Anthropologist Confessions

Anthropologists of all four fields, submit your funny, embarrassing, dumb, or even more sober secrets, to remind each other that even we are human.

[anthropologistconfessions]

Hi! I'm sorry, I know this is supposed to be a funny confession and everything but I really need this.. I'm currently choosing what I'm going to study at the university and IM FREAKING OUT BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT! I've been always exited for fossils and history and ancient cultures, DNA and medicine and chemistry. This is why I think I would love a career like these but i need someone to tell me what are the different options and what requirements do I need to study it. Help please!

Hey anon, you are not alone! It is very common for university students--especially in their first year--to not know what they want to study! That is okay! To help narrow down your unique situation, we might need more information. If you are at college/university, I would recommend talking to your academic adviser. They are the ones who have all the information about major requirements and what courses to take. If you are in High School, I would still recommend talking to a school counselor. They might know about specific programs at specific universities, or have a better understanding about what schools you should apply to for college. Many college students take the strategy of using their first few years to take generals. That way they can take many different classes and see what they are most interested in, what they like the best, or what they find most fulfilling. You could take chemistry, anthropology, and geology classes to find your best fit. You might begin college thinking you want to study chemistry, but then find out after a few classes that it isn’t your thing, and geology or anthropology is more your speed. There are many people who, through the process of taking general coursework, realize what their passion or aptitude is and *THEN* enter a degree program or transfer to other colleges. It feels stressful now, but you have plenty of time. Good luck :) 

[anthropologistconfessions]

Is an undergrad degree in Anthropology honestly useless? I just completed my first year of college, just some gen. ed courses but I declared Anthropology as my major. Will I have trouble finding a job with this degree?

“Will I have trouble finding a job with this degree?”It really depends on how you conceptualize the question. The thing about Anthropology is, it pairs well with literally any other major/minor and is easily applied to most fields in the workforce.Students with undergraduate degrees in Anthropology can end up in: Academia, Education, Cultural Resource Management, Museums, Ethnography, Public Health, International Health, Law, International Law, Marketing, Environment and Natural Resources, Historic Preservation, Archaeology, Business, Freelance Consulting, Grant Writing, Teaching--the list goes on.

You will rarely see a job posting for “Anthropology Job”--you have to make your own way; figure out how your specific skill set will translate to the market. That being said, it is very common for  about half of Anthro majors to decide to take on additional graduate coursework after undergrad. (that is a really rough estimate. Maybe more like 40-45% go on to grad school.)My advice to a new undergrad student is to look at job postings for your dream job now. What qualifications are the employers looking for? What training are they looking for? Find out how to get that training while you are in school. Figure out how to tailor your education to make yourself competitive after graduation to get the job you want. 

If you are really stressing about the job hunt, why not take a double major? (especially in business). You can’t go wrong with a major or minor in business, and an Anthropology degree will pair nicely with that. Mod note* From personal experience I can say that a lot of my undergrad buddies went on to: law school, careers in public policy, careers in education/teaching, grad school for Anthropology/Archaeology/Forensic Anth, Medical School, social work, Archaeological field consulting/ CRM, Museum work, and engineering. I was given the advice in grad school to take a minor or double major in business, if possible. That was great advice. Laypeople (HR Directors) don’t often know what Anthropology is, or how valuable the skills from an Anthro degree are. Many anthropologists feel they have to “justify” their degree, and having a double major or a minor--especially in business-can make you competitive. Good luck. No, an Anthropology degree is not useless. 

[anthropologistconfessions]

I'm in my senior year of undergrad and if I don't get into grad school I plan on killing myself because an undergrad degree in Anthropology is useless.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255 (24/7) Press 1 for Veterans line

Crisis Text Line (if you prefer texting)

Please, anon, reach out to these resources. 

[anthropologistconfessions]

“The first thing you will learn while working in Egypt is where the black market for alcoholic beverages is.”

(Ironic image source)

Bonus mod confession (dead-men-talking): When I did my field school in Egypt six years ago, I had no idea Muslims abstained from alcohol.  I don’t know how I missed that lol.  Once down to our site in the middle of nowhere, the director got our alcohol by passing a note to the store clerk.

[anthropologistconfessions]

“Our university was too poor/broke for actual field excavations, so in our Archaeology class, we had to do the grid things and "excavate" on toy excavation kits. The kinds that come in plaster blocks and have statues and plastic skeletons in them.”

