Applying to Grad SchoolApplying to Grad Schoolin Anthropologyin Anthropology

T. Rogers & H. Miller, Nov. 2003

What are your Interests?What are your Interests?What do you want to do?What do you want to do?

definitely pick definitely pick subfieldsubfield cultural/socialcultural/social linguisticslinguistics archaeologyarchaeology biologicalbiological medicalmedical

try to identify what it try to identify what it is about the subject is about the subject you likeyou like

try to identify your try to identify your topics of interest --topics of interest -- e.g. for biological e.g. for biological anthro:anthro: health & nutritionhealth & nutrition skeletal biologyskeletal biology paleoanthropologypaleoanthropology forensic anthropologyforensic anthropology molecular anthropologymolecular anthropology

look for a supervisor look for a supervisor whose broad whose broad research areas research areas match your interestmatch your interest

Looking for a Potential Looking for a Potential Grad SupervisorGrad Supervisor

Check websites for Check websites for research interestsresearch interests

Attend conferences Attend conferences to see current to see current research & meet research & meet peoplepeople Canadian Association for Canadian Association for

Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology Canadian Archaeological Canadian Archaeological

AssociationAssociation

Check association Check association websites and websites and member directoriesmember directories

E-mail to confirm s/he E-mail to confirm s/he is taking studentsis taking students $75 + per application!$75 + per application!

Ask how program is Ask how program is set-up and what prof set-up and what prof expects from youexpects from you

Meet the personMeet the person can you work with this can you work with this

person for 2 years?person for 2 years? Talk to current grad Talk to current grad

studentsstudents what do they think of what do they think of

supervisor?supervisor?

Some Bio Anth/Archy Grad Some Bio Anth/Archy Grad SchoolsSchools

SFU – MA/PhDSFU – MA/PhD archaeologyarchaeology Yang - ancient DNAYang - ancient DNA Skinner – teethSkinner – teeth

U of Alberta – MA/PhDU of Alberta – MA/PhD Lovell – osteo/paleopathLovell – osteo/paleopath Beattie – osteo/forensicsBeattie – osteo/forensics

U of Calgary – MA/PhDU of Calgary – MA/PhD archaeologyarchaeology Katzenberg – Katzenberg –

isotope/nutritionisotope/nutrition

U of Sasak – MA/PhDU of Sasak – MA/PhD Walker – osteoarchaeology Walker – osteoarchaeology

U of Manitoba – MA/PhDU of Manitoba – MA/PhD Hoppa – growth & developHoppa – growth & develop

U of T full fundingU of T full funding 1 yr Masters1 yr Masters 4 yr PhD4 yr PhD entrance scholarshipsentrance scholarships TA shipsTA ships RA shipsRA ships

Western Ont – MA/PhDWestern Ont – MA/PhD osteoarchaeologyosteoarchaeology White & Nelson White & Nelson

chemical/isotope/DNAchemical/isotope/DNATrent – MATrent – MA

archaeologyarchaeology osteoarchaeologyosteoarchaeology

Laurier – MALaurier – MA archaeologyarchaeology

More Grad SchoolsMore Grad Schools

For info on anthropology grad schools, For info on anthropology grad schools, check internet and/or link from Dr. Smith’s check internet and/or link from Dr. Smith’s website: website:

“Archaeology WWW Pages”“Archaeology WWW Pages” (see especially the list of Canadian (see especially the list of Canadian

University Departments)University Departments)

How to applyHow to apply Acceptance Acceptance

committeescommittees GradesGrades

minimum & minimum & recommendedrecommended

Academic Academic achievementachievement paperspapers experienceexperience

volunteervolunteer fieldschoolfieldschool paidpaid

awardsawards

Statement/letter of Statement/letter of interest interest

Curriculum Vitae (CV)Curriculum Vitae (CV) ReferencesReferences

ask someone who ask someone who knows your workknows your work

can provide examples can provide examples of your brilliance, of your brilliance, judgment, abilitiesjudgment, abilities

ask if they can provide ask if they can provide a good referencea good reference

Writing the statement of Writing the statement of interestinterest

Your goalsYour goals academic or other?academic or other?

