At 09:23 AM 11/18/98 -0800, you wrote: > So, what am I asking?? Any advice on the best way to go about finding >the perfect museum career for me?(research vs. administration) And any >knowledge of the programs at the universities mentioned above? Any >help would be so greatly appreciated. Right now I feel like I have no >specific goals, I am just floating. I need to get back into what I >enjoy and makes my brain work harder!! I think for now, if you want to get an idea of what the museum world is like before you plunk down thousands into a degree that will get you a job on a salary that slightly less than your student loan debt (see current discussion ;), look into development or grant writing jobs. You've got the background in financial aid and know where to get loans, grants and fellowships for students. Apply this to museums and you'll find that job opportunities abound. Museums are always looking for money and for people to get them more money. Then once you are in a museum and see what working for one is like full-time (granted you won't be a curator but you'll be interacting with them and other museum personel to help you write grants for their projects) you can start looking at the different museum studies programs. If you decide to go back to school for a museum degree, you can freelance with your grant-writing experience and help pay your way through school. Afterwards, you can still freelance grant-writing to supplement your income. Good luck!! Deb -------------------------------------------- Staples & Charles Ltd. 225 N Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314 USA 703-683-0900 - voice 703-683-2820 - fax [log in to unmask]