Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Jen F., M.S. in Library and Information Science
We talked about the hardships, so what are the more convenient aspects about your distance learning experience?
Going to school on my own time. Actually, there are many more specific deadlines to meet than I anticipated, but by and large, I still decide when to do my school work.
Name: Jen Ferguson
Age: 39
Marital Status: Married
Children: One child
Career Transition: Moving from scientist to library work
School: Syracuse University
Target: M.S. in Library and Information Science, 2008
The flexibility of doing coursework when I can (though I still have plenty of deadlines to meet). Being able to work at my own pace. I'm a fast learner and I love being able to read ahead and it's also nice to be able to spend a little more time on trouble spots.
Why did you decide to go into library science?
I'm changing careers—I'm a scientist now—and for such a drastic career change, I pretty much need a degree to break into library work (especially the type of work I'd like to wind up doing after some experience).
Library work appeals to me because I like matching up people with the information they're looking for, and I've enjoyed teaching in non-traditional settings.
Why did you choose Syracuse University in particular?
There is a perfectly good library school about 15 miles from here. I certainly could've gone through a more traditional MLS program there. I applied to that school as well and got in, but the online program at Syracuse was absolutely my first choice.
I knew that while it would require a LOT of discipline, online learning would just be much easier to fit into the rest of my life than knowing I had to show up at classroom X at time Y every week.
Tell us a little bit about what your professors are like.
Most of the professors are very assiduous about their online courses. Some are not so involved. The less involved faculty can be frustrating, especially when they require a certain amount of "online presence" from each of their students when they are not often around themselves.
The professors have been very accessible. That is actually something that has surprised me a bit about distance learning; I might get a bit flustered speaking to a professor/in front of a class in person, but I find it quite easy and less intimidating online.
It seems to yield a lot more give and take than a traditional classroom environment. As a result of that, I've learned much more from my fellow students in online classes than I have in traditional classes.
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