Applying to master's programs, but there is one PhD program that I'm in love with

[kasserole]

Applying to master's programs in Socio-cultural Anthropology in hopes of becoming more competitive for a PhD program in a few years; get some publications, go to conferences, more research experience, etc.

However, the PhD program at Yale in SC Anthro has some people and resources that are a perfect fit for my research interests.

Stats:

Went to Mount Holyoke, BA with high honor in Anthropology. CGPA: 3.35, major GPA 3.72. Haven't taken the GRE yet. 1 field school w/ an independent study, 1 independent study abroad, 1 honors thesis. 0 publications. Presented at 3 undergrad conferences, no professional ones. Have some work experience in my research interests.

Worth it to try? Or go for it when I have more credentials? I already wrote a rough draft for the Yale SOP, and I think it may be better than the others I've written.

[bioarch_fan]

I personally say go for it.  What do you have to lose?  If you don't get accepted this year then you could always contact the POI there and ask if they have any tips for a future application cycle.  And while you're getting your MA you can work on the tips that they gave you.

But I think you sound qualified.  I have independent studies, but I have never presented at a conference and you have 3 conferences.  I didn't write a thesis, but I've written long papers.  If you want to get a publication then you could use your honors thesis to work out a publishable paper.  Talk to your advisor on how they would suggest doing it.  I admit, I'm not entirely knowledgable about cultural anth, at least not as much as I should be since I'm an anth major, but if we can get publishable papers out of our theses then I'm sure any of the subfields can.