<p>Well if you are still checking this thread, yeah, it matters VERY MUCH if you put an intended major on your application and yeah I would definitely tell them if you have a great interest in Egyptology. Apply to Penn. They think very highly of their program in this area and have for 50 yrs or more. No, I don't think there is trememdous competition you need to be afraid of and even if there is the important thing is, when a college values a program it is VERY IMPORTANT to them that they reach those students who care deeply about that subject.Even if you are not accepted try colleges which offer a personal interview and share with the interviewer your passion for the subject. You will find a super college somewhere!</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, especially about the interview (I'm nervous already). I've heard about the Penn museum, but I hadn't realized Penn valued the program so much.</p>
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<p>IB06, stand by for long incoming....</p>
<p>Rather than digest, I've cut-and-paste from my friend's e-mail.</p>
<p>===</p>
<p>Definitely learn French and especally German. One or the
other will be required, anyway, and the major dictionary of
the AE language is not called the <em>Woerterbuch</em> for nothing.
If there's opportunity for exposure to a Semitic language to
help get a grasp on some of the linguistic differences one
will encounter, that would be good, too, although not
necessary.</p>
<p>As for undergraduate study:</p>
<p>UChicago: broad program but includes study of language (not
sure if it can be specifically majored in).</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins: a student can concentrate on language
(called there "Egyptology") rather than art/archaeology.</p>
<p>UToronto: Near & Middle Eastern Civ, AEL taught but not, it
seems, as a major</p>
<p>Brown: the program is primarily a language one. (This,
with its core two-year course in Middle Egyptian, might be
the best bet for an undergrad, given the expressed
preference.)</p>
<p>UPenn: (ignore: essentially has no undergrad Egyptology;
can major, however, in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies with a
concentration in ancient Near Eastern languages)</p>
<p>UCLA: the BA is granted in Ancient Near Eastern
Civilizations with a concentration option on Egypt.</p>
<p>UC/Berkeley: Near Eastern Studies, can concentrate on
Egyptian language.</p>
<p>There are also programs at Yale, UMemphis, UMichigan, and
Emory, but I don't have time to investigate them.</p>
<p>Best bets for undergrad philological concerns are Brown and
JHU, but UChicago, being the Mecca of American Egyptology,
would be best. Apply to many programs.</p>
<p>Before attending, obtain and study the following, in this
order if possible:</p>
<p>1) <em>How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs</em> by Collier & Manley
(and I'm not just recommending this because they were among
my instructors at ULiverpool).</p>
<p>2) <em>Middle Egyptian</em> by James P. Allen.</p>
<p>3) Gardiner's <em>Egyptian Grammar</em>, 3rd ed.</p>
<p>Also have on hand Faulkner's <em>A Concise Dictionary of Middle
Egyptian</em>.</p>
<p>Ignore Budge completely. (He can be used with caution and
knowledge: but kids, don't try this at home.)</p>
<p>Also read as much AE literature in translation as possible,
as many translations as possible. The compilations by
Lichtheim and Parker, for example, are good places to start.
At this stage one can confront Budge, but this is best done
with more modern translations at hand.</p>
<p>Also read as much scholarly works on the particular cultural
area(s) of concern (funerary texts? non-literary texts?
Amarna Period? medical texts?), and Egyptian history as
possible.</p>
<p>And think more broadly. What other tangential topics enter
the area of interest that might give you a different
approach to them? Hebrew? Technology? Religious studies?
Economics? Etc. Be aware, and explore those topics (beyond
Egypt) as well. </p>
<p>===</p>
<p>Hope this is useful. Good luck.</p>
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<p>Thanks for all the info, TheDad. You've been very helpful. I'm in luck; the public library has a copy of How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and I'm practically fluent in German (German immersion elementary school/German IB).</p>
<p>My semi-official college list:
1) Johns Hopkins- emphasis on language
2) Brown- emphasis on language
3) UChicago- "Mecca of American Egyptology"
4) A few other schools closer to home with merit $-Davidson? Furman? Emory?</p>
<p>An added bonus is that all the colleges above seem to have good biology programs as well.</p>
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