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I am currently finishing up my undergrad in geography with a specialization in GIS (I should graduate after this semester), and I have been doing research for awhile now on getting a master's in geography or GIS. I know I want to work in this field but deciding on a specific career has been challenging for me. As I've done more research, it seems uncommon for people intending to work as a GIS specialist or something similar to go directly into a master's program from undergrad. I've more commonly seen it as a mid-career decision. I am still fairly sure I want to do this though so I'm going to list my qualifications and what I'm looking for in a program. It'd be amazing if I could get some recommendations and advice.
• My undergrad GPA is about 3.85
• I took the GRE and got a 151 on verbal and 156 on quantitative (writing results have not come in yet)
• I am currently working at Illinois American Water as a GIS intern/temp so lots of good experience
• I live in the Illinois part of the St. Louis area. Location isn't a top priority but still has some weight.
• I am looking for a program that integrates the geography and GIS aspects well. I want it to be possible to get a career as either a geographer or GIS specialist when I graduate. I've noticed one-year fast track GIS master's programs have become popular recently, but I don't think that's what I'm looking for. I want a more thorough in-person 2-year experience.
• I am really hoping to go somewhere that will let me do an assisstantship or fellowship. I need financial aid in one way or another.
• Some schools I am considering now are UIUC, Akron, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Denver, and Arizona State
I have not used this forum before so excuse any ignorance.
Keep up with the summer internships while you go through Grad School. That will make a big difference in your employability. I don't see anything wrong with going to grad school right away, as long as you continue getting job experience via internships.
Ask your faculty what school they recommend for grad school in your field, given your interests. You'll need written recommendations from them, anyway.
Thanks, I was already planning on asking two professors in particular for letters of recommendation next week, but I didn't think to ask them about what schools to apply to. I think my biggest problem right now is I can't decide what I want to specialize in or study for a thesis.
• I am currently working at Illinois American Water as a GIS intern/temp so lots of good experience
• I live in the Illinois part of the St. Louis area. Location isn't a top priority but still has some weight.
Come to St Louis GIS User Group meetings. The St. Louis GIS Users Group Home Page
We have lots of people in the group who have graduate degrees in geography and related fields who know a bit about graduate admissions. More importantly, we have some heavy academic connections.
I think the October meeting is full, but try sending an email and asking for some wait list space or about the social hour after.
Thanks, I was already planning on asking two professors in particular for letters of recommendation next week, but I didn't think to ask them about what schools to apply to. I think my biggest problem right now is I can't decide what I want to specialize in or study for a thesis.
In geography, few people come out of grad school studying the same areas that they went into grad school for. So, don't worry too much about what to study. Worry more about where to study. Unfortunately, we do not really have strong programs in Missouri. Univ of Oklahoma and Univ of Iowa are two nearby strong programs. Urbana-Champaign has an amazing program in Cyber GIS (Home | CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies | University of Illinois) developing under Shaowen Wang. I worked with Shaowen when he was in grad school and I was in undergrad, and he is pretty brilliant.
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