Shep

"Notdisgruntled," I believe I have just as much right to voice an opinion on this thread as you do. However, name calling certainly doesn't make your argument any stronger. I am not a curmudgeon, cranky, disgruntled, nor am I dragging anyone down. I was simply stating a fact that came not only from my actual program, but several librarians in academia and public libraries around the country. Yes, this caused quite a bit of disillusionment given that I had years of experience in the library field. The cost was astonishing and quite frankly, the coursework was embarrassing. However, that is more reflective of my program than all MLIS programs out there. I do contend that this is not an actual degree, it should be a certificate and YES, librarians are becoming a dying breed. Sure, maybe this field is experiencing a transformation, but into what exactly? I don't know and neither do you.

Um...not to sound like a jerk, but most if not all of the programs you apply to will accept you. This is library school not an actual academic degree, so with that, expect more acceptances and less funding.

kahlan_amnell. Well you are right in some respects but VERY wrong in others. With an MA in say, history, you can work for the government, archives, museums, and you can also teach. It can also springboard you into a job that focuses on writing. So, it is not useless. A tenure track position is not the only thing that results from a history major. That is limited thinking. However, if you are after that much coveted tenure track position, then yes, it can be difficult to attain one even with a PhD. Though, you can do so much more with that PhD than teach. How about research, writing, holding a curatorial position in a museum? You see what I'm saying here? What I am suggesting is that people consider other options to LIS. It is a costly and often pointless endearvor. You can hold a library position without it. Perhaps not a librarian position (which is difficult to obtain since many people stay in those positions for far too long). However, if someone wants to pursue LIS, then by all means do so.

Let me start by saying that the application/admission process for MLIS programs is not a difficult one. This is a professional program and not an academic one, so the process doesn't take much effort. If you have the money (either saved or through student loans) you will be able to pay for this program. It's not hard to get into multiple programs, however, unlike most academic programs, they do not offer the same sort of funding. Sure, there is funding, but not to the same degree a the aforementioned. So, the reason why there isn't a huge thread relating to the application process of this program is because most people get in. However, a word of caution. Before you apply, please remember that this field is slowly becoming obsolete, unless your primary goal is toward information technology and want to work with analytical information in a data warehouse somewhere. Libraries are not hiring many librarians. Let me put it to you this way, my colleague applied for a children's librarian position in our public library. He was one of nearly 450 applicants. Even though he already held a full time at the library, regardless of his MLIS, the job was given to someone else. He and others continually run into these problems and are seeking employment in multiple states. The average 2 year program costs $50,000.00. If you and others are willing to pay that price, please be aware that it might be a hefty sum for credentials that you may never be able to use.

BFunky29. Thanks for your response, but I let me just say that even LIS programs will admit that this degree is useless. The whole concept is useless. I too had a full time position at a library and changed courses back and forth between government and academia. The people in charge has LIS degrees and stayed in their fields for 30-40 years. The point is, LIS is a dying if not already dead field. My advice to anyone out there interested in this field still stands as this: Stay away from it. It will cost you a lot of money with few or no returns.

An MA in history is probably the better route. LIS is a dying, if not already dead, profession. Besides, this way you can contribute to knowledge through research instead of assisting academics (community, etc.) with the pertinent information for their research. Seems much more exciting to me.

Congratulations! I'm not sure if you were offered funding from your program, but the programs I applied to had small stipend (scholarships) or competitive semester to semester GA positions. Not the typical tuition waiver plus stipend for the entire two years. Also, fellowships are farther and fewer. The cost tends to outweigh the benefit of these programs. Your chances of finding work is quite minimal and LIS programs tend to accept more graduate students than there are jobs. Be aware of this. Also, this degree can be interpreted poorly by those hiring in different sectors.

Most MLIS programs require group work because of the working atmosphere after graduation. It really is very much like grade school. I agree. If group work isn't your thing, maybe skip getting an MLIS.

I'm not sure which program you applied to, but when I applied a few years ago to 13 different schools, I was accepted to all of them. LIS programs are not hard to get into. Why? Most of them do fund their students, but do not fund like most graduate programs. Since this is a professional degree and not an academic degree, it is easier to get in, but hard to fund. So, it might be worth it not to worry so much. I'm sure you will hear the results sometimes this week.

Well, I'm not here to discourage, but to give most of you a heads up on MLIS programs out there. First of all, some schools do offer funding, but for the most part, "Library School" is a huge waste of time and money. Don't do it. Jobs are limited and these programs admit far more than they really should. There is a glut in the market for information professionals and if you are considering UIUC, don't. It was by far the worst program out there. Most of the individuals who graduate from there either work for the department or are hanging by a thread looking for employment. So much for being the #1 program. So, do yourself a favor and if you have doubts about this degree, listen to your instincts and just walk away.

Applied to Drexel, University of Washington, Indiana, Rutgers, Wayne State, U of Illinois, U of Pittsburgh, and Florida State U. Accepted to: Wayne State, Drexel, and Indiana-Bloomington Now, it's another 1-3 months before the rest respond.

I think the reason for my response was to point out the horrible advice given by some professors. Yes, research and writing is a difficult field to get into, but I have an in-road already, however, does anyone take the "such and such writing of an MA student" seriously? I get so much conflicting information and I've found that as a female, (in some, not all cases) I receive what seems like a pat on the head and told to move on instead of being taken seriously. It seems like a break in logic when you think about it. Pursue a PhD if you want to teach, but there are very limited teaching positions, etc. Why do they keep admitting students to programs then? Surely, there are uses for a History PhD other than teaching in higher ed. BTW, I think Mandarin Orange makes a great point and Virmundi as well!

