judithsmutler

ekmoore - I also came from a selective LAC with minimal grade inflation, had a 3.28 GPA, 99% verbal, 49% (gasp!) quantitative, and 4.5 analytical. I got in everywhere I applied. I'm going to UNC-Chapel Hill, which is #1 in Archives and Preservation right now (tied with Simmons, another school that accepted me). You don't need to retake your GREs. If you hold your SOP to the same standards to which you would hold a paper for a class at your college, you will almost certainly be fine. It doesn't meant that you will absolutely get in everywhere you apply, but that isn't totally unlikely either! You'll notice on these threads that only very rarely do people get across-the-board rejections when they apply - and when they do, it's usually because they only applied to one or two schools, or have a sub-3.0 GPA, or some other serious issue that they need to work on before they re-apply. The biggest problem is finding out a way to pay for the degree when you do get in! When I started this process, my librarian mentor (the Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian at my college) told me that I was being an idiot for getting so stressed out that I wouldn't be accepted anywhere. She was right - there was absolutely no good reason to freak out! With your background, I really do think you're going to find the admissions process a cinch. Good luck! Also, you might want to add Michigan to your list. I didn't apply there, but I have a friend who went there for more techy-things and her experience was absolutely wonderful! It's definitely a very progressive department from what I understand.

I'm definitely getting nervous about debt. None of my options will be less than $30K per year in tuition alone if I were to go right now, which is why I'm thinking about deferring a year and moving to North Carolina so that I can get in-state tuition by my second year. I could probably live and work where I do right now and go to Drexel, but if I kept my full-time job, it would probably take me five or six years to graduate! It's really frustrating that some of the programs that do have funding are unable to let you know until after you have to decide where you're going. I just can't commit to a school not knowing if I'll be able to pay for it.

I'm leaning toward UNC, but Simmons and Iowa are both contenders still. I think I can comfortably turn down UMD, Drexel, and Arizona at this point. Money is the biggest issue, as I'm sure it is for many of you as well. I already have student loan debt from undergrad, so I am wary of taking on the huge loans that would be required by pretty much any of these schools. I applied to UMD and UNC not knowing that they had chosen to opt-out of the Academic Common Market program, which means that I can no longer get in-state tuition at either of them. I don't know if I would have heard by now or not regarding funding at Simmons or UNC, but I'm going to have to make my decision pretty soon! If I get no grant money anywhere, I will probably choose UNC, defer for a year, and try to move to the Chapel Hill/Durham area as soon as possible, so that maybe by the time my second semester of enrollment comes around, I'll qualify for in-state tuition. I like Iowa a lot, even though I know it is not as prestigious as UNC or Simmons, and I did apply for a GAship there. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll know about that before I have to tell them whether or not I'm attending!

I just got a not-great email from UBC. They sent me an email last week saying that they were recommending me for the dual MAS/MLIS program, but now the Graduate School has issues with my application and can't recommend it without more information. Hopefully what I sent them helps. To be fair, my transcript is really confusing because I completed my coursework in fits and starts due to chronic illness (not a problem now, had surgery). I thought I made it all very clear in my admissions essay, but I'm guessing that the Graduate School doesn't look over that quite as closely as the department. Hopefully everything works out, but if it doesn't, I still have UNC, UMD, and Iowa (haven't heard from Simmons, Drexel, or Arizona yet). Also, as a side note: has anyone else found email responses from Simmons to be a little...curt? I mean, I'm from Philly, so I'm used to people being less-than-cuddly, but jeez, I've felt pretty unwelcome since email #1!

I was accepted into the dual program yesterday! This was the email I received: I am happy to inform you that the admissions committee for the Dual Master of Archival Studies/Master of Library and Information Studies program has met and would like to recommend you for admission for September 2013. All recommendations are approved at the discretion of the Faculty of Graduate Studies as only they are able to offer admission to our programs. Congratulations! Once they process the recommendation, and approve it, you will receive an email followed by a print letter. The print letter is your official offer of admission. Please contact our Admissions Secretary, Connie Wintels, at slais.admissions@ubc.ca to let her know your decision. If you require any further information or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact either myself or Connie. Kind regards, Heather I am an American student, so I will need to get a student Visa if I do decide to go.