Applying to Graduate School

Undoubtedly the most important part of the entire process of becoming a graduate student in archaeology is the application process. The way you present yourself in your application materials to the school of your choice amounts to the first impression the university department faculty will have of you--and you don't want it to be the last. For many students, it's the first time in your life (certainly not the last) in which it's vitally important that you market yourself properly, which doesn't come naturally to many of us.

Generally, the process works this way. You, the prospective student, send a letter to the department in the school (or schools) of your choice, requesting an application form to attend graduate school there. The department sends you a (usually enormous) packet of materials, including a form you will need to fill out; a description of the department and current course offerings; a list of current faculty and their areas of specializations; and, most importantly, a list of materials required for consideration of your application and the dates they are due back.

What You'll Need to Send

Materials required by archaeology departments vary, but they likely include transcripts from your previous college career; letters of recommendation from faculty and/or employers; results of the GRE--also known as the Graduate Record Examination; a current résumé; and a statement of intent. What also varies among archaeology faculty is the weight the department assigns to the various bits of information. Usually grade point average (GPA) and GRE scores are used as a watershed; that is, the department will use these numbers to perform the first sort. The remaining materials are used to choose among the students who have the requisite GPA and GRE scores. But, this is by no means a hard and fast rule; departments are generally staffed by people who recognize that undergraduate GPA and GRE scores may not necessarily indicate success in graduate school.

So what do you do? Work on those things you can work on. Ask the right people for recommendations; know the department well enough to understand where you would fit in; visit the department if you possibly can; and write your statement of intent as if it were going to be the next Declaration of Independence.

More Advice

Former and current graduate students John Dockall, Susan Duncan, and M. S. Forstadt share their wisdom about applying to grad school and getting accepted.

• John Dockall: Research the university's strengths
• Susan Duncan: Go meet the faculty and students
• M.S. Forstadt: Write a great essay

In addition, Lesley Nicholls, who before she retired handled graduate student applications at the University of Calgary, created an excellent guide to applying graduate school. It is wonderfully detailed and has a genuine wealth of advice to the prospective student of any archaeology or anthropology department.

• So You Want to Go to Grad School?, from Lesley Nicholls

Before You Go to Grad School: A Guide

• Why You Should--Or Should Not--Go to Graduate School
• Tips for Choosing a Graduate School
• Tips for Applying to Graduate School
• Next: Application Process Step-by-Step