<p>So I've decided my major is going to be archaeology. If anyone can provide some insight to what can improve my chances of acceptance I would greatly appreciate any information. Right now I’m considering applying to UCLA, UC Berkley, University of Washington, and a few other schools. However UCLA would be my top choice!</p>
<p>Currently I’m an undergraduate at ASU double majoring in anthropology and geography – I will be graduating Spring of 2015. I’m not sure if being a double major helps my chances of consideration or not but hopefully it looks more impressive. Honestly I had completed all the lower-division requirements for both majors upon transferring so double majoring seemed the most logical choice. Plus I've managed to finish the requirements in 2 yrs taking 15-18 units each semester. Currently, I have a cumulative 3.611 GPA. However, my cumulative major GPA for anthropology is in the 3.8 range not sure if that matters I know most schools are only concerned with the last 60 units so I should probably figure that GPA out but more than likely I'll be well above the 3.0 minimum most schools require for consideration. </p>
<p>As for experience outside of the university I’ve done one archaeology field school so far. This summer I will be doing another field school and working an anthropology intership with a well known museum - working in the archaeology lab. There’s also an opportunity to do a field school in the Spring semester working with one of the anthropology professors on a special project. So that should help fill in my CV a bit. I still need to take the GRE planning to tackle that sometime this summer, as I’ll have plenty of time to study being without any internet access for nearly three months. Aside from that I’ve got 3 solid references who can write me letters of recommendation, what else should I consider that will improve my chances of acceptance?</p>
<p>Double majors don’t typically look “more impressive.” What does look impressive is significant coursework related to your field and research area. Anthropology seems like a good base major for an archaeology interest, but I believe that geography is somewhat related to that as well. So that’s where being impressive will come in, not the fact that you have two majors.</p>
<p>It’s not true that schools are ONLY concerned with the last 60 credits. Most schools find your last 60 credits to be more important at indicating how you will perform in their program, but that doesn’t mean that they totally ignore your first two years. Your GPA is fine either way - both a 3.61 and a 3.8 are plenty high enough for MA programs.</p>
<p>Archaeology isn’t my field but I’m pretty sure that 2-3 field schools plus the museum internship is pretty good experience for a doctoral program, let alone an MA program. The other thing to remember is to consider fit - what your research interests are and where there are professors who are doing what you want to do. Fit with the department is one of the most important aspects of admission to academic MA programs.</p>
<p>I guess the other question I have is…why an MA? If you want to be an archaeologist you’ll need a PhD, and you seem competitive enough to apply straight to PhD programs. If you don’t want to be an archaeologist, I don’t see the purpose of getting an MA in the field.</p>
<p>The double major only looks more impressive on a CV in some regard if looking for employment (that’s my personal opinion anyway). However, as you mentioned it all comes down to actually being useful. Someone with a second major in French, for example, might have a better chance finding work in certain parts of Canada. Anywhere else in the United States a double major in French would likely be useless. With that in mind geography is definitely related – partly why I chose to stick with it. Most of the knowledge I’ve gained from the geography side can be applied towards the archaeology side especially if working in CRM (cultural resource management). Plus I’ve tried to chose courses, within the geography discipline, that would complement or give me skills that could provide useful if working as a geographer, archaeologist, or for a CRM firm. </p>
<p>As for the MA choice, most MA programs generally takes about 2 years to complete vs. a PhD, which can take anywhere from 4-10yrs to complete. Two of my professors spent 8 and 10years doing research before finishing – if you’re working as a RA/TA with the university or teaching a few course that might not be too bad but it’s still a huge commitment. </p>
<p>I want to pursue a PhD. eventually but not in archaeology; I’d like to focus on cultural anthropology doing ethnographic research on a subculture. Yeah it’s pointless, and aside from working in academia it wouldn’t be very usful in finding a job, but to me I’d be doing it just for fun more-or-less as a hobby. This gets back to the point you were making about finding a program where I fit in. Something I’ve never though about. Even for a MA fitting in the with the department is important. I guess it’s time to start looking into faculty members’ research and backgrounds. Having people around who are knowledgeable in my interests and could provide guidance would be quite beneficial indeed :)</p>
<p>Are you sure any of these schools won’t let you apply for a MA “en-route” to a PhD? Applying straight for a PhD, knowing you could earn a MA en-route, could help you for funding, which is usually more readily available to PhD students than to MA students.</p>
<p>I also think you seem to be overlooking funding issues. Not to mention is an archeology MA a good route to an anthro PhD? Wouldn’t that just give you extra years of graduate study as you would then have to start over to do the first couple years course requirements for the Anthro phD? PhD as hobby? What? Are you a trust fund baby? Elsewhere you say you are at CSULB with an anthro/econ double? What’s going on? You seems in need of quality advising, are you speaking to your professors about this plan?</p>