I just recently met with a professor who told me that unless I wanted to teach at a college level, there is not point in pursuing a PhD in history. I found it interesting that some of you mentioned that it builds research and writing ability, which is what I wanted. This same professor warned me of how horrible the academic job market was and that I should consider another reason for pursuing a PhD. When I told this person of my plans to conduct research and write, they shot it down because I wasn't serious about an academic teaching career. I'm confused by this prof's response and in a way took it personally. But, I digress. I must agree that there is a snobbish attitude by most academics in relation to secondary school teachers earning PhD's. However, I have known a few teachers who taught at prestigiuos private schools that were in the PhD program at my MA institution. Hopefully, you won't end up dealing with the same idiocy I did.

I would imagine that MLIS programs like any other program is quite competitive however, I must ask this question: Which programs (by reputation) are easiest to get into? What are some of your opinions on Drexel, SJU, etc. Also, I do have a graduate degree already. Would this work to my advantage? Thanks in advance for your input.

So, I was right. Publishable does not mean published and therefore, misleading. This process is truly dumbing down academia. This whole process should be rigorous. Only the best should succeed and therefore deserve their spots in the field. Call me archaic, but I know that I can produce a lengthy work. This will come as no surprise to me when I have to research and write a dissertation. By the way Riotbeard, I am published and so my thesis is far from useless.

Yes, but jobs in third year institutions are quite hard to come by let alone post-docs. This is not the sciences. The past few years, admission to programs has been quite competitve (I'm not saying it was easy to begin with). Funding is down, spots are dwindling, and it appears as though this year will be the same. I intend to keep trying as well, but I am extremely realistic that my chances of getting into a choice program and finding a TT position are both slim. Also, I think that a students area of emphasis is something to take into consideration. Please consider that last year, some universities let in far more students than they had funding for. Most departments are deferring students to extra-departmental funding, such as FLAS or independent scholarship opportunties that pay much less than the cost of tuition and living expenses. As TMP keeps saying, have a plan B. What else can you do with a PhD in history? Sure, you might love the subject and want to pursue it with every core of your being, but there comes a time when you need to make a living. I know I sound like a broken record, but I think many applicants and current students have unrealistic expectations. CrazyCatLady80 also makes some very valid points!

Think of it this way. How likely is it that you will publish? People on these threads seem to indicate that this is an easy task. This is an extremely grueling task that meets with much rejection before acceptance. Also, at the MA level, what options are open to you besides Graduate journals, conference publications, etc? I still contend that a large written work, shows substance rather than a smaller work. If you can get your project published, then great, but keep your options open. For my thesis, I wrote a substantial work of over a 100 pages. I am currently retooling each chapter at a time for publication. This gives me a much larger body of work at my disposal. Consider the options. I really dislike how there seems to be a dumbing down of higher ed, especially the humanities. Not to sound disagreeable....though seminars in producing a journal-quality articles are great learning tools, this in no way guarantees being published.

The job market for History (and most humanities) PhD's is rather bad and expected to stay this way for quite some time. Yes, H-Net is a decent indicator of how many positions and which fields are hiring. My advice to you is to come up with a Plan B in terms of career goals and topic areas. I've said it before and I will continue to say it. It is very important for current applicants NOT to get their hopes up in terms of landing a TT position after graduation. I was told just recently by a POI that the job market is so bad, that even students from top programs end up teaching in third tier institutions. Just because you studied at Harvard, doesn't mean that Princeton or Yale will hire you.

Like Cagefree said, speak to your adviser. This sounds more like a project for a terminal degree rather than one that prepares you to go on to a PhD. Most papers, 25 pages or less, are pretty standard for graduate courses. It would be no different than writing a term paper! I don't know if this would affect your chances of going on, it all depends on the quality of your finished product. Consider BA to PhD applicants who do not have a thesis to present. However, since you are an MA student, there might be expectations.

I'm going to be completely honest with you. I am also a South Asianist (in the making) and as I inquired about some of the named programs, I was told that the market for this field is extremely bad. This came from my advisor and other committee members as well as many of the professors at these institutions. There is limited space for South Asianists in PhD programs. In fact, many are simply bypassed in lieu of Americanists, Europeanists, and Africanists. This isn't affecting only the field of history, but languages and literature, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, etc. Be careful and do not get your hopes up, but I do wish you the best. Think "saturation" and also think of a plan B in terms of topics. I'm sure I will get a lot of grief for this response, but this is my second year applying. Last year I received some very sobering information but went ahead with the process. This year, I have inquired again at different institutions with the same responses and warnings. Sure, some POI's are polite, but....

I haven't been on for a while. I wanted to thank everyone that answered my post about POI warnings on the academic market. I am meeting with a POI at the end of the month to discuss the program and the application process. I'm wondering what to expect from this. I realize that most applicants go through the interview process once invited, but this is happening before applying. Anyone experienced anything like this and have any advice they would like to share? I'm currently studying/taking a course for the GRE and putting together the framework for my SOP.

Hi there, I am new to the forum and haven't read though the entire thread, but I have a question. I've written a few POI's and received positive responses, however, one POI's response was pretty disconcerting. Instead of answering the question I originally asked, I was given a warning about the state of academia. Um, has anyone here recieved a response like this? I am not naive and I am aware of the job market crisis, but....Anyway, please be kind with your responses. I don't think I can take another lecture.