<p>Hi All,</p>
<p>What do high-ranking programs look for? I'm worried that I'm not competitive because I'm not published and only graduated with a 3.5 (3.8 in anthropology major). I've been working abroad for about three years and have gained some language proficiency, but I haven't really worked in anthropology-related fields. What can I do to increase my chances of getting into good programs? I want to take this next year to prepare, but I'm not sure how to best increase my chances. Should I a) apply for a terminal masters in anthropology/area studies to gain research experience and hopefully get published, or b) try to find a professor and work as a research assistant. I'm currently living abroad, so finding a professor from the US might be difficult.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help and advice!</p>