<p>My friend is wondering how difficult Harvard's anthropology program is to get into (social anthropology, to be more specific). I know it's Harvard -- it has got to be very hard. They say on their website that a bachelors in anthropology isn't necessary.</p>
<p>Stats: Top California public university, 4.0 major English lit GPA, GRE Verbal Score above 750 (I forget the exact score), low quantitatives (mid-500s, I think), and a perfect score on the Analytical. Is Harvard way too out of his league? I tend to think that Ivies like to accept Ivies. Although his undergrad university is VERY hard to get into and very well-respected, I'm not sure if it'll mean anything to Harvard. But I might be wrong. Any info. appreciated! </p>
<p>Those stats will get his foot in the door, but the rest of his application will determine his chances. He would also need great research experience (some kind of thesis or project) and 2-3 glowing faculty recommendations.</p>
<p>because social anthropology (in my country, at least) involves a lot of dealing with data analysis and probably some mathematical content the quantative GRE might be quite important? </p>
<p>their website recommends good scores in both, but it does say low GREs won't exclude people</p>
<p>I think because his first degree is in english that the most important thing will be to show in his application that he knows about anthropology, and has clear interests in that area. that's what the program website suggests</p>
<p>i hope ivies don't only accept ivies. otherwise i don't stand a chance :(</p>
<p>" I tend to think that Ivies like to accept Ivies."</p>
<p>Like so much commentary on these boards, this statement is misleading. Ivies DO accept a lot of ivies, because Ivy alums are well prepared etc. etc. BUT, much of it is geographic. Many kids like to go to grad school near home and undergrad institution. There's not as much public uni competition in the NE. </p>
<p>Now, if you were to ask "Do ivy alums have an advantage?", the aswer would be NO.</p>
<p>Beyond that, have your "friend" contact the anthro department to get a better idea of who they accept. Any comment from someone outside that specific field is not worth bandwidth.</p>
<p>Tell your friend to also look in Michigan-Ann Arbor and Chicago. They are actually more respected than Harvard in Antrhropology. UC-Berkeley, University of Arizona, Penn, Stanford, UCLA, UCSD and Yale are also very strong. So your friend should not limit her/himself to just 1 school.</p>