acebookdragon

NGL, within the actual iSchool/library science community, Washington has an incredible reputation. It's also one of the hardest programs to get into, so congrats on that! UNC's got a good vibe as well, and all the faculty I know there are lovely.

Spilling some tea here: UIUC's iSchool is a lovely community. Hard to get an assistantship to get a tuition waiver without a lot of prior library experience (definitely apply broadly to other departments/offices on campus there to increase your chances). Youth services track is A++. I haven't been around in a hot second, but as recently as 2020, the archives concentration basically did not exist despite it being advertised and getting ranked #1. The vibe is very inclusive, queer AF (to the point where it was a little surprising if you met someone who wasn't some flavor of the rainbow), very progressive. Definitely still super white, though. Also, your tuition waiver counts as taxable income. Despite that, I still miss UIUC with every fiber of my being. (Also, hit up Portillo's, Jane Addams Book Shop, Curtis Orchards, and Golden Harbor if you're in the area) UMD's iSchool is... a school. That exists. I can't speak specifically to the MLIS program, but the iSchool's vibe as a whole is weird. They're really pushing the more data sciences/tech-y side of things, and it's rare to hear anything about anything library-related. The faculty is full of drama that makes you feel like you're back in middle school. There are some genuinely lovely people at UMD's iSchool, but the culture is very clique-y. UMD also has the largest grad student stipend-to-cost of living deficit of all the Big 10 schools, so unless you've got some great savings, a partner/family to support you, work a well-paying job on the side, or are willing to take on loans, it's rough. HR and payroll are nightmares to deal with, which makes all of that even worse. Their reputation is so bad that students from other schools on campus know about it. All of that being said, I know people who really enjoyed their time at UMD in the MLIS program, but I definitely know more people who are annoyed or frustrated or angry with UMD's iSchool than who are really happy with it.