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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 1/19/2008
Posts: 3
Points: 9
Location: Ohio
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I'm thinking about applying to SJSU (in addition to Kent State and Pitt,) but I did have a few questions for anyone familiar with the program. I noticed that they do not require letters of recommendation, unlike most - if not all - other programs. It really makes me question if they're a respectable program. I've talked to librarians where I live, and they all went to Kent or Pittsburgh (one did go to Drexel.) No one seemed to know too much about San Jose. Thoughts?
One more thing: SJSU advertises on their site that it's possible to get the MLIS without ever setting foot onto their campus. I'm wondering if this is true in practice. I intend to stay in Ohio for a few more years, and I can't afford to fly out to CA twice a year. Is it common for people from outside of California to go through the program?
On a more positive note, Kent finally received all of my application materials, including the transcripts that Kent's Office of Research and Graduate Studies "misplaced." Nice.... I'm glad that I can sit back and relax on that one. I've been stressed out for weeks.
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 3/27/2008
Posts: 3
Points: 9
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I am a current SJSU student. I graduate this May. I cannot answer how librarians who went to other schools view SJSU graduates. The program is different from many other programs. It isn't exclusive; it is really open to most people. I think the reason no letters of recommendation or GRE are required is because the SJSU model is to get as many people into the program as possible. Once in there is very little help or assistance in having you complete the program successfully; it really is up to you. I applied to SJSU because I lived near there when I started the program and it wasn't feasible for me to move for education. If I could have relocated it had been I probably would have applied at more "prestigious" schools. That said I think I have received a decent education.
It really is possible to graduate without ever setting foot on campus. Many of the current students are upset that the school is moving to almost exclusively online learning. I no longer live in California and have taken online only courses for the last 4 semesters.
Good luck in making your decision.
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 1/19/2008
Posts: 3
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Location: Ohio
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Thanks, slisstudent!
When you mean that you get very little help or assistance, do you mean that the faculty aren't very helpful? How is the faculty when it comes to advising? Are students at SJSU generally happy with the program? Sorry for all the questions... I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision.
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 3/27/2008
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The school recently restructured their advising program. I beleive they are trying to make it more meaningful. As part of the re-structutirng I was given a new advisor. I had no contact with my first advisor in my first year in the program. I had some with my second; she answered any questioned posed quickly but doesn't initiate contact. I was recently putting together an application packet and realized that I did not have a significant enough relationship with any faculty member that I could ask for a reference. That was disheartening.
I had often heard that in graduate school, once you were accepted into the program the school had a vested interest in you succeeding. I have never had that sense with SJSU/SLIS. I think it is largely a numbers situation. SJSU/SLIS is proud to be the largest library science program in the US in terms of number of students enrolled. But the large number of students means the school has less invested in each student.
As to whether students are happy or not it seems to be some are some aren't. Because of the distance education component most of the feedback I hear is off the list serve and as is often the case mostly the people who post are the people who are unhappy.
If you are interested there is a yahoo group [sjsumlis] for slis students that is the primary unofficial communication resource. A know that other people considering SJSU have signed up to get a sense of the program. There is another yahoo group for sjsu slis students but it has little traffic so may not tell you much.
Please let me know if there are any other questions I can answer.
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Rank: Member
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, Profdev Moderator
Joined: 11/18/2007
Posts: 14
Points: 42
Location: Barre, VT
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When I saw how big the program was, I honestly didn't know what to expect when I was asked to teach for SJSU (which I'm doing for the first time this semester -- started in January). But I have been blown away by the caliber of students in the program and their eagerness to learn and question things. The level of dialog in my class is so much higher than that of the classes I took at FSU when I was in grad school. While I'd love to take the credit for that level of discussion, it really should go to the students who are incredibly bright, thoughtful and interested in the material. There seems to be pretty good oversight of the courses as well; I know a seasoned professor will be visiting my online classroom and reviewing my course this month.
At the very least, you'll have great classmates. They also get some interesting practitioners in the field to teach in their areas of expertise, which I think has great value when you want to learn about librarianship (vs. library science).
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 9/2/2008
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Regarding SJSU: One thing to keep in mind is that if you are from another state (and even from certain parts of California) you will be what is called a "special session" rather than "regular session" student, which affects course fees: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/admissions/fees.htm--might be good to research.
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