Sunday, February 11, 2007

confusion ahead

    Im getting really frustrated. Four weeks into the program and I have to say, I am less than happy. And I am not quite sure what to do . . .

    In one class, we have readings, both text and journal articles, then once a week, we all meet to discuss them. The discussions are student-led; if we have questions, only our fellow students answer.

    In the other class, the professor "lectures" once a week. You are required to be present for only two of the lectures all semester, however, you are responsible for the content of all the lectures. The first night we had about 20 minutes of lecture.

    I'm luckier than most in that by being a university employee I recieve a six-hour tuition scholarship per semester, and I'm using borrowed textbooks. So, all I'm out-of-pocket personally are the technology fees imposed by the university (perhaps so they don't have to raise tuition as much as they really wanted to??). But, I'm still feel like I'm not getting much, or expected to do very much.

    Is this just the nature of an MLIS program? I honestly am not quite sure what to do . . . Texas Women's University contacted me about my application. It got stalled, apparently, because my online application never processed through the grad office. I'm going to resubmit, but, then the question becomes how to pay for that??? Even with an out-of-state tuition waiver, it's still pricey . . . at least now that I'm working I could pay my way.

    So far, graduate school is NOT what i expected, and probably in a way completely different from most students.