<p>My D1 wants to study anthropology. She chose this based on a huge brochure she received from some college with every major imaginable on it with various thoughts about the kind of person who would like it, what one does in the field, how to know if you would like it, etc. </p>
<p>I do not disrespect her decision, but know it is possible that, once she gets to college and comes into herself, she could change her major. Despite that, I am going with the anthro major. </p>
<p>Some people on CC write off anthro as a major and suggest that anyone who attends a Tier 1 LAC for undergrad anthro should have their head examined. That an inexpensive state school is the only way to go. </p>
<p>I, however, have come to a different conclusion. Most inexpensive schools are not going to invest anything in undergrad anthropology. So any money spent attending would be a total waste. We put alot of time in reading anthro/archeo department websites. It's pretty clear, just by the number of anthro/arch faculty members, how much a school has invested in anthropology. In my state, PA, there is one smallish state school which has a very good sized undergrad anthro dept, with a cool website, and seemingly enthusiastic faculty. We are also applying to a number of LACs which also seem to have very good anthro depts: Kenyon, Oberlin, Smith, and Gettysburg (just because its in-state). We are avoiding the big schools with grad programs in anthropology because the undergrads get the short end of the stick.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on this? BTW, we will qualify for as much financial need $ as is available.</p>
<p>I guess my first question would be "what type of anthropology?" Cultural anthropology? forensic anthropology? Does she have any leanings? My dd is drawn to forensic anthropology, but realizes that employment options would be lean after grad school. But that is a big reason why the University of TN is still on her list: Dr. Bass and the Body Farm :)</p>
<p>If you are leaning toward LACs, Beloit College’s anthropology department is definitely worth a look. Beloit is also generous with financial aid, at least in my experience.</p>
<p>Oh man! I was nearly drooling at Beloit when I saw their anthropology museum -- wow! What a great place to study anthropology. I am not sure what Beloit's financial aid
program is like now, though, since they had to lay off 40 employees recently when 36 students failed to register. Seems like their budget must be tight if that could happen. They also have an unfinished construction project in progress. UCLA also has a great department.</p>
<p>^ Yes, the Logan Museum is amazing. The layoffs are not supposed to negatively impact financial aid, but we won't know for sure until we receive next year's aid package.</p>
<p>I'll give you a different way to look at it. I would not at all assume big schools with strong grad programs will neglect undergrads (it's an assumption that is not necessarily true). Strong grad programs is highly correlated with lots of strong research going on, and the school having lots of recognition in the field of anthrolopology (which for academics is around the research that comes out of the place). That is a big plus for someone in a major for whom one future direction may be graduate school. The best way to get into a great graduate school (plus have a very fun and enriching education) is to get yourself involved in research and working with recognized researchers in the field. Any strong undergrad who takes some initiative can usually get involved in research too (since its a big part of the culture in such places). Not to mention many big research schools also have specific programs for undergrads to get involved in research.</p>
<p>Friend's S is graduating from UMichigan this year with a degree in anthropology (don't know what type), loved the program, got to know key profs, and has many grad school options. Big schools can offer very good experiences.</p>
<p>S at one point was considering anthropology. He looked at a small top LAC and found out that it had only 3 profs, one of which was going to be on leave the following year.
Size is one issue to consider, along with the particular research interests of the faculty.
By the way, UMich's anthro department is very well regarded. So are the anthro departments of some large state universities as well as those of mid-size research universities.
I just had dinner with a former Harvard graduate student (he dropped out of his program after a couple of years) who complained that the Harvard profs only cared about undergrads. Of course, undergrads complain that the profs only care about their graduate students. :)</p>
<p>One aspect of your post caught my eye: " we will qualify for as much financial need $ as is available."</p>
<p>Do any of these schools guarantee to meet 100% of need or is your family prepared to take out lots of loans to make up the difference or is there some other source of funds to make up the difference between the COA and the financial aid award? </p>
<p>I don't think this is really what your question was about, but I've seen enough "I didn't get enough financial aid so I can't go to school" threads to ask this question.</p>
<p>a second (or third or fourth) vote for Beloit. My niece was an anthro major there and was accepted into every top Ph.D. program she applied to. She had wonderful summer experiences working closely with a Beloit prof, with whom she is still in touch. Also had the opportunity to present a professional paper her senior year.</p>
<p>thanks for the replies. Beloit is too far away. Same with Emory.</p>
<p>2 of the 4 LACs advertise meeting full financial need. Not sure about the other two, but we come in at the low end of everyone's family income scale. </p>
<p>My DD is not a huge school kind of girl. Maybe for grad school.....</p>
<p>Beloit, though in Wisconsin, is an hour and a half or so from O'Hare, a little farther from Midway. If you're close to a major airport, may be less expensive and time consuming than some driving options. </p>
<p>Don't make assumptions about Beloit and financial aid based on the layoffs. This was done to stay in good financial shape, not to broadcast chaos. As Mary says, Beloit families will have to see how the packages shape up this year. I feel confident that they will hold to similar aid, as promised. Regardless, Beloit offers a good deal of merit money as well, from specific scholarship funds.</p>
<p>My D's first year roommate came to Barnard to study Anthro after doing a lot of research. Because Margaret Mead is an alum, the department prides itself on getting women into the field as soon as possible.</p>
<p>The interface with Columbia provides so many opportunities, as do the many museums in NY, especially the Museum of Natural History.</p>
<p>This young woman has now done field work in Nepal among other places.</p>
<p>She hails from rural GA but knew what she wanted and went after it.</p>
<p>My husband is an anthropology prof; I have an undergrad degree in anthro, and obviously, many people we know are in anthro. It is an exceptionally solid liberal arts degree that leads majors into law, politics, medicine--really any area that a student decides to consider post-graduation. At the small LACs, remember that many, many students now double-major, something else an anthro degree lends itself to.</p>
<p>I have taken quite a few anthro classes over the years- physical anthro in combination with history of the earth - geology class, with a prof who is now at Evergreen State College. Ive also taken several nutritional anthropology courses with a prof from Bangladesh who has taught at UCLA but who is now in the Seattle area.
( my interest is in urban agriculture)
I am currently in an amazing environmental anthropology program.
[quote]
Student experience is best summed up by one of the participants in the summer program:
“The LEAF School is the kind of opportunity that rarely presents itself more than once in a lifetime. The breadth of the experience on every level (academically, physically, and emotionally) is something that I personally have never seen in one class before. Students, teachers, and community partners came together to work with one another toward what we all hope will be a goal for the entirety of humanity someday. With academic opportunities like this, I honestly believe that there is a very strong possibility that we will see this goal realized and major social and environmental changes (for the better) will occur. This truly has been one of the most significant events of my life. The lessons I have learned will be passed on to my children and anyone else who cares to get involved with the world we all share.”