Trying again next year- First steps

[Daisy123]

So , i just got rejected from the Cotsen institute which was my last hope this year for my PhD dreams...

Though  i am very shattered, I know the only way to get myself out of this emotional state is to start sowing for next year's harvest ....I want to know from those of you who have made it, or have yet to make it next year , should i/ how soon should i contact my POI at the institution and express my interest AGAIN. This time i want to talk on the phone, and i want to discuss what i can do better and if i SHOULD even reapply next year. of course i am boiling inside and i would love to call her tomorrow, but that would be in bad taste, correct? how would you approach this? 

Again, a billion thank yous to all of you here, and i truly hope that everyone will get what they want and deserve this , next, or in a few years

[anthropologygeek]

You could always email them and ask ways to improve your application or ask what your weaknesses are. Also, do you have a masters? If not you may need to go that route

[pears]

You could always email them and ask ways to improve your application or ask what your weaknesses are. Also, do you have a masters? If not you may need to go that route

 

I agree with both of these pieces of advice! If you intend to try applying again to a particular program next season, it might be helpful to mention that, & suss out the kind of response you get; although it's not necessarily a perfect indicator of what a POI's personality or overall program "culture" is like, you might find that some folks will be more helpful than others. Also, crummy as it may seem, an M.A. as a stepping stone may be worth considering, if there are any programs that appeal to you. I'm really happy I decided to do a terminal M.A. first! It's helped me narrow my interests, & now, in the future, I'll know what kind of work + accomplishments will be expected of me when I apply to PhD programs.

 

Also, as silly as it may seem, you may want to have some Grad Cafe anthro folks read over your SOP. A lot of people who post regularly, or used to, will be at top-notch programs, so they may be able to offer pointers specific to your SOP, based on their own experiences. I'm of the opinion that the more sets of eyes & opinions you can get on such a critical component of your application, the better, though. I think I had at least 5 people (2 were close friends) read mine, & every single person had something different to say: whether my "hook" was successful, what I didn't include or shouldn't include, the logic flow, & so forth. If you have friends who are editors or literary types, they'd be a great resource for "line editing," i.e., spotting mechanical errors.

[Daisy123]

I agree with both of these pieces of advice! If you intend to try applying again to a particular program next season, it might be helpful to mention that, & suss out the kind of response you get; although it's not necessarily a perfect indicator of what a POI's personality or overall program "culture" is like, you might find that some folks will be more helpful than others. Also, crummy as it may seem, an M.A. as a stepping stone may be worth considering, if there are any programs that appeal to you. I'm really happy I decided to do a terminal M.A. first! It's helped me narrow my interests, & now, in the future, I'll know what kind of work + accomplishments will be expected of me when I apply to PhD programs.

 

Also, as silly as it may seem, you may want to have some Grad Cafe anthro folks read over your SOP. A lot of people who post regularly, or used to, will be at top-notch programs, so they may be able to offer pointers specific to your SOP, based on their own experiences. I'm of the opinion that the more sets of eyes & opinions you can get on such a critical component of your application, the better, though. I think I had at least 5 people (2 were close friends) read mine, & every single person had something different to say: whether my "hook" was successful, what I didn't include or shouldn't include, the logic flow, & so forth. If you have friends who are editors or literary types, they'd be a great resource for "line editing," i.e., spotting mechanical errors.

 

You could always email them and ask ways to improve your application or ask what your weaknesses are. Also, do you have a masters? If not you may need to go that route

Thank you both! Yes , I do have a MA in archaeology specifically , but the MA thesis was not on the topic that i wanted to study as a PhD applicant (at least the location is different). Next time, i will definitely post my SOP here...this is a great idea, thank you. What i am wondering  is if i am to contact the POI, should i do it NOW or later? does it matter?

[anthropologygeek]

I would do it maybe mid April, end of app season but your app will still be fresh in their minds

[catsrgods]

Great advice. I am not entirely sure if I will reapply next year for the same programs. I may need to really have a look at "fit" from a more serious angle. I thought I did that pretty well this season, but judging by my lack of acceptances I think I was wrong. By next season's applications I will have: completed my MA (art history), completed an internship at a large museum in L.A., and possibly completed a research/registrar project with a curator at a smaller museum where I currently work. I did apply to multiple art history programs as well as an archaeology program, but I think I might have better luck all around once the MA is actually complete. 

 

I'd love to share my SOP when it is ready. I would also retake the GRE since I wasn't feeling all that well when I took it before and could have scored higher on the verbal if I tried again. I also really want to have my thesis paper completed for the adcomms to review. I think I have done enough extracurricular stuff to prove I am committed to my cause, so I am looking to really focus on my SOP and finding a place that's a good fit. I'm going to troll the art history boards to look for good information in that realm.

