Resources- MA programs/schools

[striped]

Hi All, 

I plan to apply this year for 2017 admittance cycle. I graduated from a state school with my BA in anthro. I already took the GRE and my results were not the best- 21st percentile for quant, 80th percentile for verbal, and 80th percentile for writing. I am planning to retake. I am interested in social and cultural anth (with a foci on modernity, affect theory, structural violence, class, all within the U.S.) but I do not have a good sense of what schools I should apply to. my major GPA was 3.9, but total GPA was 3.5. I am very average. I was hoping to get some advice or resources from those who are in the application process as well. How does one know if a school is worth going to (I intend to pursue a PhD at a top program) in the long run? I do not want to go to graduate school just to go. I want it to be meaningful and beneficial to my future PhD application. 

 

Any advice in how to go about even beginning to find worthy schools/MA programs but are not out of my league, would be greatly appreciated. 

 

[Marge_Simpson]

I applied to 7 programs for this cycle (2016) - 5 phd & 2 MA. I worked on applications for 8 months & had a very organized process, did a ton of research, etc. 

(My project also focuses on modernity & class, although in the Amazon, not the US!)

 What I did to identify programs was to look at websites for every 'top tier' school's anthro program, as well as some state schools in areas where i thought i would like to live. I had a list of all of these programs, and scratched out the ones that I had already gotten info from along the way. 

Looking on the website, I got a quick, general sense of what the program focus was - and I did find a ton of programs for which class is a focus. BUT I did gather that most anthropology grad programs out there do not grant an MA by itself, rather, you earn one along the way to PhD. I know that McGill gives an MA. I applied there, and also to Berkeley's MA program, but that is a folklore emphasis & might not be fitting for you. The AAA has a guide to filter programs, and could pull up those that grant MAs, although I've noticed it's not 100% accurate & updated:

https://secure.americananthro.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=AAAWeb&WebKey=cc464c00-c91e-497c-b51a-7e0d27b96daa

I quickly browsed through every faculty bio on each site. I took note of professors who I thought might be interested in my project, and made an excel sheet with those programs & the faculty members' names. I think that you should generally try to find a program that has at least 3 faculty members who are working on something similar. It doesn't have to be exactly your project, but should share some themes. Maybe that's not true for an MA though, but just a PhD where you need a committee of 3 anthro profs. to work with.

I then had a list of about 20 programs. I researched professor's work in more depth, by browsing papers they've written in databases (google scholar can be great, and there are free ways to access if you aren't currently enrolled anywhere). Sometimes there are youtube videos of faculty giving lectures or something like that. You can look at their CVs too, to see a full list of their publications. This allowed me to narrow down to about 13 programs I think. I then wrote to the 'main' professor (or maybe 2) in each department, very briefly introducing myself and my project, and simply asking if they would be taking any grad students in the next cycle. Sometimes they will not be (no funding in dept, going on sabbatical, etc), so you can eliminate that program from your list. Emails, I think, should be very short. 

So a few months before deadlines, I had a list of 10 programs to apply to, but it became too much work to apply to this many - I have been working full-time while doing this. I narrowed the list down to 7. Each has to be tailored to the program & its faculty a good amount. 

Similar advice is given elsewhere on this site (see forums about application advice! like the recent thread called '2013 repository'). But what's most important is identifying faculty that you'd like to work with, who share the same interests as you - rather than saying "i want to go to harvard". There might not be anyone at Harvard who can or wants to advise your project if it doesn't 'match'. 

 

[striped]

Thanks tracyb for all the advice. it was very very useful and i'm grateful. follow up question: given my low scores, what's your opinion on retaking? is it worth it to drop another $200 plus countless hours restudying, to improve my score if it's not even a large consideration in applications? I've read all over the place that GRE scores, while considered, are not actually that important. Trying to gauge the most efficient way to use my time. I could be strengthening my SoP, but instead I'm devoting all my time to studying for the quant section of the GRE. 

