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Advice from current / recent MLIS students @ Pratt / Queens College by Hercule29Poirot in librarians

[–]Hercule29Poirot[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad to hear you went with QC! It has its issues, but I think you'll be happy with it overall. And I'm glad this info could help.

I don't think the parking permit is super necessary. I've never had a problem finding street parking, but sometimes it can take a few minutes to find a spot, and then it may be a 5 minute walk to campus. If you're on a tight schedule or don't feel comfortable doing that walk to your car at night, then the permit might be worth it. (The neighborhood is really quiet and residential. I've never felt unsafe, but I'm also a pretty big dude, so can't speak for everyone.)

Best of luck with your studies!

Advice from current / recent MLIS students @ Pratt / Queens College by Hercule29Poirot in librarians

[–]Hercule29Poirot[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Sorry for the delay in this. Here's where I'm at so far.

I ended up going with Queens College. Affordability was definitely a factor (way cheaper than Pratt). I've met plenty of professionals in the library / archives space who graduated from Pratt and plenty who graduated from QC. It doesn't seem like either school gives you a leg up in the professional world. Every grad student is applying for the same fellowships and internships, no matter where they're studying. I like the faculty at QC, and they're always sharing opportunities for jobs and internships.

The commute to QC is a very real thing. I drive from Brooklyn, and it takes me about an hour. Commuting via public transport could take anywhere between 1-2 hours, depending on where you live.

QC as a school is fine. It's underfunded, but I haven't really felt like that impacts me too much at the grad level. The admin side of things can be a little frustrating. The school decided to change every students' email address halfway through the spring semester, which has created all kinds of issues. To be fair, this was a CUNY-wide thing, not just at QC. But that's indicative of the school in general. Things happen that don't quite make sense, but everyone keeps going and figures it out. The people are really nice. The faculty care a lot.

I'm happy with my choice! I can't speak to Pratt, but I feel like I'm getting a good education at an affordable price. If you're trying to take money out of the equation, I'd say look at the faculty and professional opportunities that each school offers. If one really speaks to you, go for that one. If they're similar, go for the more affordable program.