Tess, and others aspiring to the museum profession --
   VOLUNTEER at your local history (or whatever) museum. Small museums are
ALWAYS in need of docents, people to give school and geriatric outreach
programs, help with typing acknowledgement letters, yard work; some might
even trust you with helping the registrar or conservator <g>.  Seriously, it
gets your foot in the door for when a paying job opens up, plus you see
whether you're Really wanting to deal with the plethora of eclectic challenges
facing such institutions ;) ;). And it certainly beats *paying* the university
to "take" a practicum - i.e. pay to get to work, though that can be a useful
route, too, and counts for something in certain academic circles.
   I started with a practicum in the university museum which led to a
graduate assistantship the next 3 years (maximum), then on to the county
museum with 10, then 15, then 20 hours of work-study as conservator (M.A.
in folklore by that time); the registrar quit and I got her job, upgraded to
salaried curator of collections, and since the director left 6 weeks ago I'm
also now interim/acting director {but REALLY want to get back to curating/
registering/conserving/gardening/etc.}
   Good luck!
Chris Bobbitt, Curator of Collections &c., Monroe Co. Hist. Museum
Bloomington, Ind.   [log in to unmask]