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mature(?)student

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Everything posted by mature(?)student

  1. I have heard that many people cho0se to go the SJSU route. I applied there as my Plan B in case I wasn't accepted to UCLA. SJSU and UCLA are, as you are probably aware, the only two ALA-accredited programs in CA so both are very popular programs. SJSU Pros (as I see it): Convenience - being able to keep your present job and take classes. ALA accreditation. No GRE requirement. SJSU Cons: Lack of personal contact. Expense - as a Special Sessions program, it's not cheap and financial aid options are, I believe, more limited. Finally, I know a professor whose friend is currently in the SJSU program. Her friend reported that the program is not exactly difficult but it can be quite time-consuming and coursework deadlines are non-negotiable. Without getting too personal, do you think you have a really good shot at UCLA next year? I would be happy to discuss it further with you if you send me a private message.
  2. I received an answer from UCLA three or four weeks ago. They still had quite a few applications to go through when I spoke to the Student Affairs Officer about a week later. I bet you'll be hearing something fairly soon.
  3. For the past three years, I have worked in an academic department at a California State University campus. This campus is extremely casual. I think the President is the only person I have ever seen in a suit and tie. Faculty regularly wear short and flip flops to class. Staff wear pretty much everything except their jammies to work. HOWEVER, when potential graduate students, faculty or staff come to visit or interview, it is assumed that they will wear business or business casual attire even if the person interviewing them is dressed more casually. People who do not observe protocol are definitely discussed afterwards for their lack of professionalism or maturity. I went to visit my future grad program at UCLA recently and was not surprised exactly but interested to see the staff and faculty dressed far more smartly and professionally than on my CSU campus. I decided to err on the side of caution that day and wore some smart office type pants from Banana Republic, a sweater, coat and flat shoes for walking all over campus and I was glad I did. Having said that, I think there are many ways you can express your personality with your clothing and accessories and still look professional.
  4. Actually, I am a first generation college student from very modest circumstances. Perhaps I can clarify my previous statement. I believe that if you, for example, do not have a stellar verbal score due to being a non-native English speaker, you will almost certainly be at a distinct disadvantage in any number of rigorous programs. The same applies to the mathematically-challenged, such as myself. I did not seek to improve my GRE score by cramming or using more prep material than was provided by ETS. I did not aspire to being accepted by fiercely competitive schools. I simply wanted my scores to be as accurate a reflection of my abilities as possible. I suck at math. Always have, always will. I accept that. As such, I am completely okay with being rejected by schools that require more than my pitiful 38th percentile score. Of course standardized tests are inherently biased but they are a necessary evil since GPA is not a reliable indicator of ability either and individual schools are either unable or unwilling to administer customized entrance exams.
  5. I am leaning towards accepting my offer to UCLA's MLIS program. I have lived in LA most of my life and will say that the area around UCLA can best be characterized as congested. Parking is a drag. The 405 freeway tends to crawl. Westwood Village is a far cry from its charming heyday. Probably the best thing about the UCLA area is that it is near so many different areas. Los Angeles is a huge, sprawling, incredibly diverse place. From the hipster neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silverlake, to the downtown LA art scene, to the endless array of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters, to the numerous beach communities, there is something for nearly everyone. Also on the plus side, UCLA is unquestionably a very fine school with high name recognition in academia, a strong alumni association and high job placement. I believe it is also a bargain.
  6. I've been accepted to UCLA. Weirdly, I still haven't heard from San Jose. I suspect they are not entirely on the ball up there.
  7. Chicago. Definitely Chicago. The worldwide respect, instant name recognition and networking opportunities are worth the cost.
  8. I refused to let the GREs make me crazy so I did very little to prepare for them. Instead, I chose to cling to the belief that they are simply one factor that schools look at when assessing applicants. I don't remember my actual scores (I could dig them up as I know they are somewhere in my file of grad school application crap) but I do know that I scored in the 94th percentile for verbal and the 38th percentile in math. I can't remember how I did on the other part...maybe a 5? In addition, my GPA for my last 75 or so units is a 4.0, I had three incredibly glowing recommendations and did my BA in Classics, which tends to impress schools for some mysterious reason. Whatever my GRE scores were, they were good enough to get me accepted to masters programs at UCLA and UCI with funding. Obviously, this would not have been the case had I applied to a chemistry, math, stats, or medicine program. I do believe that your GRE scores reflect your natural strengths and abilities. If my scores aren't high enough for a particular school or program, I am willing to accept that I most likely don't belong there.
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