I really can't stay away.

[icepixie]

This is me checking out where/when I can take the GRE this summer.

Yeah, I figure there's a greater-than-50%-chance I'm gonna be in Knoxville in fall 2007 (or possibly 2008, depending on how the next eight months go job-wise), starting an MLIS program that will theoretically lead to either public or reference librarianship. They require GRE scores from a test taken at least one semester before application (which is, I believe, in April).

Ack ack ack. When did I start wanting to become a grad student? Am I insane?

And should it be worrying me that my first thought upon deciding (pretty much) on this course of action is, "Wheee, I'll have access to a university library and online resources again!"? I think my love for JSTOR borders on the mentally unstable.

*

Also, Virtual ScaperCon. Oh, yes.

Comments

[laserhead.livejournal.com]

I think my love for JSTOR borders on the mentally unstable.

I'd have to say that I'd agree with that statement. ;)

And now you see the beauty of grad school! Have fun with the GRE, and try to take it before...Oct, I think. Whenever they are changing the format, b/c once they change the format nobody is going to know what the new scores mean.

[vbrooksutk.livejournal.com]

Lemme know if you ever have any Knoxvegas questions.

[icepixie]

I'd have to say that I'd agree with that statement. ;)

It bothers me that I can't go read critical articles about Orlando. I'm a sick person.

And now you see the beauty of grad school!

*cries*

Have fun with the GRE, and try to take it before...Oct, I think. Whenever they are changing the format, b/c once they change the format nobody is going to know what the new scores mean.

Meep. I'm aiming for next month...gotta call the place that does it tomorrow. Not looking forward to it being on computer, though; I like to go back and change answers and stuff.

[icepixie]

I definitely will when I get closer to actually going to school there.

[sleepingcbw.livejournal.com]

And should it be worrying me that my first thought upon deciding (pretty much) on this course of action is, "Wheee, I'll have access to a university library and online resources again!"? I think my love for JSTOR borders on the mentally unstable.

Institute would totally be worth it if Temple dorms had Naxos access. Why did we graduate, anyway?

[icepixie]

Why did we graduate, anyway?

'Cause we're fools? I have to admit, one of the bigger draws of reference librarianship at a college or university is the access to things like JSTOR or EJC or, God, ILL or a version of OhioLink.

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

Gosh. It's spooky how similar our job preferences are. I too am thinking about going into librarianship, after having soured on the publishing business.

It looks like you've done more research than I have, though. Any tips?

[icepixie]

Gosh. It's spooky how similar our job preferences are. I too am thinking about going into librarianship, after having soured on the publishing business.

Yes, that is a bit spooky. (Although to split a few hairs, I've not completely soured on the publishing business, just on the big ones located mainly in NYC; I could see myself doing well at a small press.) I thought you were going to law school, though?

It looks like you've done more research than I have, though. Any tips?

Well, most of my research has been, "Here's a list of schools...oh MY, look how expensive that is...hey, UT's in-state tuition is three times lower than for out-of-state students! I'm going there!" ;) Plus, it looks like a pretty good program, with a lot of room to tailor it to your own desires, and it's well-ranked.

The biggest thing seems to be accreditation by the ALA. Every job listing I've seen for MLS-holders specifies that the degree must be from a univeristy accredited by them. You can find a list of which schools are accredited here.

By the way, since I'm too lazy to go over to your post and comment there, I want in on any stories you chose to tell about your road trip. :) How is your summer going otherwise?

[icepixie]

(Oh, to be able to edit comments.)

I hadn't known you were interested in the publishing business...what area were you thinking of going into? What turned you off of it?

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

Back in May and June, I had a ready answer to the dreaded question "what are you going to be doing, now that you've graduated?". The best answer to this question is probably Stewart's answer ("the fetal position"), but my answer was that I had narrowed down my future career to five broad fields: law, government, media, publishing (magazines or books, I'm not picky), and library work.

Having spent much of July deciding what I want to do next, I've come to the following conclusions:
- Law exists to resolve conflicts. Thus, any law job, even if it never requires that one set foot in a courtroom, is going to be in an atmosphere of conflict. Now, me, I don't deal well with people who aren't getting along. My instinct is to give them all a good talking-to and then go grumpily drink some tea. So law is probably not a good idea after all.
- Journalists have a noble calling, but their jobs are very intense. Kenyon has shown me that I can't maintain an intense pace for more than a few weeks without burning out.
- Publishing is attractive because of the type of work (especially editing, which I think is my dream job). But this is all done within the publishing industry, and the publishing industry looks awfully... um... soullessly commercial? Is that the right word? Like, they're pushing a product in order to make a buck? I'm sure not all publishers are like that, but certainly most of 'em give that impression.

