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How difficult is it to get into graduate school for Classics?

#school #classics #gradschool #college #college-major

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Grant’s Answer

I haven't done this myself, but I did study a lot of ancient Greek and got a PhD in philosophy. In general, I don't think it is insanely difficult to do this if you are a good student. But I would think hard about your long-term goals. Basically this degree is only useful for being a classics professor. Are you sure that's what you want to do? Also, if you are, you should probably go to one of the top 10 or so graduate schools for classics. If you only get into second-tier schools, you might have a hard time getting a job or only get a bad job. Finally, I would add that even in grad school lots of students are imo not very good at Greek and Latin. I would approach learning these languages in as similar a way as you can as how you would approach learning a normal, living language. If you can get fluency with them, you will have a big advantage.

Thank you comment icon This is correct, if you want to have a shot after you graduate at being successful on the academic job market (which gets worse each year) you want your graduate degree to be from a top 10 school in your field. Brant Torres, PhD
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Lori’s Answer

Admission into graduate school is mostly contingent upon your college transcript (pre-requisite courses may be required) and GRE score. Students who have a track record for completing their studies with a good GPA are favored. Begin with investigating the graduate schools known for strong Classic Studies. Then visit their web site to review the course of study.

I recommend talking with college professors in the English and Liberal Arts departments at your current college. Ask questions about the application of your degree and future career path---especially if your aim is to be a college professor. Unfortunately, the trend in higher education has not been to limit tenure positions. This does vary based on the state and type of higher learning institution (private vs. public). Most colleges have staffed career centers as well along with librarians who are adept at finding appropriate sources for your research.
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