My portfolio review went quickly. And while they didn't give me a critique as such, I was told by my admissions advisor that basically I'm the FIRST student she's had that was reported as a "Perfect Candidate for our Program" - seems that most of the students she's put through the review process have not been of a "good" standard. Most of them have had to take remedial classes to get them up to the base minimum that the Master's Degree program needs. Frankly, I find that a little scary - that some programs don't refuse people who are obviously not ready for the Master's program, and really need to go back to the Bachelor level and try again.

So, I'm moving forward! The first semester is likely to be mostly review for me, but at least it'll ease me back into school

I've got quite a few books and supplies I have to get - not sure when I'll be able to afford them, since the school money won't be available until October. If anyone has extra copies of any of the books below that they are willing to let me borrow or buy cheaply, I'd love it. Otherwise, I may be making use of the library - if I can. Not convinced that many of my friends will have the typography books, but one can always hope. :)

I'm going to be taking this first semester:

1. Typography for Digital Masters - (Matthew Cooke is the professor. Seems to be a Londoner - he's got a wonderful voice, and I love the accent)
   
   
   • Meggs' History of Graphic Design - Philip B. Meggs; Hardcover ($55.25) - optional
   • Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type (Design Briefs) - Kimberly Elam ($8.98) - required
   • Typographic Design: Form and Communication - Rob Carter; Paperback ($37.21) - required
   • Also need the following materials:
     • Canson Field Sketch Book - 11X14
     • Col-Erase Pencils Set of 12
     • Design Kneaded Rubber Eraser - Extra Large
     • Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Pencil - 2H


2. Principles of Usability - (Kathleen Watson is the professor. If she goes by Kat, that's going to be interesting. :)
   • Usability for the Web: Designing Web Sites that Work (Interactive Technologies) - Tom Brinck; Paperback ($34.93) - required
   • No other materials needed


3. Web Technology 1 - Martha Breen is the professor. I'm a little less than happy that I can't find a website for a woman teaching me about web technology - but, after searching, I know she owns "Urban Tribe" - and does polymer clay crafts, primarily with Jewish themes.
   • Web Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) - Jennifer Niederst Robbins; Paperback ($12.00) - required
   • She requires BBEdit, but I'm wondering if I can talk her into letting me us my own preferred editor. I'm not interested in shelling out cash for something I'm probably not going to use. I have Dreamweaver - but only because it came with the bundle, and I didn't pay anything extra for it.

In other good news, I not only have the subsidized loan, and an unsubsidized loan, but I am eligible for the Graduate PLUS loan too! Hopefully that means I'll have some extra cash coming back to me to help us out financially. Still waiting for my financial aid adviser to call me back on that.

So, all told I need to come up with: $93.14 ($148.39 if I buy the optional text) in books (going with as many used books as possible), and $23.96 (if I buy it at the local shop, $31.45 if I buy it online and have it shipped) in materials.

Tags: school
Feeling: accomplished
Listening: Walk Away / Indigo Girls / Strange Fire