Published: September 10, 2023 by Kesheena Doctor

As fall semester approaches, so does my final year at the iSchool. I intend to graduate in Spring 2024, and would like to share some tips and insight that I have learned while preparing for my last year as a grad student.

Your iSchool Schedule

One of the great things about the iSchool is the flexibility and ease of the program. Students can take as little as one class a semester and graduate at their own pace. Others like myself have a set timeline for graduation. Due to my scholarship commitments, I have to complete the MLIS program within two school years. In a previous blog, I mentioned that I used planners to map out my entire time at the iSchool, noting any dates or deadlines of great importance. I also mapped out a schedule of classes for each semester at the iSchool, noting which classes were only offered a specific semester due to being in a course rotation. I tried to be flexible with my classes since I knew I might change my mind about courses that would benefit my future career as an academic librarian. To accommodate, I made sure to notate any alternate courses in my course planner in case I changed my schedule.

Finances and Budget Forecasting

In another blog post, I shared some insight into the financial aid process, specifically scholarships. When reviewing my final school year schedule, I tried to be pragmatic about my course load and the amount of hours I would ideally need to work to sustain my budget. To do this, I used the CSU Cost Calculator and a simple budget calculator. Additionally, I also researched more scholarship opportunities for this upcoming school year, applying for considerably more scholarships than the previous year. I am still awaiting financial aid updates for the upcoming school year but these considerations have considerably improved my chances of being able to work less and focus on my studies.

Planning Graduation

The final two semesters at the iSchool are very important and require lots of planning and thought. I decided to take a full semester of course work in my final semester, which would coincide with taking the INFO 298 e-portfolio class. I tried to ensure that I am taking classes with lighter course work or one credit classes so I can dedicate most of my time towards creating my e-portfolio.

I am also reviewing all information related to the Graduate Application Process and intend to submit my Candidacy Approval form in the next few weeks since it is due approximately 8 months before your graduation date. I also plan on submitting my Application for Award of Graduate Degree at the same time, though the deadline is further away. Ensuring that I submit these two documents well before the deadlines will ensure that I do not have any technical difficulties to graduate in May 2024.

Lastly, I am also thinking about whether I will attend the in-person graduation ceremony or the virtual graduation ceremony. While I am not the type of person to celebrate my achievements on a large scale, I will be the first person in my immediate family to graduate with a Master’s degree. As such, I plan on participating in graduation activities as I am not only representing my family, but my culture with this achievement.

Starting My Career

After learning about academic library residencies from my academic advisor, I am researching these opportunities for my post-graduation plans. Residencies are a short-term employment opportunity that provides new librarians to learn key skills to help advance their career. Though residencies are typically targeted towards librarians from underrepresented groups, there are also opportunities for all librarians. On the suggestion of my mentor from the ARL Kaleidoscope Program, I started reviewing job postings this past spring semester. They recommended doing this so I could get familiar with reading postings and identifying the skills required for positions that interested me and getting that experience through coursework or internships.

I have also networked as much as I could, both within the iSchool and at the conferences I attended. My mentor and librarian friends also recommended doing this to get job leads and potentially learn more about the work environment at different institutions. The iSchool offers some great tips on researching future careers, many of which I have also incorporated into my career search. I plan on writing another blog post as I start focusing more on this area, so be on the lookout! In the meantime, I suggest reviewing the iSchool’s Career Development page for more information on how to start planning for your future career as a librarian.

My Tips for iSchool Students

Thinking about a future career can be daunting while still focusing on school. I have found that just forecasting on the following areas can help students prepare for the transition from student to library professional.

• Use all available resources
• Meet with advisors
• Plan at least 6 months ahead
• Think about your career wants and needs
• Review job postings now and learn how to read in-between the lines
• Keep your resume/cv updated
• Work on closing any gaps in your career e-portfolio

Are there any suggestions you have to make the final year at the iSchool more successful? Please share in the comments.