Chances to get into a good post-bac and then Ph.D program

[dmac587]

Hey all,

I graduated from Dartmouth College this past June with a degree in Classics and Economics and was wondering what my chances are at getting into a good post-bac, which I hopefully use as a springboard to a good PhD program.

Here are my qualifications

Major: Classics (Ancient History) with honors and Economics

GPA: 3.81

Classics GPA: 3.89

Language Experience: 4 years of Latin in high school (won the school Latin prize), 5 on both APs (gave me two college reading level credits), 750 on the SAT II, 2 "semesters" (I'm equating semester with trimester at Dartmouth) of college Latin (Vergil, Literature of the Republic), 3 years as an intro Latin TA and tutor after the fact, 2 full "semesters" of Greek (basic grammar completed) and 3/4 of semester of reading (New Testament)

Non-language Courses: Constantine the Great, Etruscan/Early Roman Archaeology, Greek and Roman Law, Roman Republican History, History of Ancient Rome (while studying abroad in Italy), Archaeology of Ancient Rome (while studying abroad in Italy), Independent Study on Alaric, Methodology of Ancient History, Greek History, Roman Numismatics

Thesis: Completed a whole-year senior thesis (~100 pp.) with honors on Marcus Claudius Marcellus (of spolia opima and 2nd Punic war)

Extra: Served as a research assistant for Classics professor for three years, helping him edit his articles and books, conducted research for that same professor on the depiction of the ancient world in video game and presented the paper with him at the 2008 APA meeting in Chicago (the paper will hopefully be published soon), studied abroad in Italy for a "semester", currently employed in financial services

Interests: Roman Militarism and Warfare in the Mid-Republic

Thanks in advance!

[caputmundi]

You ask two questions:

1. What are your chances to get into a good post-bac?

I think your chances are quite good. It seems you are hoping to make up for your "deficient" Greek preparation (I use this terminology in the least antagonistic way--from the viewpoint of a grad school AdComm you haven't had enough Greek). While I believe some post-bacs suggest strong intermediate backgrounds in both languages, it seems unlikely that your application would be rejected on this basis, especially since your many years of Latin may make up for your year and half (almost... 3/4 of a semester??) of Greek. It is not my sense that post-bac programs are extremely competitive in terms of admissions. Although I believe UCLA's program is smaller than the rest, so their admissions criteria might be somewhat higher. Bottom line: if you submit a thoughtful application, I would be willing to bet you will be admitted to a solid post-bac. I have heard the best things about UCLA and Penn, by the way, although I'm sure your professors would be able to advise you in that respect.

2. and then a good Ph.D program?

Good luck with this one. It's a competitive process, and stats don't tell the whole story. But the good news is you will probably be well-advised during your time at a post-bac, and I think doing such a program speaks to your maturity as an applicant.

[blukorea]

From my experience, post-bac programs don't really 'reject' applicants so I'd say that your stats are an overkill. You might even want to apply to some funded MA programs, which will give you the same (or better) credentials at no cost, and see what happens.

[dmac587]

Thanks for your responses, guys.

Blu, in response to your post, I was wondering if you might be able to enumerate the benefits of attending a masters program (as opposed to a post-bac like Penn and UCLA) other than cost. Will getting a masters make my PhD application look better? Will it save me some time in the PhD program? What is the time commitment for master's degree?

Also what schools have strong MA programs where I might be able to get funding?

[Joe001]

I hear WashU and Vanderbilt have solid MA programs, and are really good with funding. You sound like you would be a very good candidate for the PhD once you get enough Greek. Good luck.

[blukorea]

I second on the Vanderbilt MA, and there are also Washington University in St. Louis and University of Arizona. These terminal MA programs are quite competitive, both from what I hear and what I went through myself!

When I was a post-bacc some of my classmates got funded offers from Kansas and Minnesota, so consider these programs as well.

The main advantage of having an MA instead of post-bacc is that, in my opinion, you get to familiarize yourself with the scholarship by immersing yourself in a highly focused academic environment. Looking back as a third year grad student, I really had no clue what I wrote in my personal statement. Focusing on a specialized field for a couple years, you will get a sense of what sorts of ideas sell and are in trend, in addition to exploring your interests more in depth. Such will make a tangible impact on your PhD admissions; and you are right to aim high: I'd only want to go to a top program in an uncertain economy like this.

If you already have a clear idea of what you want to write your PhD dissertation on, then I'd assume that you have no reason to go through an MA program, unless you have financial constraints.

[dmac587]

Thanks for the help!

Do you guys know anything about Columbia's MA program?