jordtas7

You should check out the ALA's webpage on accreditation. http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/faq#why_go_to_accredited_program It seems that if you graduate from a school that is unaccredited your degree is likewise unaccredited, which can pose a problem because some employers require ALA accreditation. I don't know what happens if you start the degree at a school that is unaccredited and then during the course of your studies the school gains accreditation....is only part of the degree accredited? Probably not, I would think in that case the degree would be considered ALA accredited, but I don't know. Maybe you should try contacting someone at the ALA and ask them some questions.

There are so many factors that go into an admission decision that it is difficult to look at general gpa/gre statistics and say with confidence yes you will or no you will not get in to a program. I have four graduate degrees so I have gone through the application process many times and have gotten into schools I thought were well out of my reach and I have been rejected from schools that I thought I had a really good chance of getting in to. There are many graduate programs where the GRE isn't even a requirement anymore and admissions offices are looking to other indicators to decide whether or not to admit students. I think that the personal statement is really important and that in submitting your statement you should be wary of using a general essay that you send to every school you are applying to. Tailor every personal statement to each school----let them know why their particular program fits your needs and how your background makes you a perfect fit for their program. In personal statements I have mentioned specific course work and unique practical experiences a particular program offers to explain why I am interested in the graduate program and why I think that program is best suited to helping me attain my educational and career goals. I have also highlighted some of the specific experiences that I have had inside and outside the classroom that I think are really relevant and make me look like a strong candidate. Just be sure that what you write sounds genuine. So I guess my advice is to stop worrying about things you can't change right now---you have graduated from school and your GPA is what it is and unless you retake the GRE your score isn't going to change either (and in saying this I am not making a judgment about your GRE or GPA scores either way). Instead work really hard to get recommendations from people that you know will have good and interesting things to say about you, make sure your resume is flawless, and write a statement of purpose that demonstrates that you know the program you are applying to and believe that it is a really good fit for you. Good luck, I hope everything works out!

I had a very different experience with UW-Milwaukee and have decided to attend their program. Instead of emailing them you should definately call them to see what is going on.

Yesterday I officially decided on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I found out yesterday that I was awarded the scholarship I applied for that pays for tuition and student fees and provides a stipend. This is the best offer that I've had so I am going to go for it.

I don't think it would be too much to contact them again to inquire about your transcript. Admissions departments deal with a lot of documents and applications and things sometimes slip through the cracks and unfortunately sometimes issues don't get fixed or addressed in a timely manner unless you take it upon yourself to be vocal about it.

I really have no idea right now. I am leaning towards UW Milwaukee because I think I have a good chance of getting the fellowship I applied for there. However if I get the fellowship I applied for at Pittsburgh I would be extremely happy and go with that program for sure. For me, this decision is almost entirely dependent on funding. At every school I applied to I also applied to fellowships and scholarships, and after spending a fortune on law school I have promised myself that the only way I will enter a library science program is if I am able to obtain a fellowship. Milwaukee will be announcing fellowship recipients on March 18 and I spoke with Pittsburgh today and they said I should knnow about the fellowship by the end of March, so I still have a bit of wait before I am ready to make a decision

The last school I am waiting to hear back from, Emporia State University, sent me an email today inviting me to interview. (Their admissions process requires an interview) So I am all set to interview on March 7th. It's a 90 minute interview and I am kind of nervous about it. It isn't a nationally recognized program but I think it has a solid program and I think I have a good chance of getting a Graduate Assistant position to fund the degree. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I was accepted at the University of Pittsburgh!! This is one of my top choices so I am super excited!

Congrats on your acceptances Whitepony16! Both of these schools have excellent reputations, but I have no personal knowledge of their youth services programs. Choosing a school is such a personal choice its really hard to give advice as to which program to choose when I don't know you or your preferences. Perhaps you should call both schools and speak with someone to get a better feel for the schools, or if you get a chance to visit the schools in person that might be very helpful as well. Perhaps you should consider each school's location because that can matter as some people have preferences for what type of city or area they would like to live in. Also, like you said once you have a good idea of how much each program will cost that might steer your decision. Ultimately, I guess you will have to do some research and soul searching to come to the decision that will be the best fit for you. Good luck!

mepclu, I was also accepted into the MSLS program. Maybe they haven't sent out decisions about the IS program yet.

I got accepted into Chapel Hill but am waiting on Pittsburgh. Bluebros when did you hear from Pittsburgh?

I looked on the American Library Association website to see if there is more information on conditional accreditation. It seems that if a school is not meeting ALA standards they are put on conditional accreditation status. The conditional status lasts for three years and after that three years the ALA reviews the program makes a determination as to whether to remove accreditation or grant it full accreditation. Like you said if you got your degree within those three years your degree would still be considered accredited, however there is the concern that the program may not be fully preparing you. Perhaps you could talk to someone at CUNY Queens about what they are doing in response to their conditional status to make sure they are working towards meeting ALA standards. From what I hear the "tech-based" side of the field is becoming increasingly important in librarianship so it might be good to consider another program that will be sure to prepare you in this respect. It also might be helpful to speak with a working youth services public librarian to discuss how important and what role technology has in their particular field. These are just a few suggestions---this is a very tough decision. Here is a link for the website I looked at: http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/standards/ap3/overview/conditional I hope this is helpful!

I have applied to the University of Pittsburgh, Emporia State University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and UNC-Chapel Hill. I turned in all my applications in October and am now just waiting to hear back. I did get an acceptance to UW-Milwaukee recently but I don't expect to hear from the others for a while. I have a legal degree and am interested in academic legal librarianship.