[Daisy123]

Great advice. I am not entirely sure if I will reapply next year for the same programs. I may need to really have a look at "fit" from a more serious angle. I thought I did that pretty well this season, but judging by my lack of acceptances I think I was wrong. By next season's applications I will have: completed my MA (art history), completed an internship at a large museum in L.A., and possibly completed a research/registrar project with a curator at a smaller museum where I currently work. I did apply to multiple art history programs as well as an archaeology program, but I think I might have better luck all around once the MA is actually complete. 

 

I'd love to share my SOP when it is ready. I would also retake the GRE since I wasn't feeling all that well when I took it before and could have scored higher on the verbal if I tried again. I also really want to have my thesis paper completed for the adcomms to review. I think I have done enough extracurricular stuff to prove I am committed to my cause, so I am looking to really focus on my SOP and finding a place that's a good fit. I'm going to troll the art history boards to look for good information in that realm.

thats a great approach, at least next time you will have to show - this is what i had last year, look at how much more i have now- it will show that you are serious and you keep striving to get somewhere within the field. I dont think that i would re-apply if i couldnt add anything on my CV this year too. But i dont think i will be re taking my GRE because i doubt that there will be much difference, honestly

[NOWAYNOHOW]

A lot of this is great advice, and I think there's one thing to add: before trying again, give yourself a break.  You don't have to start hustling right now, and it's OK to take some time to mourn, regroup, and gather your energy for what will hopefully be a much better season.  I'm trying very hard not to think about PhD admissions until June -- I think I need some time to clear my head.  It would probably do us all some good!

[fasboo]

Yah i agree to the clearing your head idea but the challenge i have is im so anxious to do something on my topic and im really losing interest in my current job that pays well but is boring. Im planning to start a small research on my topic and publish before the next round, probably take some summer workshops on ethnography as well.

 

Good luck everyone in the next round.

[PhyllisH]

I agree with both of these pieces of advice! If you intend to try applying again to a particular program next season, it might be helpful to mention that, & suss out the kind of response you get; although it's not necessarily a perfect indicator of what a POI's personality or overall program "culture" is like, you might find that some folks will be more helpful than others. Also, crummy as it may seem, an M.A. as a stepping stone may be worth considering, if there are any programs that appeal to you. I'm really happy I decided to do a terminal M.A. first! It's helped me narrow my interests, & now, in the future, I'll know what kind of work + accomplishments will be expected of me when I apply to PhD programs.

 

Also, as silly as it may seem, you may want to have some Grad Cafe anthro folks read over your SOP. A lot of people who post regularly, or used to, will be at top-notch programs, so they may be able to offer pointers specific to your SOP, based on their own experiences. I'm of the opinion that the more sets of eyes & opinions you can get on such a critical component of your application, the better, though. I think I had at least 5 people (2 were close friends) read mine, & every single person had something different to say: whether my "hook" was successful, what I didn't include or shouldn't include, the logic flow, & so forth. If you have friends who are editors or literary types, they'd be a great resource for "line editing," i.e., spotting mechanical errors.

 

MA is particularly useful if the school you are attending doesn't offer PhD courses in specific. You can know what is expected of a PhD student and calm down.

[AKCarlton]

Thank you both! Yes , I do have a MA in archaeology specifically , but the MA thesis was not on the topic that i wanted to study as a PhD applicant (at least the location is different). Next time, i will definitely post my SOP here...this is a great idea, thank you. What i am wondering  is if i am to contact the POI, should i do it NOW or later? does it matter?

 

I have a question on this matter...I've been told to not worry about my MA thesis topic as far as it affecting my acceptance to a future PhD program...is this true or not? I'm at the proposal point so I want to make sure I do what's best for me in the long-run.

[AKCarlton]

Also, as silly as it may seem, you may want to have some Grad Cafe anthro folks read over your SOP. A lot of people who post regularly, or used to, will be at top-notch programs, so they may be able to offer pointers specific to your SOP, based on their own experiences. I'm of the opinion that the more sets of eyes & opinions you can get on such a critical component of your application, the better, though. I think I had at least 5 people (2 were close friends) read mine, & every single person had something different to say: whether my "hook" was successful, what I didn't include or shouldn't include, the logic flow, & so forth. If you have friends who are editors or literary types, they'd be a great resource for "line editing," i.e., spotting mechanical errors.

 

 

I've said it before, I'm willing to read and help edit your SOPs...I love editing...I'm a grammar nerd.

[Daisy123]

I am sure that  the topic wont be a deal  breaker, now that a year has passed and i have spoken to professors . No one can expect you to have your MA in line with something you will do in the future. If its in anthropology, and it shows how you can think and use theory, its enough, i think. I would love to hear what others have to say on the topic

[AKCarlton]

Thank you for the input! I'm meeting with a professor tomorrow whose research interests align with mine and will discuss it further.

[Daisy123]

ohhh super! and i want to say that what aaaaaanthroling says makes alot of sense. After all, you choose the topics- inevitably you will have some similarities - at least theoretically you might align. For example, my MA had absolutely nothing to do with my current- would be doctoral research in terms of area. But, theoretically i am still considering things such as social complexity, urbanization....