Cambridge Archaeology and Anthropology Students and Applicants

Do biology, or if not do geology or chemistry. The Bio Anth people want the university to put in the prospectus that they recommend Biology, but the other departments (Arch and Soc Anth) are worried it will put off applicants. If you have the choice I highly recommend biology.


DISCLAIMER: For people already doing A levels you don't need biology at all, and they won't discriminate against those who aren't offering it. It is simply helpful for those already on the course because they can jump through a lot of the initial theory we have to do.

yeh I'm good at Biology (predicted A*) but i find it very boring lol
I'm particulary interested in Archaeology and the whole Egyptian thing they're doing. Was just wondering if Archaeology at A Level is seen as a 'soft' subject? If not I'll do that, as for Biology I will keep what everyone has said in mind but you dont HAVE to do it right?

I did Archaeology at A level and it has been by far the most useful of my A Levels in relation to the course.

oh i might do Archaeology then, thats the one I want to do but i just thought Cambridge might like History better??

I did history, archaeology, French and english Lit. Asides from wishing I'd done biology, I found that a nice mix. I think Arch is just as relevant (if not more so) for Arch & Anth than history. I talked about my A Level in the interview and certainly didn't feel anyone was dismissive of it.

Is is hard? Just because you know the new A* thingy, I really need to get an A* in at least one subject!

okay
so now im thinking im much more interested in anthropology
and my A Level choices have changed
would Government & Politics, French, Economics and History be good choices for Social Anthropology at Cambridge?
thanks, and sorry for changing my mind all the time :P

I may be wrong, but I'm almost certain that you can't just apply for Social Anthropology on its own at Cambridge. I don't see anything wrong with those A-level choices though, probably more sensible than mine

You are correct; social anthropology does not constitute an independent tripos. You can certainly specialize in social anthropology, during parts IIa and IIb, yet you cannot do this from part I.

I got myself some work experience at the MAA in Cambridge and booked a 3 month expedition in India living with a small community which will be interesting, especially considering how the DOS for anthropology at Christs did 25 years work in India Now I need to raise 3 grand somehow...

You are correct; social anthropology does not constitute an independent tripos. You can certainly specialize in social anthropology, during parts IIa and IIb, yet you cannot do this from part I.

oh yeh yeh I know that, sorry! I meant that if I wanted to specialize in Social Anthropology in my 2nd year - rather than Biological Anthropology or Archaeology.
just wondering, what were your A Levels dakws?

Congratulations. Considering that the MAA operates an intensive outreach programme you should certainly never run out of things to do (that is, we are often e-mailed for our assistance).

Best of luck with raising that money.