Expert: John J. Shea - 5/18/2011

Question
I really would love to focus on an Egyptology degree or somewhat close to that. I love Egypt and all of its history. I just don't know where to start, what colleges to look at for it (limited schools that offer anything like this), what languages are best and anything to help toward my goal. Also I'd like to know what careers are available after achieving this. I still have one more year of High School and I'd like to get a really good head start. I'm also not sure what to do for college funding. I'm in Florida with Florida Pre-paid college plan.

Answer
Chris
First, read as much as you can about the subject in the professional literature.  Look for well-reviewed books for popular audiences by major researchers.  Pay attention to who gets cited in the bibliographies of these books.  Citation is, in theory, a measure of scholarly expertise.
Write to these frequently-cited researchers for advice about how to proceed with your training.
Next, when you go to college, do not specialize in Egyptology as an undergraduate. Take a wide range of classes, including a few upper-level ones on Egypt, if they are offered.
When you are in college, ask your professors to help you research good graduate programs in Egyptology.
If you are committed to Florida, systematically go through the webpages of history and anthropology programs at the major colleges and universities of that state seeking out faculty who offer graduate training in Egyptology or archaeology. Univ. of Florida Gainesville has a strong Anthropology program and some very talented archaeologists in residence.  Start there.
The strongest grad programs in Egyptology in the US tend to be older schools with museums, like Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Chicago.  By that point, though you will be looking at getting into the best programs you can, not just those in the state in which you reside.
Lastly, keep an open mind.  Your interests will shift around in college.  I started out interested in the Celtic Iron Age and ended up working in Paleolithic Africa.
Cheers,
John Shea