in prospective anthropology graduate students, and I just haven't done that much in comparison with other undergrads I've spoken to. I have participated in two field schools (one in my home state during a weekend and one study abroad for two weeks) that were in forensic archaeology and biological archaeology respectively. I am also currently involved in an internship at a local museum in the archaeology department, but archaeology is not my primary field of focus so I don't know how much this will help me with a biological anthropology emphasis. I am working on a research project as well that is a review of existing literature - I am attempting to do a regional analysis of trauma and pathology within European Pleistocene populations based on existing site data since I can't collect my own data as an undergrad (at least not in the two semesters I have left). I am going to attempt to present this at a conference in the spring, but I won't have much to show for it for grad apps except maybe an abstract.

I know I can secure at least one solid letter of recommendation, and am hoping to secure another from a top faculty member at my current institution (he has actually done work with this professor I want to work with at UCSD, so I am hoping a letter from him will improve my chances). I am still searching for a person to ask for my third letter.

I haven't taken the actual GRE yet, but I took a practice GRE last night and got a 305 (159 verbal, 147 quant). Not great. I have two weeks until the GRE so I'm going to work as hard as I can to improve that. I don't know how important GRE scores are.

I'm also working hard on my statement of purpose. I'm going to a SOP workshop this week and I have some faculty members helping me edit it.

Their college admission site is also really focused on the importance of diversity within their student body and people who have experience with teaching and diversity. I teach citizenship and ESL classes to refugees (mostly from sub-Saharan Africa) and was planning on talking about that as well as my disadvantaged background. Will this help?

What are my chances of getting accepted? Can I do anything at this stage to make myself more competitive? Applications are due in January.

Edited September 29, 2013 by strudelle

[mp429]

I think you have a chance? Just make sure your SOP is really geared towards explaining how your "seemingly un-related" experiences ARE relevant and how they have shaped you / your research interests and prepared you for grad study at UCSD.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about GPA and GRE. While the former is more important to the latter, they are not the most important aspects. Your experiences and your SOP and your letters of rec are the most important. Make sure you secure another great letter!

Good luck

[strudelle]

I really appreciate your response.  I am stressing myself out thinking I don't have a chance at all.  Thank you for the tip on the SOP, that is something I wasn't really sure how to approach.  I think I can definitely frame it in a way where they can see it's relevant.    

[anthropologygeek]

Just remember, if you don't get in there's always next year. UCSD is tough to get into but not impossible

[strudelle]

Yeah that's true.  I'm applying to some other terminal masters programs as well so that maybe I can get my masters first and then move onto UCSD for my PhD. 

 

If I don't get accepted anywhere (which is actually pretty likely), I'm not sure what I'm going to do to make myself look like a better candidate in the meantime.  Getting a job that has anything to do with anthropology is hard enough with a higher degree, but it seems impossible with a bachelor's degree.  I also don't have money to go gallivanting around the globe doing field schools.  

Edited October 2, 2013 by strudelle

[mp429]

As an option to add more experience - are you able to be a field assistant to a PhD student? That's usually a cheaper option than field school since you just pay your way (not tuition). I don't think we're in the same sub-field of BioAnth so I'm not sure if that's something that people do, but in primatology it's a helpful way to get some field experience!