Expert: Ralph Salier - 7/9/2009

Question
Hi! I'm a high school junior who has been interested in archaeology since she can remember. I have been trying to research colleges lately that have strong programs in Old World Archeology and am coming up short-handed. I have very good grades and am very involved in my school so getting accepted to an out-of-state school (I live in Oregon) is likely, though it is not necessarily a priority for me. I would also like to attend a school that has well known study-abroad programs. Eventually I would like to receive a PH.D.. in this subject and become a professor. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Maris,

Old World Archaeology?  Do you mean classical as in Roman, Greek etc...? Or do you mean Bronze Age, Iron Age, Prehistoric European?  Many programs that focus on non-North American studies will generally have field schools and the like in those areas of focus.  

Some advice: Getting a professorship is very political and nearly impossible to achieve.  Of the people I was a student with, only one out of +/- 100 because an associate prof.  So I would not place a focus on this until much later in your career.

Some more advice:  This from Mary Leaky to me when I was about your age:  " By all means, study archaeology but be sure to have a back up.  Study economics, sociology, plumbing, electrical work, geology something that you can fall back on.  Become a teacher, that way you can teach during the rest of the year and you get your summers off to dig."  I took her advice and I am glad I did, it was very good advice.

Well if you could answer my questions above, I will help you focus on a university that will best fit your current interest.