Anthropology

[heeroluva]

I’m currently a psychology major with a year left. I changed my major many times on my way their, but am luckily only graduating a year behind where I should have. At the beginning of last semester I was introduced to anthropology and absolutely fell in love. But I knew it was too late to change majors or transfer to another school. And I actually

Comments

[cosmicwonder]

Just from what you've said about changing majors numerous times, I think it would be wise to take a couple years off before applying to grad school so you have time to contemplate what you really want to pursue. You could definitely take more anthro courses after college and maybe even do a masters to make up for what you lacked in undergrad. These are questions you should probably ask of profs in programs you are interested in.

[heeroluva]

Well, the reason I changed majors so many times, is that when I first started college I wasn't doing what I really wanted. I was doing what my parents wanted. The majors that I started with were various engineering majors so most of the beginning curriculum was the same. I finally decided that enough was enough and I was going to do something I enjoyed.

[holyschist]

I'd look at master's programs and spin your application just as you say--with psych being a good perspective to bring to anthro. But I agree with the above commenter that taking a year or two off would be a good idea for many reasons--to be sure of what you want to do, take some more anthro classes, and perhaps get some work or volunteer experience that would be relevant (plus from observing people in my program, I think some real life experience helps people handle grad school better).

[heeroluva]

Well I agree that just looking into a master's program is a good idea, but most of the schools that have the areas that I'm interested don't offer terminal master program. It's the long haul. I would take more classes but money is an issue. I've been working through this last year to save up for next year. I'll look into job, but not sure what I could get.

[holyschist]

Then all you can really do is take as much anthro as you can now and try to spin your application to your strengths. I still think taking a year off (even working irrelevant jobs) is generally a good idea, but opinions on that are pretty split.

[imbrium8]

I love your icon! Would you mind if I grabbed it for myself?

[cork118]

I don't have any advice to offer, but I do have a question. How can your school offer a minor in soc/anthro but not have any classes in those fields?

[heeroluva]

I really don't know. I asked around to various professors that had been their for some time and they all said that there were never any classes in that field offered. Also all of the majors say that you can take a sociology course for one of your humanities, but again it's not very helpful if it's not offered. I think it's more for people that transfer in, so their is some equivalancy.

[cork118]

I'm still not getting it. How can there be sociology majors if there are no sociology courses? That doesn't add up at all. Are the core classes maybe offered only in certain semesters? That seems more likely than them never being offered at all, especially since other students say they've taken those classes.

In my experience, the professors who have been around for a while don't always know a lot about how the university works. It might be helpful for you to visit with someone in your school's advising department (if it has one) or career center.

[heeroluva]

No, I'm 100% positive that no sociology classes are offered. I asked checked the catalog for the past 10 years and then asked the Registrar and the confirmed that there haven't been classes offered in that subject for year. There used to be just not anymore. I had to get special permission to tranfer all the classes for the minor in.

[pink_bullets]

During your last year in school, try to take as many anthro classes as you can. Maybe get involved in a club or a local organization. Then you could get a recommendation from a professor or someone from an organization. Try to tie in how your psych degree relates to anthro when you write your statement of purpose

[heeroluva]

Well I'd love to take more classes next year, but like I said my school doesn't actually offer them. The college I'm in is located in a small town and the nearest museum is over two hours away. I've been doing my own research, reading what I can get ahold of, but there's noething in this area that would offer experience.

[holyschist]

Museum studies IS different, though, in that almost no one has an undergrad degree in museum studies (a lot of people go in with work experience, but I'd say about a quarter of the people in my program are straight out of undergrad or have only research science experience).

(BTW, did I answer all your questions about my program? I am both more optimistic and more cynical than when we last emailed.)

[_citylove_]

Oh wow, I'm so excited to see someone else here interested in Museum Studies -- what programs did you apply to? I would love to talk to you about this -- you should be able to get my e-mail off of my profile if you want to e-mail me instead of taking over comments on this post.

[natasha_fawn]

I was accepted to two (physical) anthropology phd programs with a biology major and nearly no anthropology experience. I'd suggest getting in touch with prospective advisors next fall, letting them know your background, what you're interested in studying and that you'd like to work with them, and go from there.

[heeroluva]

Yeah, everyone has been telling me that talking to potential advisors is a big step. Definately some I will do.