[anthropologistconfessions]

Hello there! I know this is a confessions blog but I'm going on my first excavation this summer and I'm super nervous and seriously do not know what to pack or wear or anything! Tho I will confess I'm asking on here because I don't want the other anthro/archae majors at my school to judge that I'm not at all prepared...excavating in kea Greece for the summer btw

First of all: I wouldn’t worry about judgement from other arch majors. They can be a wealth of knowledge. I would bet there are others who are just as nervous. That being said...

1. If this is a recurring field school, reach out to an alum of the field school and ask what clothing you should bring. Also look up the climate and average weather of the region you are visiting to prepare yourself.

2. make sure you have all of your medications/eye glasses/prescriptions ready to go and figured out for the duration of your stay. (I always pack a little medicine kit with me when I travel for common ailments like flu/cold/bug bites/upset stomach/ibuprofin/ear plugs etc.) Pro tip: even if you are sure you will not menstruate during your trip, bring menstrual products anyway if you are a person that worries about that. Stress can do messed up things to your natural rhythm. 

3. If you are not a citizen of Greece, register with your appropriate embassy online.4. If you are a US citizen and this is your first time out of the country, I would highly suggest the passport and passport ID card combo. Many countries do not accept the passport ID card as valid--but if something were to happen to your passport, the ID card can go a long way to getting your paperwork figured out. Make sure you get your passport taken care of in a timely fashion.5. I would invest in a waterproof backpack or dig bag. It’s just practical. 

6. Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. Your water bottle is going to be your best friend. Invest in a good, high quality water bottle. Fill it up every day.7. Figure out what plug-ins/adapters you will need to use the electrical outlets in Greece. 

8. Invest in an RFID theft proof wallet and notify your bank that you will be traveling overseas. Look into $$$ exchange rate.9. Personal: I like to bring a compact, warm blanket and tiny travel pillow with me when I travel. I don’t know what my bed situation will be like, and I like to be prepared for the worst. (Sometimes, in archaeology, it is the worst.) 10. Have a fun time! It seems scary now, but I bet you will have the time of your life. (Maybe you and another field school participant can arrange to travel together?) Good luck! 

[anthropologistconfessions]

As a Paleoanthropology student, I have to admit that I don’t understand how or why Archaeologists drink so much in the field. I’m all for having fun while you’re out toiling at a dig, but it seems like archaeologists go way overboard with it. But hey, as long as you can dig while you're hung over I won't complain about it.

Mod note: there are also plenty of dry archies out there. A minority, but they exist.. 

[anthropologistconfessions]

While on a dig, my professor and I downed a bottle of whiskey and the next morning he was fine and I was hungover. After throwing up, I pressed on and dug all my test pits. When I had finished my professor looked at me and said, "Now you're a real archaeologist."

[anthropologistconfessions]

Some field schools I saw advertise for today. Share to help people looking for one? MOD NOTE: looks like University of Wyoming Field School and Adelphi University Field School in Alaska (But they have other options too!) Thanks, Anon!

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I got interested in anthropology at a young age because of the naked women in pictures I saw of Egyptian tomb paintings.  And because of naked people in National Geographic.”

mod note: this is a famous mural from the Tomb of Nebamun which is currently on display in the British Museum, London.

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I got my PhD in cultural anthropology instead of archaeology because I wanted to study what the men I knew thought was important - living people and class struggle, politics, etc. - when all I really wanted to do was dig stuff up and study ancient domestic life.  I still think dead people are more interesting than living ones and I regret everything.”

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I excavate in Greece because I love being able to go to the beach after a day of work and have a beer.  My friends who work in Muslim countries are so jealous.”

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I convinced my friend to go to field school with me this summer because I told her all we do is drink in the jungle.”

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I discovered anthropology because I had an epiphany that what interested me most about Star Trek (which I had just gotten into) were the aliens' cultures. This helped bring me out of my 2 year depression and I am back in school set to graduate soon!”

Mod note: Congrats and good luck!  

[anthropologistconfessions]

“My biological anthro/archaeo pet peeve: when people assume race within a human specimen without taking reliable measurements and then comparing.  This is basic forensic methodology omfg how did they even think this was a good idea?” (Clay reconstruction of Kennewick Man.)

[Image source]

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I’m the worst intern.  I love ethnography, but transcribing field notes is the absolute bane of my existence.  (Currently typing up notes for a project that should have been done 2 weeks ago and now my boss is pissed.)”

[anthropologistconfessions]

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life if archaeology doesn’t work out.”

Mod note: Me too honey.  Me too.