littlewing

woo hoo! It will be great. You can enjoy being excited now! By the way, if you get in to Buffalo, might you accept there? If so what are your feelings about conditional accreditation? I ask because one of my schools is conditionally accredited at the moment.

Also maybe try to convert your IT skills into something concrete for your resume - through part-time work or volunteering at something I guess? Plus you're very young so as long as you do well at what you're doing and enjoy it, you can't go too wrong I don't think... obviously try to keep costs as low as you reasonably can, which I think you will.

Hello I agree it's great you are volunteering and also prepared to relocate. This will help. Taking all you've said in different threads together, I think you're ready for a change and this is a good one for you. Going to Rutgers is exciting, it's a great school. So I wouldn't rush through it at crazy light-speed just to save a semester of costs. Rather I think you should go at a normal pace, get the best grades you can, network and enjoy what's on offer as much as you can, and keep up any volunteering or library work you can during study. There really aren't any perfect choices and I think part of making a good choice is making the most of the positive aspects of the one you HAVE chosen, if that makes sense.

Don't worry, it's early days! You'll be fine.

Thank you, Psych2.7! I'll be sure to look into that down the road if no luck this time. If I get in this round I think I'll just accept though. I'm not sure I can be ***ed doing grad school applications again, unless strictly necessary. I am still chasing my third referee, omg.

Hello OTgirl, What direction are you moving in now? Any reasons to share..?

Mainly the classes and the ability to focus on technology. Because I think we're all going to need it. So maybe in your field you could pick a great archives program that also combines with a strength in digital libraries, something like that? Some of the schools are considered maybe a little behind the times and I was a little wary of that. I haven't applied to programs that are presitgious but they do have good tech options. And also OMG the cost!! Some of them are expensive. I tried to avoid that since the job market is a bit iffy.

As far as I know as long as it's ALA accredited it's fine. UBC is well respected. I am in the opposite situation, I'm in Canada but only applied to US programs since none of the Canadian ones are online. I think it's fine. A number of Canadian librarians have U.S. MLIS degrees, so I guess it goes both ways?

Thanks LindsayLiz! They do seem to make the whole process easy at SJSU, that is nice, lol.

And congrats to everyone on their admissions!

LindsayLiz - would you mind sharing how long after San Jose received your application/documents they let you know their decision? Their website says 6 to 8 weeks but I'm wondering if it really takes that long... my transcript should get to them this week sometime.

...and I just applied to San Jose State as well... their process was lovely and easy!

I would say your plan is excellent. A prestigious school is a bonus no doubt, but not essential or worth the debt I'd say. Staying in NYC will be great for work experience! Everything I've read suggests school name is none too important in the field. I had a look at the qualifications of the librarians in my area actually. I noticed a number of them had done the online program through FSU or SJSU (I'm in Canada) even though technically I imagine they could have attended, say, Dalhousie. The only major argument I can think of in the pro-prestige camp is - you will have your degree forever so go for the best you can. But... again, work experience will still be more important I guess.

Hello annieca, I'm jealous, I'd like to do History and MLIS but I couldn't find an online program for that, and I need one. I'm in a crazy club of one probably, I only applied to one program. Reason being for me it doesn't make a huge difference if I start in 2012 or 2013 and I have found the application process really time consuming! (I have preschoolers). You're a hero if you get 10 applications in! If you take a look at the Fall 2012 thread it looks like most people apply to about 5 programs...

I'm applying to Valdosta State University for Fall 2012. If no luck there I will apply to SJSU and Wayne State for Fall 2013. My criteria are fully online, available part-time and in-state tuition for all, since I live in Canada. University of Alabama looked great too but you have to go through their program full time as part of a cohort and I have small children so I would prefer part time.