[Lexie16]

@striped I heard something during this application cycle through the grapevine that a lot of anthropology departments are hesitant to accept students wanting to complete a project on topics within the U.S. Pretty sure it is due to our "us/them" mindset within the discipline that we've focused on changing. That said, and please take it with a grain of salt because it is a rumor, is it possible for you to change your SOP next cycle? I'm wondering if you phrased your project differently in a way that still aligns with your interests, you wouldn't have to worry about the above information possibly impacting your admission.

tracyb gave some phenomenal advice! I would like to mention another thing to check out when looking at schools- the course list. While there were professors researching topics related to my interests, there were many schools whose curriculum had nothing to do with those interests. One of the largest factors that went into my school choice was "Are there classes that are related to what I want to research and that I want to take?" Also check out how often they're offered- if you struggle to choose at least 2 classes a semester that relate, I would be hesitant to apply.

As far as finding MA programs, any possibility you would be interested in an interdisciplinary studies MA? Such as American Studies? Many interdisciplinary departments have funding for MA students. However, if you have a professor who is a mentor, I would ask them if that MA is likely to help you or if it can impact your PhD apps in a negative way.

Edited February 26, 2016 by Lexie16

[Marge_Simpson]

5 hours ago, striped said:

Thanks tracyb for all the advice. it was very very useful and i'm grateful. follow up question: given my low scores, what's your opinion on retaking? is it worth it to drop another $200 plus countless hours restudying, to improve my score if it's not even a large consideration in applications? I've read all over the place that GRE scores, while considered, are not actually that important. Trying to gauge the most efficient way to use my time. I could be strengthening my SoP, but instead I'm devoting all my time to studying for the quant section of the GRE. 

I don't know how much admissions departments and/or faculty weigh one's GRE scores. No idea. I know that personally if I apply again to programs next year - which I might, as I have been accepted into programs but not offered funding - I will keep studying & take the GRE again. Now I'll have almost a whole year to study, whereas this past year I studied for a few months. You don't have to put in 'countless hours'. What about 6 hours/week? Also why can't you strengthen your SOP and study for GRE at the same time? Again, you'll have almost a year to work on this stuff, before winter 2016 when they're due. What about programs that don't require GRE? U Massachusetts Amherst is one that I know of (UMASS). There must be others. 

[Chong0318]

“But what's most important is identifying faculty that you'd like to work with, who share the same interests as you - rather than saying "i want to go to harvard". There might not be anyone at Harvard who can or wants to advise your project if it doesn't 'match'. ”

Thanks for Tracy's words, I am applying in 2017 fall and the searching engine of AAA I also used it for choosing anthropology MA program.

[farflung]

On February 26, 2016 at 10:39 PM, Lexie16 said:

@striped I heard something during this application cycle through the grapevine that a lot of anthropology departments are hesitant to accept students wanting to complete a project on topics within the U.S. Pretty sure it is due to our "us/them" mindset within the discipline that we've focused on changing. That said, and please take it with a grain of salt because it is a rumor, is it possible for you to change your SOP next cycle? I'm wondering if you phrased your project differently in a way that still aligns with your interests, you wouldn't have to worry about the above information possibly impacting your admission.

So, this is kind of a sidebar to this convo, but: I've heard this myth that American Social/Cultural Anthropology Departments are skeptical toward domestic (in the US) research in several forums now, and I must say (as a late-stage PhD student at a top program)-- it's just not true. Perhaps it was true a few decades ago, but not anymore. If anyone is interested in domestic research, you just need to look for programs where faculty are doing research in the US (many anthropologists do, because we have families and children to care for and can't go abroad for research). Just like if you're a South Asian specialist, you probably wouldn't want to attend a school with 0 South Asian specialists, programs with no American specialists will be unlikely to accept a US-based project. But programs with American specialists will! It's just a matter of fit.

The importance of GRE scores varies by department. Keep in mind that a different, idiosyncratic bunch of anthropology faculty will be reading your application at each school, so some of it is just a roll of the dice whether GREs really matter to that department. In my program, GRE scores do not count hardly at all-- especially quant scores -- I mean, we're cultural anthropologists, and HIGHLY skeptical of quantifying one's "potential" for grad work or much less "intelligence." The statement of purpose is everything, as is the faculty's perceptions of your "fit" into our department strengths and your capacity to succeed as an academic anthropologist (based largely on letters of rec). I would advise investing your resources in a really amazing Statement of Purpose. Your SoP should both make clear why your work fits well with the interests of the faculty and cites the appropriate anthropologists / anthropological texts for your research interests (this may require reading). 

