As a double major in Anthropology and Psychology at the University of Rhode Island, I have gained a strong background in both fields. My background is especially strong in physical anthropology, my primary field of interest. Physical anthropology consumes my life; I do not study it because I find it somewhat interesting but because I am devoted to it; I want to make it my life. In addition to maintaining a high GPA throughout my college career, and making the Dean's list several times, I have also worked hard as a supervisor at Brooks Pharmacy for the past five years. Working my own way through college not only demonstrates my determination to gaining a high quality education and the seriousness with which I treat academics, but also attests to my leadership ability, maturity, and responsibility, both as a supervisor and as a student at the University of Rhode Island.

　　My primary goal in applying to your graduate program is to prepare myself for a career in forensic anthropology. Interested in furthering the current body of research and in improving techniques used in the identification of human remains, I am very committed to pursuing forensic anthropology and believe your graduate program in anthropology will provide me with an excellent foundation in the area of physical and forensic anthropology. With a Master's degree and Ph.D., I will be well prepared to lead a very promising career. While I have no doubt that the program will push me to my limits, I am confident that I can face the rigorous challenges posed by graduate study and thrive under the demanding environment that advanced studies entail.

　　From my transcripts, you will see that not only am I a well-balanced student, I actually thrive in rigorous, upper level courses, courses akin to graduate-level courses. Armed with the confidence that I can excel at difficult courses, I believe I can achieve the highest level of success and satisfaction by taking the most demanding graduate program available.

　　In addition to my ability to excel in the classroom, I have demonstrated a proficiency in all aspects of conducting research. Research has become a fundamental part of my college career, and I hope it will become the primary component of my future. As a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island, I designed a research project entitled "Grooming and Affiliative Behavior in Three Species of Non-Human Primates" under the guidance of Dr. Su Boatright Horowitz in the Psychology Department at URI. My research proposal gained approval from the Institutional Care and Use Committee at URI and at the Roger William Park and Zoo where the three species of non-human primates (Gibbons, Sakis, and Lemurs) included in my study are kept. In addition to writing a successful research proposal, I also wrote and received a small funds grant from the University of Rhode Island in order to conduct my research. By being intimately involved in every aspect of research, from proposal and grant writing to data collection and analysis, I have learned what it takes to be a researcher, but more than that, I have learned how fulfilling and interesting research can be.

　　In the spring of 2005, I will be presenting my results at a poster presentation at the University of Rhode Island, and am planning to eventually publish my findings. Not only has this experience shown me that I am capable of excelling in conducting research, but it has also allowed me to develop a love for the hands on learning that is so crucial to successful research. In my final semester at URI, I will be participating in an ongoing research project concerning brain function and attention span under the direction of Dr. Dominic Valentino, a professor in the psychology department at URI. This project will undoubtedly further advance my academic skills and reinforce my passion for research.

　　Physical anthropology is more than just my primary area of education; it has also become my hobby and lifestyle. The questions posed and answered via the study of physical anthropology have fascinated me for a very long time and have stimulated me to ask and seek to answer further questions. With my mind set on the very specific goal of preparing myself as excellently as possible for a future in the field of forensic anthropology, I am fully confident that, with the ability to pursue my education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I will not only be able to fulfill my dream, but to contribute substantially to the university as well.