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An International Student's Guide To Making the Most of Graduate School
by Hui Hua Chua
"So you're going to library school in India?" was the question from a slightly bewildered friend when I announced plans to enroll in the MLS program at Indiana University. I didn't really blame her for the confusion. It was a long, and at times, perplexing, process before I arrived in Bloomington to begin my studies (as a New Zealander who had never before visited the United States!).
I decided to study library and information science in the U.S. on the recommendation of a (librarian) family friend. The variety of programs in the U.S. offered far more opportunities than the one program in New Zealand. I was interested in academic or special libraries and working with technology and/or public services or reference, but wanted a program with sufficient breadth and flexibility to allow a change in direction if necessary.
With this in mind, I started research about 18 months before I arrived in Bloomington. Starting the research and application process as soon as possible was very important as application deadlines for international students are often earlier than for U.S. students,. Getting the necessary paperwork and visas required for internationals increased the time required.
Selecting a Program
My research began with the ALA's list of ALA-accredited programs and US News and World Report's ranking of library science programs. Graduation from the first was a requirement for most jobs in the U.S. and the second seemed to offer some indication of quality. While there are many excellent unranked programs, using the US News list reduced the research required and meant the school would (I hoped) be better known outside the U.S. -- an important consideration, as I was uncertain where I would work after graduation. Another valuable resource is Library Journal's annual survey of salaries and new graduate placement in its October issue.
My next step was to research individual schools, focusing primarily on number of credits required to complete the course, cost, and the strengths and specializations of each school. International students pay out-of-state tuition fees at state universities and usually full tuition at private colleges so cost was a major consideration. Minimizing time spent in a program increased the importance of scheduling classes to be able to complete all core programs and desired optional courses. Some courses are only taught during the Fall or Spring semester or even once every two years, so knowing the schedule was important in determining if core or desired courses can be taken in the time required.
This was probably the most time-consuming step -- understanding the course requirements for each program, matching courses or tracks to my interests and finally carefully scrutinizing class schedules. Most university or program web sites provided all the necessary information. Schools will also send out information and application forms by mail. Some programs have all forms available on their web sites, but some do not and seem to use the cheapest possible rate to send materials overseas. Factor in extra time if requesting AND returning materials by snail mail.
Web sites and print materials are probably the best for gathering general background information and for specific program and course details, but they were generally not good sources for information on financing and work. I wanted to work to gain more experience, so a school in a university with a large library willing to hire students was a necessity. International students are usually allowed to work up to 20 hours during terma and 40 hours during summer vacation at on campus jobs.
Good experience can also be gained in non-library positions, such as in the campus IT department. Colleges differ in the scholarships or other aid available to international students. However Graduate Assistant positions can provide significant tuition remission. All schools should have an admissions and/or student services coordinator or director. Titles may vary but they are usually very friendly and excellent sources of information on these and other topics such as department services for international students, the number of international students in the program, and types of jobs and libraries recent graduates are working in.
Another important aspect for me, and probably many, was the "feel" of the school. Were faculty approachable? Was teamwork and team projects encouraged? What opportunities were there to develop mentor relationships? How supportive of each other were students? Most schools will provide e-mail addresses of students willing to discuss their experiences with prospective students. Another source of information is the NEWLIB-L e-mail list for library science students and recent graduates. List members are very helpful and often discuss or offer advice on individual programs. There may also be alumni of that school in your home country to provide another perspective; the program's admissions or alumni director should be able to provide details.
Finally you will want information about the university and town in which the school is situated. The university web site is generally good for the first and should also provide links and contact details for international student clubs. Members of these clubs are usually extremely helpful. The Singapore student club members at Indiana University provided information on Bloomington such as the quality and number of Chinese restaurants, finances and budgets from a student perspective and housing.
The town in which a university is located can be important for individual and professional reasons. Is it a small college town or large city? Which are you used to living in? If it is a small town, how accessible are larger cities for recreation and job-seeking? If you need to get home in an emergency, how easy is it? Will it be easy and inexpensive to travel to conferences or to job interviews? Are there employment opportunities in the area after you graduate? Does this matter to you or are you willing to relocate again?
Applying
I selected and applied to four schools. After this it was a matter of studying and taking the GRE, locating required documents and completing applications (including the unfamiliar personal statement!). Guides for all these were available at online bookstores or in my local book store or public library.
All non-English documents such as transcripts will usually need to be translated. International students will also need to provide evidence (usually in the form of a letter from their bank and/or family member) of the ability to cover tuition and living expenses. This figure is supplied by the university -- you may in actuality be able to live on less than the stated sum, but you will still have to prove the ability to cover the entire sum.
Before You Get There
Once accepted, planning the big move was my next step. At this stage international students groups can be very useful. Many will provide advice on housing and what to pack, and on things from home that are unavailable or expensive in the U.S. In my case this was mainly food and chocolate. Some groups may also offer transportation from the airport to campus, temporary housing and orientation on arrival. They also usually plan activities at holiday times.
At this point, you can also contact the admissions or student services director about on-campus library jobs. I waited until arriving before looking for a job. An advisor is usually assigned on acceptance. I contacted my advisor by e-mail and we discussed first semester courses and course load. International students are sometimes advised to take a lighter load than other students or not to work during the first semester. This depends on individual circumstances. I found a 16 credit/4 course load compatible with working 12-15 hours a week.
At School
On arrival, things can seem very unfamiliar. There is usually a new student orientation, and attending this is a good way to meet other students who are equally new to the area and program, and is an important first step in creating a personal and professional network. Student chapters of associations such as ALA, SLA, ASIST are useful for meeting other students with similar interests, resume-building and job-hunting.
Talk to your professors and advisor as much as possible. I was very fortunate to find both a mentor and job through a government documents reference class. I spoke to the instructor and let her know of my interest in documents librarianship. When a student position in her department opened, she offered me the job. This was the start of an interesting and valuable experience which directly led to my current professional position.
Keep in touch with student services and those in the administrative office as they are invaluable in negotiating timetables, schedules, course drops and additions, tuition payments. The university international student services office is also an important part of life as an international student as they provide information on maintaining legal status, working on campus, travel overseas, paying taxes and applying for work authorization in the U.S. after graduation.
Studying and working in the U.S. as an international student has been a long but rewarding journey. May the journey continue...
Hui Hua Chua graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN in May 2000 and is currently the Electronic Government Information Librarian at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.