<p>Hey everyone. I am currently in the process of applying to graduate schools in California. They must be in or near San Diego because that is where my fianc</p>
<p>The way to find this out is to look at the faculty interests on each of those schools’ webpages. I was a little bored so I decided to do that myself, but I have to warn you that anthropology is not my field and I’m only going by what I see on the website and in the NRC rankings. I also added UCLA and UC-Santa Barbara - both are a little farther afield (UCLA is 2 hours from San Diego, and Santa Barbara is 3.5).</p>
<p>I’m also having a little bit of trouble figuring out whether you want an MA or a PhD. UC-Riverside and UCSD only offer PhDs, whereas SDSU and Cal State Fullerton only offer MAs. I’m guessing that you’d prefer to get a PhD, but you’re willing to settle for an MA right now to stay close to your fiance. So the two additional schools I suggested only offer PhDs.</p>
<p>Out of the schools you suggested, UCSD seems like the clear winner. There’s a professor there doing almost exactly what you want to do; they have a concentration in biological anthropology and have several faculty doing work either primarily in that field or whose work intersects with that. It’s a mid-ranked program in anthropology, but I think the strengths and fit will make up for that.</p>
<p>Next, from your list, seems to be UC-Riverside. It’s also mid-ranked, but there are two faculty members who are doing things that are somewhat close to what you want although not exactly. The department does seem to be dominated by sociocultural anthropologists, though, and you may find that frustrating. (I know because I’m a social psychologist in a department dominated by cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists, and it’s frustrating sometimes when all your colloquium speakers are cog/neuro and even the people invited to the social brown bag do social neuro or social cog.)</p>
<p>If you want an MA, CSU-Fullerton seems like a pretty decent place to do biological anthro - not as good as the two places above, but okay for an MA. SDSU doesn’t seem like it suits you at all; none of the faculty seem to be doing the research you want.</p>
<p>Also, the two schools I suggested - UCLA and UCSB - seem to be good places to do biological anthro. Both are top-ranked programs (UCLA in the top 10 and UCSB in the top 15). UCSB has at least 5 faculty members by my count that do things that form parts of your research statement, including a concentration in Ancient Mediterranean Studies. [url=<a href=“Public Affairs & Communications | Institutional Advancement”>Public Affairs & Communications | Institutional Advancement]This[/url</a>] also may interest you. UCLA also has several faculty members who do interesting work in biological anthropology.</p>
<p>So if I had to rank them just based on my outsider’s perspective of the faculty research offerings, I’d say:</p>
<ol>
<li>UCSD</li>
<li>UC-Santa Barbara</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
<li>UC-Riverside</li>
<li>Cal State Fullerton</li>
</ol>
<p>And then not even consider SDSU, unless you absolutely had to.</p>
<p>I just want to add a teeny note: More geographic flexibility on the front end means more choice on the back end. If you go to a better-fit or better-ranked program for your needs, you’re more likely to be more competitive when looking for academic jobs. I go to a top program in my field, and just the things you have access to and the atmosphere has a big impact on you - I mean, for example, publishing papers is just what you DO at good programs, it becomes part of your personal ethos and - I can’t explain it, but you get a tremendous advantage over other candidates if “Publishing papers is what I do” is just part of your worldview like “cancer is bad” and “cupcakes are tasty.” It becomes easy and commonplace vs. difficult and dreaded. There are little things people don’t think about like library resources (I have borrowing privileges at all of the New York area libraries and all of the Ivy league libraries; I can get books from Dartmouth or Penn within 2 days, which means that virtually ANY book I want, I can get. And in the rare instance that it’s not available…I can ask my librarian to buy it because our university has an absurd amount of money), money for travel to conferences (most students can get at least one $500-800 travel grant per year, at least), etc.</p>
<p>I’m only saying this because it may be worth it in the short run to be a bit further away from your fiance than to stay close. In your case it actually seems like UCSD is the best choice anyway - which is awesome. I moved away from my now-husband, then-fiance for my program too so it’s difficult, but given how well-respected and how good a fit my program is I think I will have a lot of options when I’m on the market (and other academics have confirmed this).</p>
<p>I cannot even begin to tell you how helpful your post was. I really appreciate you looking into this for me, especially because anthropology is not your field. The fact that you took the time to do this is wonderful.</p>
<p>I also completely agree with your assessment of the schools listed. I am indeed interested in getting a PhD, but was willing to settle for the Master’s first and then move on to the PhD in the future. I think that you are right about SDSU not really being a good fit for me - their emphasis is more archaeological and they only have one faculty member I would be interested in working with. And she still doesn’t do quite what I want. UC Riverside is one school I was very interested in. I emailed a faculty member there whose research I am interested in and her response was very helpful and I would love to work with her. But you’re right that the over-all program may not support my interests as well as a different program would. It’s also a long commute. Maybe I’ll consider it a safety school? I wasn’t even considering UCLA or UCSB, but I am going to start looking into them. If I can get into a better program even with a longer drive, it may be worth it. </p>
