Top10，寻求定位

背包上路UID: 2636442

想申请美国TOP10的人类学系或者东亚系，历史系亦可。

本人本科是社会学系，学分不高，平均只有80出头，后来转学人类学，硕士期间平均90以上。现在已经是博士的在读生，但还没有拿到学位。去年在日本交换一年，现在因种种原因希望去美国攻读phd。

Gre：600/790/4.5，托福有点尴尬：98，28/20/22/28

推荐信除了我自己在中国的导师外，还有两个美国老师，名校教授，全都是人类学背景。

自己的研究成果还不错，因为从硕士起就关心固定的题目，一直围绕它展开。国内的期刊发了些文章，此外还有一些在中国召开的所谓国际会议。获得过国内和日本的研究资助，有过短期的TA经历，在日本的时候是学校的RA。

我想请教的是：
一、寻求一下定位，申请的10个学校在档次上应该如何安排？
二、我已经在读的博士背景是否会有影响，我查过有些学校针对我这种情况就要求换专业，比如换到东亚系或者历史系，但是如果换专业后在实际录取的过程中，是否还会有负面影响？如果有的话在申请过程中应该有哪些需要注意的？
三、托福的成绩如果申请顶级学校是不是会形成最终障碍？

HausakidUID: 2707665

I am doing my Phd of medical anthropology in the U.S. now. I want to know:
1, why you want to study anthropology,
2, what is your plan after you finish your PhD of anthropology,
3, what is your research about,

I don't think it is a good idea for you to study East Asian Studies or history, it is better for you to apply for anthropology or sociology.
I think your background is strong; however, you need to pay more attention to your PS and research proposal.
About which school to apply, it depends on where you can find your advisor. It is also not a good idea to only focus on the top 10 anthropology departments because now the economy situation is not satisfactory and you can not make sure that you can get financial aids. So you can apply 1-2 from the top 20, and 3-5 from top 50, and 1-2 from top 80 because there are about 90 PhD programs of anthropology in the U.S..

I also want to emphasize that it is not a good idea to change your major when you are applying for PhD of anthropology. Your current background if not a problem, trust me.

About your TOEFL, if you have time, I suggest you take the ibt test again and if your TOEFL score is higher than 105, there are more possibilities you can be accepted by very top universities such as University of Chicago. And you also need to make every of the four parts above 25 if you want to guarantee the financial aids. If you want to work as a TA, the oral part should be above 25. I think it is not difficult for you.

You are welcomed to email me to discuss more about application,
lafiyagida@yahoo.com.cn