AnnaBelle

Wow, it sounds like funding is pretty unhappy all around. Thanks for sharing your plans, tkm256, I think the part-time school and full-time work might be my best option if I want to go for this. It sucks that this seems to be the case, but I really appreciate this forum; it's nice to know that we're not alone in being anxious/frustrated/broke!

I feel like a complete goober asking these obvious questions, but I'd really appreciate anyone's help! I've applied to four master's programs in library science: University of Illinois, University of Maryland, SUNY Buffalo, and Simmons College. On Friday, March 13 (!), I got a flurry of acceptance emails from: U of Illinois, U of Maryland, and SUNY Buffalo. The U of I email instructed me to notify them by April 15 of my intention to enter the program. However, I'm graduating from college this spring and therefore have no money and quite a few loans to boot. Funding is a huge concern and may largely determine where I go -- but everyone I've talked to in the financial offices have said that a) their award letters for graduate students won't go out for a few weeks, and the library department budget won't be decided until the summer (which determines how many graduate assistantships they can offer). I've sent in all the applications for assistantships I've found so far, but it sounds like these programs are expecting me to make a decision without having any idea of how finances will work out. GA positions sound extremely competitive and not a "sure bet" in any sense for financing. Is this just how the system works for master's students? Have I missed some vital steps somewhere? Is there any way to delicately hint to the programs that I really need to know about money before I can choose between my options? I'm sorry to pester people, but I don't know who to talk to about these issues -- I've never done this before, and the graduate application process seems a lot different from what I went through as an undergrad! I would love to hear any and all advice you've got to offer!