Graduate School

Considering graduate school? You're not alone.

 

I'm in the process of interviewing current graduate students about their programs and advice for applying to graduate school - check out their responses here!

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Name: Amanda Shaffery

School: University of Memphis

Program: Egyptology in the History Department
Undergraduate: Art & Archaeology - Hood College, 2015

Photo courtesy of Amanda Shaffery.

What do you like about the program?

            I enjoy that my program is smaller. Due to this you get to know everyone within your program, and others in the history department as well. Also I really like my professors. Dr. Onstine is really knowledgeable about women and gender in ancient Egypt and has fostered my own interest in this topic as well, Dr. Brand is an extremely entertaining lecturer and I am always amazed by how much information he keeps in his head, and Dr. Roberson is so passionate about the ancient Egyptian language that it makes me want to work harder for his classes.

What do you dislike, if anything, about the program?

            It’s a little strange to me that the Egyptologists are split between the History and Art History Departments at Memphis, and though we interact constantly, there is not much overlap between the classes students of each department take. We all take Middle Egyptian and other language classes together, but unless you are also getting a museums studies certificate that is really the only class you will take through the Art History Department

Is there any experience that you had prior to entering the program that you feel has benefited you in your studies?

            All of my undergraduate course work has really prepared me for graduate school. I owe a lot to my Hood College professors, Dr. Ross, Dr. Krygier and Dr. Bhatt. The three of them really pushed me to do my best in classes and fostered my interests. Dr. Ross really pushed me to be a better writer and to analyze everything. Dr. Krygier taught me just about everything I know about ancient Egypt. Thanks to her I have come into my graduate level classes already understanding concepts and readings that some of my colleagues are just learning for the first time. Dr. Bhatt really taught me to keep an open mind and to not be afraid of taking on a new challenge, thanks to her I am able to remember that I really can do this. All three of them were vital to my education, and I don’t really think I can ever repay that.

How is your program organized?

            Basically, for the M.A. program in history we are required to take two years of classes, one of which must be an ancient historiography course and two years of language. Beyond that we are usually given a choice of about three other courses. As a master’s student we can take up to two undergraduate classes for graduate credit and we are allowed to take courses outside of Egyptology so long as they support one of our minor interests. For example this semester I am taking Women and Gender Historiography, due to my interest in women and gender in the ancient world. Also last semester I took a survey of the Ancient Near East which was an undergraduate class, to get graduate credit for this I had two research papers assigned that were not assigned to the undergraduate students. In the history department we are not required to do a Master’s Thesis. I think this is because we are encouraged to continue onto the Ph.D. at Memphis.

What factors did you consider when looking at different programs?

            I considered the overall program, basically did the program look like it would be a good fit for me based on the school’s website. Memphis looked like the smaller program, which I wanted and also it did not have an overly competitive vibe. I have heard horror stories of graduate students trying to take each other out like in an academic Hunger Games, and I knew that that was not an environment for me. I don’t like to tear people down, especially people that could one day be my colleagues in a small field of study.

How did you choose your program?

            I chose my program because of the size. I really enjoy learning in a smaller classroom size, and so that was a large factor in my decision. Also the opportunities at Memphis to work with Dr. Onstine and Dr. Brand were exactly what I was looking for.

Any advice?

            My biggest piece of advice would be to thoroughly research each program before applying and committing to one. Different people thrive in different environments, for me personally I knew I needed one that fostered forming a community. Also always apply for FASFA, even as a graduate student. If you have an assistantship or a campus job you are eligible for work study, and every little bit helps.