 

[busybee]

On February 25, 2016 at 6:55 PM, striped said:

Thanks tracyb for all the advice. it was very very useful and i'm grateful. follow up question: given my low scores, what's your opinion on retaking? is it worth it to drop another $200 plus countless hours restudying, to improve my score if it's not even a large consideration in applications? I've read all over the place that GRE scores, while considered, are not actually that important. Trying to gauge the most efficient way to use my time. I could be strengthening my SoP, but instead I'm devoting all my time to studying for the quant section of the GRE. 

Hi striped. I just accepted a fully-funded PhD offer at a top-tier private institution for this cycle, and my GRE quant score was in the 24th%; my "analytical writing" in the 52nd%. My Verbal was above 90% (which is what my BA advisor told me is the only thing she cares about when it comes to scores when she is working on the admissions committee at my university), although I highly doubt that had anything to do with why I got in. If you are going to retake, I'd focus on raising your verbal more than anything else. Quantitative and writing are really not important (frankly, they are a joke).

I would suggest putting your time and energy toward working on your SOP and finding schools with excellent fits; then, emailing a few professors at each school you are interested in. My new advisor was looking for a new student and working on the committee this year, which from my experience is super important in admissions. Unfortunately, politics aren't something you can control at all, but you can certainly email professors, introducing yourself and your project and asking if they are taking on new students this year. I learned a lot this way about people's personalities and the overall departmental culture. One professor offered to read my SOP and gave me tons of advice (where I am ultimately attending!), while at another school I emailed 5+ professors and didn't get a single response (needless to say this is not where I am attending!). I was hesitant to email at first but I'm really glad I did. This was a huge and significant part of my application experience, along with writing my SOP which took a lot of time and dedication.

Anyway, don't sweat the GRE. I think writing standardized tests is a favorite pastime of Satan. 

[Chong0318]

On 2/19/2016 at 2:15 AM, Tracyb said:

I applied to 7 programs for this cycle (2016) - 5 phd & 2 MA. I worked on applications for 8 months & had a very organized process, did a ton of research, etc. 

(My project also focuses on modernity & class, although in the Amazon, not the US!)

 What I did to identify programs was to look at websites for every 'top tier' school's anthro program, as well as some state schools in areas where i thought i would like to live. I had a list of all of these programs, and scratched out the ones that I had already gotten info from along the way. 

Looking on the website, I got a quick, general sense of what the program focus was - and I did find a ton of programs for which class is a focus. BUT I did gather that most anthropology grad programs out there do not grant an MA by itself, rather, you earn one along the way to PhD. I know that McGill gives an MA. I applied there, and also to Berkeley's MA program, but that is a folklore emphasis & might not be fitting for you. The AAA has a guide to filter programs, and could pull up those that grant MAs, although I've noticed it's not 100% accurate & updated:

https://secure.americananthro.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=AAAWeb&WebKey=cc464c00-c91e-497c-b51a-7e0d27b96daa

I quickly browsed through every faculty bio on each site. I took note of professors who I thought might be interested in my project, and made an excel sheet with those programs & the faculty members' names. I think that you should generally try to find a program that has at least 3 faculty members who are working on something similar. It doesn't have to be exactly your project, but should share some themes. Maybe that's not true for an MA though, but just a PhD where you need a committee of 3 anthro profs. to work with.

I then had a list of about 20 programs. I researched professor's work in more depth, by browsing papers they've written in databases (google scholar can be great, and there are free ways to access if you aren't currently enrolled anywhere). Sometimes there are youtube videos of faculty giving lectures or something like that. You can look at their CVs too, to see a full list of their publications. This allowed me to narrow down to about 13 programs I think. I then wrote to the 'main' professor (or maybe 2) in each department, very briefly introducing myself and my project, and simply asking if they would be taking any grad students in the next cycle. Sometimes they will not be (no funding in dept, going on sabbatical, etc), so you can eliminate that program from your list. Emails, I think, should be very short. 

So a few months before deadlines, I had a list of 10 programs to apply to, but it became too much work to apply to this many - I have been working full-time while doing this. I narrowed the list down to 7. Each has to be tailored to the program & its faculty a good amount. 

Similar advice is given elsewhere on this site (see forums about application advice! like the recent thread called '2013 repository'). But what's most important is identifying faculty that you'd like to work with, who share the same interests as you - rather than saying "i want to go to harvard". There might not be anyone at Harvard who can or wants to advise your project if it doesn't 'match'. 

 

that's really helpful!