October 17, 2007
So...What IS an iSchool?
Last week I had the opportunity to attend a few graduate fairs as a representative of the School of Information. I'd like to take this opportunity to answer two of the main questions we encountered.
1) I have a background in (insert your undergraduate major here), is there any place for me in an information school?
Of course. For the most part, there aren't too many schools out there with undergraduate information studies programs, so the majority of SI students have undergraduate degrees in different areas. VERY different areas. An impromptu survey of the twelve people in the student lounge yielded me the following majors: English, Computer Science, Communications, Publishing, Environmental Studies, Anthropology, International Business, American Studies, and History. We come from all over, from different schools, countries, employment backgrounds. What we have in common is an interest in "bringing information, people, and technology together in more valuable ways." (which is something you'll hear a lot in SI...it's our mission statement summed up into a neat catchphrase!)
Two things that play a huge part in developing your path at SI is a combination of what THINGS you want to do, and the CONTENT with which you'd like to work. (See my blog on the Tailored MSI for a better illustration of this.) This means that your previous education and experiences might help you figure out what you'd like to do, and in what sort of environment, but they might not. What's important is that SI can teach you how to work with information, but you get to decide how to personalize your experiences through cognate classes, internships, part-time jobs and volunteer work.
2) What is a School of Information?
Remember what I said about connecting information, people, and technology? Well, that's what we do here. For some people, that means preserving information, for others it means managing access, helping corporations communicate, creating tools to help people find information, etc. Some of us are librarians, it's true. But some of us are designers, programmers, policy analysts, managers, conservators, archivists, usability experts, and more.
If you would like more information on the myriad careers open to SI graduates, check out the "Pathways to Success" portal or the Alumni Profiles. These will give you a good idea of how many different ways an SI education can serve different interests.
Until next time...
-Megan
Posted by messelti at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2007
Introduction: Tailoring your MSI
In the last year the School of Information has made some drastic changes to key parts of its curriculum. Most notably, they have reorganized their core courses and added a number of new specializations. In addition to ten or so possible specializations now offered at SI, students are still allowed to option to "tailor" their degree.
You might be thinking, "Why wouldn't ten specializations be enough?" Because this is the nature of SI: flexibility and innovation. Although most students find that their academic and career interests fall mostly within one specialization, the tailored MSI allows a student to custom design a degree that directly addresses their goals. For some students, this is an opportunity to create a mix of classes from two specializations (dual-specialization is also now an option at SI), to qualify oneself for work in a particular type of environment (non-profit organizations, special collection libraries and archives, etc.) or to focus on an emerging field or technology.
What is important to note is that no matter what specialization you choose, you will have MANY options to pursue your specific interests within your coursework. Between class announcements, email, and postings on the walls of West Hall and SI North, you will find endless opportunities to participate in research, attend conferences, hear guest speakers and join student organizations. In addition, you can apply for internships and part-time jobs that are specific to your interests, not to mention required and elective classes that cater to particular areas, such as government work or science librarianship.
Nonetheless, students that would like a more active hand in deciding what classes will suit their needs should check out the School of Information web page "What Can I Do with a Tailored MSI?" I think it's an excellent option for students interested in taking a new direction with their degree or adding a focus that is not already a part of the existing specializations.
Take the bull by the horns readers. It's your future.
-Megan
Posted by messelti at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Hello Hello!
Welcome everyone!
This is the first of many entries for me. I hope that over time I will be able to share the experiences I've had in this program and with Ann Arbor in general, and help some of you to make the decisions you need to make. I'm here to pass on my hard-earned wisdom and answer any questions you might have about the MSI program, admissions, orientation, the school, or the city. Whether you're researching graduate programs, newly admitted, or in the process of completing your coursework, this can be a very exciting, busy, and nerve-wracking time. Hopefully, I will be able to ease some of your concerns, or at least give advice on how to make the most of it.
Although I'm in my first semester of the MSI program, I attended U of M for my undergraduate studies. I know a lot about Ann Arbor, University culture and procedure, and the admission and orientation process is still fresh in my mind. Also, as a Tailored student, I've spend a lot of time researching the myriad specializations that the School of Information offers, so I already have a lot of information on possible study paths, degree requirements and career options.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at messelti@umich.edu. Make sure to add a telling subject line, such as "Hey, I've got a question for you," or "I've heard you know where to find free parking."
It's true. I know many parking secrets. Let me share them with you.
Hope to hear from you!
-Megan
Posted by messelti at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)