Average Archaeologist

Anonymous asked: Alright, so I've heard "stories," I guess, that Grad school is extremely different than undergrad, often described as "hell" and often a lot more difficult, etc. I was wondering what your experience has been, and suggestions you might have for undergrads going onto graduate studies/ hoping to continue on to graduate studies?

Alright, well you haven’t heard entirely wrong.  It is more difficult in terms of work load and independent time management, but by no means is it “hell.”  Even though it’s been very stressful, and a huge adjustment moving abroad, I honestly wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.  My advice to undergrads hoping to continue into grad school would be to see it their undergrad school offers grad courses to undergrads.  It’s good experience with workload, even if you’re just auditing.  I would also say,don’t just do grad school because it’s the next step in life, make sure it’s what you want.  If you don’t really want it you will find it much more difficult to get any of the work done.  It takes a long time (more so in the US than in the UK) and requires funding (which I’m working on right now, and pretty much always).  Overall my advice would be to make sure it’s what you really want out of life, prepare for the workload in undergrad, and learn some serious skills to cope with stress. Other than that, it’s amazing and I think that anyone truly passionate about what their studying will do just fine.

I can start enrolling now! 

Turns out I didn’t get the job at Durham.  Go figure.

So we went to a travel agency yesterday to try and not fail at making plans.  So as far as I know I’m leaving for London the 18th of September, spending time there (and by there I mean the British Museum) then moving to Durham on the 24th.  Classes start 1 October.  

Advice needed.  I’m applying for a job with/at my university and they want to know what I hope to achieve through my postgraduate studies.  It’s a pretty open question and seems that there’s no word limit so I’m just not sure how much/what to talk about.  

Any suggestions?

Brainstorming ideas for Masters thesis.

Crying.

Where are you going again? Just curious.

I’m going to Durham University in the North East UK for graduate school.

Making that online deposit I thought I fucked up royally, but I got a confirmation e-mail and a receipt, so I guess everything is ok, but for a minute there I freaked out.

SO i have to pay my deposits today for grad school.  I guess my prof finally got his recommendation in, but now the transcripts never showed up. I know I gave the school the correct address, but they never got them.  I guess I have to scan and fax them myself.

Then why did you send another e-mail saying my transcripts aren’t there yet?

I really don’t.  

Why does EVERY SINGLE application go wrong??? More apps due tomorrow and yet again professors don’t have reccs in or claim to have never received the e-mailed forms for said reccs when the website I sent them from has a confirmation of them receiving the e-mail AARRRRRGGGG!!!!!!  Whatever, at least one of the applications is complete!  (yay Ohio State!)

Finally finished my applications to Ohio State, SUNY Binghamton and the university of Chicago, and non to early either seeing as they are due the 10th, and the 15th and NONE OF MY PROFESSORS HAVE SENT THEIR RECCS IN YET.  

but anyway, nothing I can do about that now, just gotta remind them tomorrow!

So, I figured you guys would be the people to ask about this!

I’ll be applying for graduate school next semester and am having a bit of trouble finding the program I’m looking for in the lovely United States.  (It’s absolutely no problem finding the program in the UK in fact I’ve found many, but funding is tight and I really need to find more options here in the US).

The program I’m looking for is a Masters program (or a PhD program where Masters is earned in the process of getting the later degree) in Bioarchaeology or Human Osteoarchaeology. 

(I’ve started looking at Ohio State which so far, is my #1 choice in the US with their bioarchaeology program, and  #1 in the UK is UCL (which is sort of tied with University of Edinburgh) with their program in Dental and Bio-Osteoarchaeology.)

Seriously though you guys, I’d really like some input from you!  Tell me what you think, what you’ve heard, and most of all if you’re interested in the same subject!

Also…