Less Talk, More Action

Ok, I've finally decided. I'm going to go for my MS in Library Science at Clarion University. I chose Clarion because MSLS programs are few and far between. The only schools in PA are Clarion, Drexel, and Pitt, none of which are within driving distance. Drexel's program isn't what I want and Pitt doesn't have an online program. The University of Maryland also has a program, and it's within driving distance from York (which doesn't help as I'm working in Harrisburg), but the school itself is more expensive and it'll be even more since I'm out of state. Clarion has an online program and a satellite campus in Harrisburg.

I think I might start in the spring of '08. I could do fall '07 but I have to look into grants and loans and taking the GRE if I need to (and thankfully I don't think I do). I don't have the first clue about how to pay for school since my parents paid for my undergrad, for which I am eternally thankful. I'm not looking forward to having student loans, but I only have about $200 on my credit cards and the only other debt I have is an interest-free car loan from my dad. When I go to work tomorrow I have to talk to my supervisor about the possibility of having evening classes and not being able to work at night. Obviously I have no idea what night my classes would be, but I'd rather take care of that now than have to panic because the class I need is only on a Thursday evening.

My goal is to do more research on the school and degree requirements by the middle of this month and to know what to do about the financial aspect and have my application ready to go by the end of this month, and if it's ready by then I might as well go for the soonest semester possible. The only possible roadblock is that if I want to do 100% online (which I would prefer), it's a cohort program, and I think it's full till '08, but that's where the research comes in. Wish me luck as I prepare to embark on my journey as a coffee- and cigarette-fueled grad student.