I'm wondering what I need to get into a great graduate school with really good programs in my area.?

Question

I'm thinking of pursuing a doctoral degree in anthropology, or history, or near eastern languages and civilizations (semitic cultures, basically - arabic, hebrew, akaddian, etc.). What are they going to look at most? I go to a top 10 liberal arts college, and I have a 3.63-ish GPA. What do I need to get into Yale Graduate School? Or Harvard? Or JHU? Or [insert name of any other college with top programs in those areas]?

How much better (the GPA)?

Will it matter that I'm focusing my undergraduate degree on African history and Black feminisms?

Answer 1

To be a top candidate for Ancient Near Eastern studies in those three schools, you should already have competency one or two of those languages (Hebrew will be practically expected, since Akkadian and Ugaritic and the like are not always available at the undergraduate level, but are easily learned with a base in Hebrew). If you already have both Hebrew and Arabic, you've got a great shot, linguistically speaking.

Your GRE scores should be outstanding (worry less about the math than about the verbal and analytical portions).

Your GPA sounds just fine.

Your letters of recommendation will be crucial. Make sure they are from respected scholars in that area of study who are familiar with you and your work. (Hint: when asking a professor for a letter, ask if s/he "would be able to write a supportive letter" for you. This enables them to decline if they don't believe their letter would be strong enough to help you.)

Be sure to write an informed and literate statement of application, in which you demonstrate familiarity with current methodologies, and a focus of intended study. Include an outstanding sample of your current work (whether or not a writing sample is required).

To have an extra "edge," I'd advise you to seek an arena in which you might publish a paper you've already written. For example, there are undergraduate (and graduate) journals (some online, some printed) that publish undergraduate work. The journals published by honor societies in specific fields of study (like Theta Alpha Kappa for students in the study of religion) are sources to explore.

From what I understand of your interests, you may also want to consider programs in Comparative Religion (also known as History of Religions, Religious Studies, or Religion) as a possibility. One can specialize in Ancient Near Eastern studies in this field, and university-level employment in this area is in abundance.

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

Ditto on what Prof. X says, and you'd also do well to start looking at departments from these schools that you're interested in. Learn about program requirements and about the professors and their work. For your statments of purpose, it will help if you can state clearly why you're going to grad school and what you want to specialize in, but also why it's especially important for you to continue your studies at the specific university to which you're applying and with specific faculty there.

You probably won't be expected to have published at the undergraduate level, but anything you can do to stand out will help, and it's not a bad idea if you have the opportunity.

And while it's not paramount, GRE math does count if it's bad enough. The dept. probably won't mind, but the school will, and it'll be hard to convince the dept. to fight to get you unless you really stand out.

If you or one of your recommenders has connections with faculty at the school to which you're applying, all the better. If not, early in the application process, you may also wish to write to the faculty member you'd be most interested in working with to mention your interest in working with him/her and your intent to apply, and you can ask questions about the program (but don't ask anything that's easily available on their webpage or that makes you seem insecure about getting in). Most profs are very eager for good dissertation students, so making contact with your potential advisor might get someone pulling for you on the inside. Nirenberg's really nice, but you didn't hear that from me.

Best of luck!

P.S. on changing majors--it's probably ok if you can demonstrate enough knowledge in the new field so as not to give them worries. For example, you'll already be familiar with research methods and some major approaches/movements in history, and having coursework in whichever other field you end up choosing will help (I'm assuming you have another year left of undergrad, so squeeze in a couple courses this fall in your new field if you can). Most importantly, make sure your writing sample relates to the field you're entering. If you do a good job of convincing them of a strong background in both your old and new concentrations, your breadth of interests and experience might even be seen as an asset both in your future studies and especially on the job market. I'm sure there's a lot of potential for crossover among African, Near East, and women's studies. And play it up that way in your statement of purpose! I switched subfields and was accepted (for transfer) by one of the grad schools you mention, not in spite of my diverse background, but (in part) thanks to it.

Answer 3

Better GPA and very high GMAT/GRE.