list HELP asap!!! f/anthropology PART TWO

Parents Forum
1

<p>Today the guidance counselor suggested we have DD back off of looking for anthropology and explore/settle for sociology for a BA degree.
today I also heard from someone with strong anthro background who said to dump the entire list-none are any good for anthropology.
does anyone teach college, know anyone in a dept. I could talk to about this? I will also ask the list sender.
Our list -with Fordham still the beloved first even though not super anthro-
new list -the best-school-we-can't-afford-or-too-far-for-my-nerves list from anthro person.
looking at financial need based aid,not expecting merit
the new list sent to us..(hahahaaa)</p>

<p>U of Pennsylvania
Berkley
Harvard
UCLA (cheapest, especially if you live in Calif.)
Tulane
U of Arizona in Tucson (also the cheapest of all of these)
Methodist, Texas</p>

<p>R means Ruggs listed as good in anthro. is that a good book or no?</p>

<p>old list -
Saftey Schools?
Montclair State
Rutgers -R
Douglass-Rutgers-R
William Patterson-R
Monmouth
Likely Schools (targets)
Saint Mary's College-R
Eckerd
Catholic University of America
Fordham (MAYBE a reach. her #1 favorite-loved the place)</p>

<p>Reach
Rochester eligible to apply for a scholarship-she is a Kodak Scholar)
Holy Cross
Skidmore-R
William and Mary-R</p>

2

<p>Which of the four fields of anthropology does your child want to specialize in (cultural, linguistics, archeology, or physical)? Is there a particular area of the world, period, or type of society she is interested in? Or a particular subdiscipline (I guess you'd call it), like folklore, psychological anthropology, medical anthropology, applied anthropology, etc.?</p>

<p>Though an undergrad ed should have courses from all four fields and from a variety of cultures, areas, and eras, she'll get more out of it if there are courses and people whose research really engage her.</p>

<p>One thing I'd suggest is having her go to the nearest university library for an afternoon or two and spend time with the anthro journals. (It's much easier and more enjoyable to do this kind of browsing in person than online). The articles that grab her attention and that she enjoys reading....odds are that the schools where those folks teach or matriculated from will have programs that interest her. </p>

<p>Once you know where she might want to go, you can start looking at where it might most benefit her to go. She'll probably want a graduate degree, so ask about a department's success in getting students into grad programs, law school, and medical school (also common destinations for anthro graduates). There's probably a published data set with this info.</p>

<p>Some random thoughts:</p>

<p>I didn't see the U of Chicago on your lists. Strong anthro program. I went to Tulane for a year of grad school; it's heavy archeology and Mesoamerica, but the physical anthropology courses were excellent. </p>

<p>I don't see much benefit to getting a BA in sociology vs a BA in anthropology, unless DD is interested in being a social worker or a criminologist or a similar field where a sociologist would have an advantage. But she shouldn't have much trouble migrating from one to the other for graduate school, so I don't see much harm either. </p>

<p>What I'd suggest is that no matter what she majors in, she take a year of physics, chemistry and calculus (unless of course, she really hates these), and if there is a BS option, she should take it. This will open up tremendously more opportunities for her, and make it easier for her if she decides later in life that she wants to do something else. I'd suggest a good minor, either something that will support her research interests or something that's generally marketable. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Beloit in WI is great for Anthropology and gives good merit aid and provides a nurturing supportive environment. We've visited and I've read a lot about it. Sociology is fine but it's not the same thing. Why should your kid be "settling" for something before even starting out?</p>

4

<p>Conyat beat me too it. I was thinking "where's Chicago?"</p>

5

<p>i might think anthro is better than socio, because its more specialized...</p>

6

<p>I think the big advantage of anthro (over soc) is that it has more of a hard-science component and it's more cross-cultural. (And many of us would say it's more fun). </p>

<p>This is some good advice my D. (undecided, but leaning toward marine biology) got about picking a college:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Keep in mind that most freshman end up changing their majors, so make sure that you would still be happy with your choice regardless of your major.</p></li>
<li><p>Think about whether you want to be at a school whose emphasis is research or teaching. The big name prof whose articles I pointed you to may only teach three hours a week in an auditorium with hundreds of students. If you're interested in a school with a teaching emphasis, look at class size, % of classes taught by PhDs, opportunities for underclassmen to engage with and find mentors among faculty, and opportunities for undergraduate research. (Study abroad is almost de riguer for anthropologists, so evaluating that should factor in somewhere, too.)</p></li>
<li><p>Think about the kind of environment where you want to go to college. Rural vs. urban, cold weather vs. warm, diversity of campus demographics, etc. All those will end up affecting your happiness in school.</p></li>
</ol>

7

<p>DD has had AP bio, now is taking AP Calc (having some problems, great tutor now) and AP Physics with the best-ever teacher. She enjoys physics, adores biology. Changed her mind on AP Chem-pushed by guidance- in order to take the school's one sociology class (race, gender,class-loves it) and the one and only 1/2 year anthro course next semester.
She, for sure, wants to minor in biology, and focus, if possible on anthro in this order (as of now) archeology, physical, cultural.
She is going take medieval coursework if offered. Finding who has the BS in anthropology is also confusing. So far I know that on her list only Rutgers has the BS. Off to read up on that.
We started off helping her look for the BS but got sidetracked by her need to have (if possible) small classes with interactive teachers. IMHO, for her, this far outweighs the "name that school" issue. </p>

<p>DD does not have a firm grip on anthropology-this is a bright, LD kid who LOVES biology and likes most other sciences, enjoys medieval history, folklore, and Irish and Celtic history Antho seemed to her to allow her to follow both interests, bio and history. She is not a mini-historian, or a child who spent her days making castles and visiting the Closters. Visions of digs in Ireland, summer classes at Oxford, Edinborough, Swansee etc dance in her head.<br>
(anyone know of a summer anthro/archeology program for post-h.s. students?)
All this advice is so helpful. It's great to have others to turn to with this. I know a ton about music conservatory admissions, and the person who emailed me the new list is saying sort of the same concepts - you can go to I-dunno U and maybe get ok education but your teacher cannot help you get the jobs/grad program you will need, and this is a giant point at least in classical music. On the other hand I can assure you kids blow into Juilliard out of unknown schools-with a great teacher-and get into the MA program. But there is no doubt a name can be a huge help on a resume. sigh.
help. pass the turkey, information and funding, hold the guilt and confusion.(g)</p>

8

<p>The BS title won't be that important if she takes enough science courses (and it sounds like she'll be drawn to them in any event). They will really help her if she sticks with anthro, especially for archeology and physical. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/guide.htm#guide%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/guide.htm#guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You might try ordering this guide, or the e-version, from the American Anthropological Association. It looks like a very comprehensive resource with information about the courses offered and specialties of faculty, etc.</p>

9

<p>I'm thinking you're slightly overestimating the importance of her undergrad work. Clearly, she will be heading to grad school if anthro. remains her passion. I'd say find a school where she'll thrive: not be buried by competition or a cut-throat environment, and has small classes (all especially important if she is not a super-star student). </p>

<p>I could be wrong about this, but I think any strong LAC or smaller university, where your D will have good contact with profs, would be her best bet.</p>

10

<p>I think that is good advice from Weenie.</p>