Could Well-Lopsided offset mediocre GPA?

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>Hello there,</p>

<p>I am a senior at the University of Cincinnati, double majoring in Anthropology and German, undergrad.</p>

<p>I want to pursue a PhD in Anthropology. I have a 3.1 GPA, and I only have this last semester left, so it won’t be increasing significantly. The thing is, I had to work full-time, like 40-50 hours a week, to support myself through school. I’ve been doing this for five years. I simply didn’t have family to lean on. Often times, I couldn’t even afford books for my classes. I say this, because I don’t really want to be called a slacker. I did the best I could.</p>

<p>I haven’t taken the GRE yet, however, I have been studying for about 4 months now, for about an hour a day (most days), so I believe I should do quite well.</p>

<p>The one “hook” I have is this, and it is relatively unusual:</p>

<p>I am fluent in German.</p>

<p>I also am intermediate level in Sanskrit, Hindi/Urdu and Arabic. I was looking into applying to the CLS program (Critical Language Scholarship sponsored by US Government) for a scholarship to go abroad for Hindi training on advanced level. Whether I receive scholarship or not, will not hold me back from polishing and increasing my skills, specifically in Hindi and possibly Arabic.</p>

<p>I don’t plan to apply until 2014 at the earliest, so I am also going to take courses in Latin/Greek.</p>

<p>Now, you probably ask WHY I bothered to learn all of these languages? This is where I hope one will have an open mind. I have a very unique interest.</p>

<p>I am currently enrolled with an online program for the University of Wales. I will begin in February. This program is for an MA for Cultural Astrology and Astronomy. It is an intensive one year program, and I should complete it by 2014. </p>

<p>Not because of the Hocus Pocus associated with it, but from a genuine desire to know about it, I have spent the last decade or so of my life, diligently studying Astrology. This goes back thousands of years, and even today, over 1.2 Billion people in India base almost all of their major life decisions only upon consulting an Astrologer.</p>

<p>I want to study the who, what, when, where and why of this. The history, how astrology affects peoples beliefs today, etc. </p>

<p>Upon applying I will have this:</p>

<p>Upon applying I will be fluent in English and German
Intermediate in Arabic, Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu
Beginner in Latin/Greek
BA Anthropology
MA Cultural Astronomy/Astrology
About 7 years work experience with the same company (but I think that’s irrelevant as it has no relationship to my intended study).
UG GPA of 3.1
MA GPA, TBD</p>

<p>All of these languages, are the languages in which mostly all of the oldest astrological texts were written in. Many have never been translated. </p>

<p>Any outlooks on my chances of being admitted to Harvard Anthropology Department? They have amazing funding, for one, which I would need access to. Plus, looking over the profiles of the current students/faculty, they seem to certainly support thinking different, which I would need.</p>

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<p>Graduate admissions is based on GPA and GRE, not reviewed holistically like undergraduate admissions. Your GPA is very low for a Harvard graduate program.</p>

<p>And I would venture to say any discussion of Astrology pursuits would have a detrimental effect on a grad school application.</p>

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<p>Actually, depending on dept, it’s not just scores. You have to be attractive to the scholars in that dept. Their reps, in some part, are affected by the strengths of the grad students they mentor. There’s rarely a sense of flying solo in a grad program. The place you should be asking is your own current major profs- who not only need to recommend you, but a) have a better sense of what’s worthy and b) often have connections. and, c) will likely let you know that an online MA isn’t the trick. One point of an MA program is to progress under mentorship.</p>

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<p>I doubt if the OP would be attractive to mentoring professors with the 3.1 GPA from a middling college. Nor would her languages and MA in Astrology/Astronomy be a hook, as she inquired.</p>