<p>I am most interested in UCSD. There is a woman there who does lifestyle and diet reconstruction of Neanderthals in the Levant and works with bone chemistry, and I would love to work with her. I am very doubtful that I will be accepted to UCSD though. I do not have the greatest GPA (3.4, or a 3.6 if I include the time I spent at a community college before coming to a four year institution to complete my BA. Have no idea if I am supposed to include that) and have not participated in very many projects outside of my general schooling. </p>
<p>Field experience and research are highly regarded in prospective anthropology graduate students, and I just haven’t done that much in comparison with other undergrads I’ve spoken to. I have participated in two field schools (one on my home state during a weekend and one study abroad for two weeks) that were in forensic archaeology and biological archaeology respectively. I am also currently involved in an internship at a local museum in the archaeology department, but archaeology is not my primary field of focus so I don’t know how much this will help me with a biological anthropology emphasis. I am working on a research project as well that is a review of existing literature - I am attempting to do a regional analysis of trauma and pathology within European Pleistocene populations based on existing site data since I can’t collect my own data as an undergrad. I am going to attempt to present this at a conference in the spring, but I won’t have much to show for it for grad apps except maybe an abstract.</p>
<p>I know I can secure at least one solid letter of recommendation, and am hoping to secure another from a top faculty member at my current institution (he has actually done work with this professor I want to work with at UCSD, so I am hoping a letter from him will improve my chances). I am still searching for a person to ask for my third letter.</p>
<p>I’m also taking the GRE in two weeks and feel completely unprepared. I have been studying for a month, but I am still not comfortable. I don’t test particularly well and I’m nervous about my scores affecting my chances of acceptance into grad school. I’ve given myself enough time that I can re-take it if absolutely necessary, we’ll see.</p>
<p>I’ve started my statement of purpose and I’m going to a departmental meeting on Monday to get some more advice on my SOP. I’m sort of lost in writing it, especially the introduction. I know this is a major factor considered by departments.</p>
<p>Just to throw it out there, UC Irvine is closer to San Diego than several others on your list and apparently the Anthro department has top 10 rankings from the NRC and others. I know nothing about anthropogy but it is worth looking at.</p>
<p>Thanks! I appreciate the reply but their program is more focused on cultural and medical anthropology, which is not my focus. I wish they had what I wanted to study because it’s so much closer!</p>
<p>Also, I just took my practice GRE and I got a 305 (159 verbal, 147 quant). Not so hot 
my suspicions of bad scores have been confirmed. </p>
<p>Does anyone think that with my qualifications listed above I may actually be able to get accepted to UCSD?</p>
<p>I deliberately skipped UC-Irvine because of the sociocultural focus. My department is interdisciplinary, so I know a little about anthropologists. I’m happy I was able to help 
I think if you were doing UCR, you may want to live in Riverside and commute to your fiance on the weekends (this is what my fiance and I did when we lived ~3 hours away from each other, until he could move here), at least for the first 2-3 years. After you finish coursework and exams, you don’t need to live near campus anymore. One of my colleagues is moving out of the city into a suburb; it takes about 2 hours to get from there to our university by train, but she’s moving because her partner is beginning a PhD program in that suburb and they want to live together.</p>
<p>Most applicants don’t have any publications, so don’t worry about that, but presenting at a conference is good. FWIW, my undergrad GPA was a 3.4, and I got into a top program in my field. Sometimes it’s really about the holistic package. Research experience counts no matter what you do - most of my research experience was not in my target area, but the important part is understanding the research process.</p>
<p>I know this sounds trite, but try not to be too nervous about the GRE. Sometimes, the nervousness becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Your scores aren’t too bad; they can be improved. The practice test should tell you where you faltered; a book can help you work through the strategies for that particular section. But remember that admissions are holistic and your GRE scores are only one part of the game: many people get into grad school with middling GRE scores and an otherwise outstanding portfolio. </p>
<p>Trick with the statement: write the introduction last. I always have trouble writing introductions, so I write easier parts first and come back to the beginning. Or, if you absolutely have to start with the introduction, write a bad one, then come back and edit it later. It’s just a draft, you can always improve it 
Also, don’t feel like the introduction has to be creative and exciting. Mine certainly wasn’t, but it did convey the passion I have for my field. I think your specificity here, and knowing exactly what you want to do, may help you.</p>
<p>You may want to hang out on thegradcafe.com’s discussion forums. Lots of anthropologists there.</p>