Anthropology 2008

[Misanthropology]

Ah, next year's batch of fresh meat!

For me, it's just begun. Most people who are browsing this forum have oh-so-been-there-before. I'm researching grad schools, checking out professors and grad students, talking to my current profs, all in preparation for the big admissions ritual.

Anthropology - we could totally do an ethnography of nervous grad school applicants, no?

So I've been reading all these nerve-wracking conversations about acceptance/rejection status because it's that time of year for everyone who's doing fall 07 and submitted their apps in 06. It's definitely cyclical (aha! not just a ritual, but a solar calendar ritual!) and so as your term comes to an end, mine is just beginning. I figured I might as well get things rolling for all the people who will eventually come here planning to apply to anth programs in '08.

I'm a senior at decent private school (top 20) studying anthropology, and I'm graduating this May. I'm taking a year off to go abroad, and I'm going to try to apply for grad programs in anthropology for entrance in fall of 2008 (which horribly means I'll be dealing with the app process while I'm abroad). That's my story for now. I'm sure more details will come out as the discussions start heating up in August or so.

If you're applying for anthropology in 2008, join the fun and introduce yourself here.

But, I also hope to address a question towards some of the veterans of the application process. I'm the first person in my family to apply for graduate school in soft sciences (got engineering and health sciences parents who are wondering what the hell one does with anthropology) so I'm horridly unfamiliar with the process. I'd like to ask about an issue I'm sure EVERYONE has thought about doing their grad school research: Master's vs. Ph.D.

Some of the programs I'm looking at seem ferociously competitive, with acceptance ratios that make getting into a good undergrad college look like a cake walk. After digesting some of the stats, the though thought has crossed my mind to perhaps apply to Master's programs at some of the most difficult college, hoping to establish myself and make myself more attractive for a shift to the PhD program later. This, of course, assumes that getting into a Master's program is easy, perhaps it's not. It also assumes that making the transition to the phd program is also easy, and that might be wrong too. After browsing a ton of grad applicant communities, I haven't found very many people who are trying that route, and there must be a reason. I believe that reason is people who are rejected from PhD programs, if qualified, may be offered to join the Master's program anyways. Can anyone help a brother out?

Thanks!

[Weber]

What is defined as the "best" anthropology programs depends on your specific interests...and finding a good fit school will help you get in. That said, the most well-recognized departments tend not to have terminal masters, unless you're doing something like medical anthropology or museum anthropology.

[devindavenport]

I did complete a Masters degree which indeed assisted my goal of becoming a better doctoral program applicant. However, I was in the rare situation of having funding for my M.A program. If money is no object, you may wish to explore an MA first if you are not absolutely certain that you are committed to the professional and personal toll that such a committment brings about. Also, given the competitive nature of specific programs, you may wish to have this as an asset to help your application or to determine that this is not for you. I would argue that 50% of my MA cohort decided not to apply to Phd programs after completing the MA even though they came into the program feeling ostensibly certain of their doctoral aspirations. Thus, my advice would be to be completely cognizant of your committment level and goals and make application choices based upon this.

[maxine power]

On the MA vs PhD subject:

MA's are essentially different from PhD's in our field. It very much is about what you want to do with your education...

Devindavenport, what's your cohort up to these days?

[seamail]

I have a Query which is essentially directed at all those who received good Anthropology PhD offers this year. I am considering reapplying next year. I am a UK student and graduated in IR. This meant I had no direct Anthropology experience. I guess my record was pretty average but I realized that a lot of emphasis is put on the actual statement of purpose. I therefore put a lot of effort into mine and spent a lot of time emailing professors to check whether there was room for my interests.

The thing is, it seems the discipline has evolved a little asymmetrically. My focus was more theoretical than fieldwork based. I even had a paragraph mentioning connections with Foucault and Nietzsche though my general emphasis was on Anthropology of the US, specifically cultural divides, secular/religion and ethics. All of this was based around recent work by Talal Asad. Some departments would email back with enthusiasm while others would suggest i look into sociology etc.

The thing is I know a lot of departments are really into the whole traditional fieldwork aspect. On the other hand UNC emailed saying that I was above minimum admission standards but there were too many people with my interests. THE REST WERE ALL REJECTIONS!!

SO...I'm a little mixed up. Right now my plan is to start a masters in Anthropology somewhere here in the UK(where i can afford one) and reapply during my study. BUT WHAT IS IT THAT COULD GIVE MY APPLICATION THE BOOST IT NEEDS. Would you guys know of any region or subject etc which you think will always need positions filling. I realize the Masters should give me the necessary background in Anthropology, BUT I ALSO NEED A GOOD SUBJECT AREA!

[kylem0203]

In my search for the better anthropology programs, I found this site's listings to be helpful...

http://www.topgradprograms.com/browse/p ... t=A&pid=49

good for quick side-by-side comparison of individual programs, plus drill-down to the program pages which can sometime be hard to find.

If you don't know where to start this could be a good place.

Good luck all!