Of the remaining ideas, librarianship has a certain romance to it that government jobs lack. Plus, it promises a fantastic work environment, and intelligent coworkers. Since I don't plan to get rich (or have a family that needs supporting), I don't need anything better than a mediocre paycheck, so that's no problem.

*

The rest of my summer? Um... sitting around, doing a few odd jobs for pay, trying to come up with a plan for my future. Oh, and reading an awful lot.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

When did I start wanting to become a grad student? Am I insane?

Heh. Oh, how frequently these same words have passed my lips! And because it's been 13 (!) years now since I graduated, going back to school feels like moving to another planet. I don't remember how that world worked, so much, and even if I do, it's all changed a whole lot since then, I'm sure. And making it even worse, there's no guarantee of an MFA helping me get any sort of job ever, so it may just end up being three letters that go on a resumé and hopefully earn me more money doing...whatever it is I end up doing.

Oh yeah, I'm definitely going with the insanity plea for myself. You, on the other hand, may not be quite as stark raving mad. ;)

[icepixie]

I have to admit, I never really was able to see you doing lawyer-y things for the rest of your life. I could never in a million years do well at journalism; I could write feature articles on a freelance basis (although that's usually for magazines), but I think I'd crumple up and cry if I had to meet impossible deadline after impossible deadline like staff reporters do.

I've also gotten the impression that in many publishign houses, the employees spend more time on either financial stuff or schmoozing with authors and agents than they do on reading and editing, which are of course what I'd be in it for. I know there are some out there that aren't like that, but it would probably be difficult to find them.

Of the remaining ideas, librarianship has a certain romance to it that government jobs lack. Plus, it promises a fantastic work environment, and intelligent coworkers.

Not to mention fantastic job security and what promises to be an extraordinarily great job market in the next few years; I hear that something like 40% of librarians in the US are within five years of retirement or something like that, and there's going to be a massive increase in job openings.

Since I don't plan to get rich (or have a family that needs supporting), I don't need anything better than a mediocre paycheck, so that's no problem.

God, you do sound like me. :) I want a paycheck large enough to buy a tiny little house, a tiny little car, and keep me and a cat or two in food, cable internet, and DVDs.

The rest of my summer? Um... sitting around, doing a few odd jobs for pay, trying to come up with a plan for my future. Oh, and reading an awful lot.

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only '06 Kenyon grad with no concrete plans yet. Some people in our class are scary--they had jobs lined up before they graduated, and are planning to take over the world by the time they're thirty, or something. I don't even know what I'm doing next week. Besides reading some more books, that is.

[serendipityxxi.livejournal.com]

Definitely more than bordering on the mentally unstable ;)

And also, yaay grad school. I'm pondering it myself since the world of work? Kinda sucks big time! and also my boss is an asshat but that's a whole 'nother story.

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

I heard the same thing about the library job market -- in fact, what I read was almost verbatim what you typed. Have you been reading the Occupational Outlook Handbook too? :)

More similarities: "A paycheck large enough to buy a tiny little house, a tiny little car, and keep me and a cat or two in food, cable internet, and DVDs" is exactly what I'm looking for, too. And I don't know what I'm doing next week. I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow.

Good to know I have a peer in a similar situation! I wish the best of luck to you (and me).

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

I've been doing some research... the GRE changes don't take effect until October 2007. More info here (http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=880&TYPE=GRE).

[icepixie]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely going with the insanity plea for myself. You, on the other hand, may not be quite as stark raving mad. ;)

Heh. Maybe. ;)

[icepixie]

Definitely more than bordering on the mentally unstable ;)

Heh heh heh.

And also, yaay grad school. I'm pondering it myself since the world of work? Kinda sucks big time! and also my boss is an asshat but that's a whole 'nother story.

Meep. I want to get into the world of work so I have some point of comparison before I seriously apply, but I think I'll probably end up wanting to do it eventually anyway, just cause librarianship = cool.

[icepixie]

Have you been reading the Occupational Outlook Handbook too? :)

Nope, although I have been scouting around the internet for information on library stuff.

Good to know I have a peer in a similar situation! I wish the best of luck to you (and me).

*clings* We're not alone! Hooray! And yes, good luck all around.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Knoxvegas!! Sadly (coughcoughhappilycough), I'll probably be very gone by then. Still, I can at least point you toward the majesty that is McKay's Used Books.

[icepixie]

Yay McKay's!

Too bad you'll be gone by then. :( I would be looking at schools where I know people, except for the part where they're all $20,000 more because I'd be out-of-state.