I’ve posted before but I’ve mentioned my school and don’twant this to come back to me.
I’d like to preface my post with this: I have no plans toquit, I just want to get my MLIS without going crazy in the process. I haveloved all of my library jobs so I know this is what I want to do, and I know Ineed the degree to do it. I’m in a top ranked program, my first choice school.
I feel really shortchanged in the academic rigor.The material is either obvious or simplistic or both. All the “learning” we’ve done in one class isnothing I couldn’t have done on my own. I refer to my reference class as “elementarysocial skills” because when we aren’t just reading lists of reference materialswe are discussing reasons not to be rude to patrons. My 3rd class isjust not challenging. My 4th is all theory but I don’t mind itbecause professor is amazing.
I don’t understand how what I’m doing is graduate levelwork. For all of my term papers I need to turn in all the steps; I haven’t had to do that since my college freshmen writing course and even then there was less hand holding. It's not helpful to me and doesn't work with how I write. The assignments aren’t challenging. I feel like I’m going backwards fromundergrad. I skimp on reading because I get As on assignments without doing it. Part of the reason I wanted to go to grad school was to push myself and I’m getting lazier.
I feel really socially isolated. I moved back in with my parents about an hour away from school. My boyfriend is close enough to visit on the weekends but I’m leaning on him too much as my only social outlet. I keep in touch with most of my friends from undergrad but none are close enough to hang out with regularly. I’ve got two friends in my program and a few acquaintances but I don’t feel like I can talk to them. They all either complain about the workload or seem perfectly happy. I thought about trying some clubs but I arranged my class/work schedule to minimize the time/money spent commuting so things either meet when I’m busy or not on campus (plus it was totally weird to be the lone grad student at meetings).
I’d talk with my advisor but I was assigned the head of the department, who also happens to teach the reference class I hate. We were supposed to be matched with someone who had similar interests; however my advisor’s background is in the only type of library I’m not interested in. I’m afraid to switch since she’s grading me this semester and because of her position.
I feel totally alone with this and I don’t know how I’m going to suck it up for the remainder of this semester and the next 2. I know I should be more grateful that I don’t have to struggle with work but I’m so tired of things being easy for me.
