How do I prepare for an Egyptology Major?

ClarityR
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:53:26 +0000

Anyone interested in Archaeology or Egyptology should really look at University of Chicago. My son has been involved in both and is majoring in Near Eastern Languages etc and has worked at the Oriental Institute in summers. Originally he applied to Brown, Carleton, Penn, Johns Hopkins, BU, and Yale-got into all except Yale, but Chicago was always his first choice.

I really don’t think you need to do all that specific language prep.(my son did Latin and classics), unless you are genuinely interested in doing it in your spare time. What you should do is investigate ways of doing hands-on volunteer work at museums or any digs–it certainly doesn’t have to be a dig in Egypt. There are many digs going on in the US and Europe and you can find the info online via sites like Archaeological Institute of America. KMT: a Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt will also give you lots of info online and in their magazine.

My son was interested in this subject since he was a little boy, and just naturally gathered up info about it because he loved it. Definitely ask to speak with someone in the Dept., when you visit the university or college.