Grad School(Getting Accepted)

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p><em>Sorry in advance if this topic has already been discussed</em></p>

<p>I am wondering if any current grad students can give me some insight as to how competitive Berkeley can be (concerning graduate school). I have about a year left as an undergrad and am already planning on attending an in-state university to complete my master’s, it may seem early but I’m already trying to determine where I would like to go to complete my PhD.</p>

<p>Currently my major is anthropology with an emphasis on archaeology and a minor in art history. For my master’s I am planning on going into classics with a concentration in classical art and archaeology. After visiting the UC Berkeley website I was very pleased with their Ancient History & Mediterranean Archaeology program and it’s something that I would like to get into. However, I’m worried if Berkeley is actually a school that I can get into.</p>

<p>I know that it may seem as if I’m thinking too much ahead (seeing that I’m considereing Berkeley for a PhD), but I’m a person who likes to be well prepared. I would really appreciate it if someone could give me some advice as to what I should do as a grad student working on a master’s in order to be accepted into Berkeley.</p>

<p>I do have other univerisites in sight but a degree from Berkeley seems like a better choice in the long run. I hope to work in academics and I have noticed that a good amount of professor’s in this state (who are in the field of archaeology, art history, and classics) recieved their PhD’s from Berkeley and it seems as if a degree from Berkeley would help my chances of getting a job in a university.</p>

<p>If it seems as if I’m rambling I am really sorry but this issue has been bugging me for the past couple of days.</p>

<p>Any advise would be great!</p>

<p>Thank You</p>

2

<p>You’ll need at least four years of your primary language (Greek or Latin) and three of your secondary to be competitive. You’ll also need to be able to read both French and German.</p>

<p>Your coursework should have a strong emphasis on classical archaeology, and excavation experience in the Mediterranean would be highly beneficial though not strictly necessary. To stand out from the crowd, publications (e.g. book reviews) or conference presentations (e.g. at AIA, ASOR, etc.) are helpful. </p>

<p>An extremely well-written writing sample, a concise personal statement outlining your exact goals, and a good fit with faculty interests are essential for a successful application. Strong letters of recommendation, preferably from people established/respected in the field, are also extremely important.</p>

<p>Berkeley is currently a nightmare for prospective humanities students due to its financial situation. The ratio of applicants to admits is 50 to 1 in art history; the situation is likely somewhat similar in AHMA (100-150 applicants, 2-3 admitted/funded).</p>

3

<p>You need to know Greek and Latin in order to get into AHMA.</p>

<p>Also, just so you know, from my understanding the Anthropology department has not admitted any graduate students in Archaeology or Biological Anthropology in quite a while/</p>