How does degree desired How does degree desired relate to goals?relate to goals?

Research interestsResearch interests general statement --general statement --

e.g. skeletal biology with an interest e.g. skeletal biology with an interest in past populations (bioarchaeology)in past populations (bioarchaeology)

particular research? --particular research? --e.g. sex determination, e.g. sex determination, growth and developmentgrowth and development

Not too specific but Not too specific but not too vaguenot too vague not a fishing not a fishing

expeditionexpedition Ask prof to review Ask prof to review

statement & provide statement & provide commentscomments

Writing a CV (Curriculum Writing a CV (Curriculum Vitae)Vitae)

Name Name (on every page)(on every page) Address, Phone & EmailAddress, Phone & Email

be sure to give summer be sure to give summer addresses too!addresses too!

Education Education highest degree 1sthighest degree 1st

Then the remaining sections, as Then the remaining sections, as appropriate. Order depends on appropriate. Order depends on which are your strongest sections which are your strongest sections - put these first.- put these first.

(Be sure to have your name & page (Be sure to have your name & page numbers (1 of 3, etc.) on every page numbers (1 of 3, etc.) on every page of your CV!)of your CV!)

Other possible sectionsOther possible sections:: ScholarshipsScholarships AwardsAwards (academic or otherwise)(academic or otherwise) Publications or ReportsPublications or Reports Talks, LecturesTalks, Lectures Field ExperienceField Experience Lab ExperienceLab Experience Other Volunteer/Work Experience Other Volunteer/Work Experience

related to Anthrorelated to Anthro Volunteer/Work Experience not Volunteer/Work Experience not

related to Anthrorelated to Anthro Papers for Independent Projects Papers for Independent Projects

(in classes or outside of them)(in classes or outside of them) Anthro Organizational Affiliations Anthro Organizational Affiliations

(CAPA, OAS, CAA, etc.)(CAPA, OAS, CAA, etc.) Skills (computer, languages)Skills (computer, languages)

Letters of RecommendationLetters of RecommendationAsk AT LEAST 2 WEEKS in advance (especially for 1st letter)Remind prof by email or phone a few days before letter must be

sent

Provide for professor (IN WRITING): Specific Date Due and What is Needed (letter? form?) Addressed Envelope (pre-stamped if it needs to be mailed) Information provided from places applying

what do the institutions want from the prof? Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) Statement of Intent of some kind

preferably a draft of what you’ll send to the grad school or scholarship committee If you like -- Past work done for the professor

essays, etc., to remind them of your work

Apply for FundingApply for Funding SSHRC & Canada Graduate ScholarshipsSSHRC & Canada Graduate Scholarships

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Social Sciences & Humanities Research CouncilCouncil

MA/MSc $17,500 for 12 monthsMA/MSc $17,500 for 12 months internal deadlines – must apply thru internal deadlines – must apply thru

universityuniversity Natalia Krencil (U of T grad secretary) 416 978-Natalia Krencil (U of T grad secretary) 416 978-

54165416

OGS Ontario Graduate ScholarshipOGS Ontario Graduate Scholarship $15,000 12 months$15,000 12 months

Funding from University Funding from University where you are applyingwhere you are applying

Check web site for department!Check web site for department! Talk to the Grad SecretaryTalk to the Grad Secretary Entrance scholarshipsEntrance scholarships

some apply with entrance applicationsome apply with entrance application some apply after acceptancesome apply after acceptance

Check web site for School/Dean of Check web site for School/Dean of Graduate Studies, call themGraduate Studies, call them other scholarshipsother scholarships many small scholarships specific to many small scholarships specific to

universityuniversity

Good LuckGood Luck