blackwizard420

Hi there! I worked as a tech in a conservation lab for 3 years and looked into going to school (and ultimately ended up doing something else)- I know basically everything about this stuff and have a ton of friends in the field. Here's the deal: the programs in the US (and the one in Canada at Queen's) are extremely good, and extremely competitive. All are funded and only accept a handful of people per year. Most people who attend these programs have to apply a few times before they get in. Delaware is the best, but their application process involves days of in-person tests. It's really hard. You're gonna need a lot of art history and studio art- advanced level classes. Try talking to someone in a conservation lab in your area, it's a really small field and people tend to be friendly. Also, you also need to have an idea of the area you'd like to work in- paper, paintings, sculpture, textiles. It helps if you can visit some labs and get an idea of what people do and what medium you prefer. Jobs are difficult to find, even for graduates of these programs- there just aren't that many jobs available and once they have a good job people stay in them until they retire, it's a tiny field, starting salary is very low. But if this doesn't intimidate you, AND if you can spare four years of your life to do an MA, AND you don't mind moving anywhere in the world where a job becomes available- then go for it. Coming from a science background is a really strong aspect. There are alternatives to the US programs that you might want to consider- the UK has several shorter (2 year) MA programs in various mediums that, since you've already done an MA in chem, might be a better fit for you. If you're into books/paper you could also consider a program in bookbinding, like at North Bennet Street School, since you already have the chemistry it would give you the experience and hand skills focus. Please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions at all! I'm happy to talk about my background and the background/paths of the people I've worked with. Good luck!

I strongly, strongly advise anyone thinking of getting an MLS to work in a library first. There are tons of jobs in libraries that don't require an MLS- technical services, assistant jobs, acquisitions, metadata coding stuff, etc. From there, get an MLS while you work- your job might help pay, plus there are scholarships for library staff- and you'll be able to get a job as a librarian much more easily if you've been working the whole time. And if you don't like working in acquisitions or cataloging... maybe reconsider becoming a librarian, because unless you get a really specific, advanced job, you'll be doing stuff like that at least part of the time. Basically, I work in a library, and we get so many job applications- and volunteer applications- from unemployed people with multiple masters degrees and MLS degrees- don't be one of them.

Hi everyone, I'm interested in getting some opinions on my grad school choices. I currently work full-time doing acquisitions and pre-cataloging at an academic library. I'm in a union that provides full tuition vouchers for graduate degrees at SUNY schools (I wouldn't have to pay tax on it either because it's "job related".) The only SUNY school that provides an MLS that would be convenient for me, from what I can tell, is SUNY Buffalo, and their ALA acreditation is conditional. Would it be worth it to attend their program, if it's almost completely free? In addition to my current job, I worked in preservation for two years and in reference for one, and I'd hope that my experience would outweigh the fact that it's not such an awesome program. I could get a voucher for a tuition discount if I attend another school, but it's not for a very large amount and I'd have to pay most of the cost. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I haven't gone to grad school yet, but I work in an academic library, and I used to work in the NYU archives (NYU has an archives/public history degree), and most of the people I work with have done some combination of MA History/MLS/MA Archives. Here is what I have gleaned: 1. A dual degree is usually twice as expensive. If you have the option of going somewhere and paying in-state tuition, do it. 2. An MA History/MLS dual degree seems to be a pretty useful combination. If you want to work in academic/research libraries, it's basically required to have two masters degrees, and more and more places seem to be hiring people with two masters instead of just an MLS. It also gives you a good option of being able to work in libraries in academia for a while and decide if you want to go back for a PhD in history eventually. Also, you could do an archives certificate/concentration. Also, most courses for your MLS will be boring (so I hear), so it would be nice to be also studying history, which is more interesting. 3. I used to work with a lot of people who taught at or attended NYU's Archives and Public History MA. It's a pretty fun program, everyone seems to enjoy it, lots of fun/cool/interesting classes and they emphasize digital history. However, a lot of graduates from it have had a hard time finding jobs because they don't technically have an MLS, even though they basically know everything that they would have learned in an MLS program. NYU also has the option of doing an MA in anything with an MLS from LIU, and people who do that seem to be more or less successful, lots of post-grad fellowships and things, but big big $$$$$. Hope that helps!

Thanks, that's good to hear! My interest in City is furthered by the fact that it's like ten blocks from my apartment, haha. I like that City's M.A. faculty is focused on modern/contemporary and non-western art, and includes at least one practicing artist. I'm interested in landscape traditions and ideas of space, but I'm coming from a do-whatever-you-want!!! art school background and I'm hoping to focus those interests in a more art-historical way in an M.A. program.

Does anyone know anything about the MA program in Art History at City College? Any information on your experience there or the program's reputation would be really helpful! I am an NYC resident and museum professional and I want to get a PhD in Art History eventually. However, I have a non-traditional background (I studied studio art with just a smattering of art history), and I want to get an MA to focus my interests and get real research experience (and I have to go to a public school for $$ reasons). I am also considering Hunter, and I know their program is great. But I suspect City's program is smaller and I like the faculty's research interests, so I think it might provide me with more individual guidance. I am currently contacting people at both schools etc, but any info would be great! Thanksss

I am a New York-based library professional. I've been working in special collections/preservation for 3 years now. I started thinking seriously about going to library school while working to advance my career. However, even with scholarships and aid, I can't afford to go to even the cheapest library schools in NYC without getting into some debt, and honestly the only ones that would be a reasonable commute from my job are Pratt and Palmer at LIU/NYU, which are both expensive. So- is it worth it to go, and get into debt, since I'm pretty much guaranteed to continue working the whole time, and the degree would improve my resume? Or, since I already work in the field, should I just wait it out and see how long I can go without needing an MLS? I'd like to advance in the field, but so many people have said that it just isn't worth it to go into debt for an MLS, so I'm pretty confused. Advice?

Thanks! Tamarind is like, a dream school. Mick, you gave me a lot of stuff to start with! I've started researching this myself too, obviously, but it just seems like everywhere wants to emphasize how conceptual and interdisciplinary their printmaking programs are, when I am interested in finding a super-technical program.

This seems to be the opposite of what everyone else has asked about, but I went to a really conceptual, interdisciplinary undergraduate program and I want to get more traditional, "master printer"-type training. What are the best schools for this? Are any of the CUNY schools good traditional programs? I live in New York and I'm not eager to leave, but I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks! And good luck to everyone who applied for 2012!

Hey! I am a Brooklyn resident thinking about getting a Library Science degree. I've worked in various libraries for about 3 years now and while I think I eventually want to go back to school for a PhD, in the short term I'd like to continue working in libraries, and I'd have more opportunities with an ML(I)S (hopefully). I don't want to go into debt for this, and I don't want to leave New York City. I had some good conversations with people at Queens College CUNY and St. John's University- both ALA accredited programs- and with my undergrad GPA and in-state status, I would be able to afford the degree, and continue to work while I went to school. But these aren't exactly prestigious schools, and I'm wondering if that will make a difference? I've heard that job experience trumps where you got your MLS degree- and I have experience working for several major public institutions. Any thoughts on either school or on my plan in general? Thanks!!!