Masters

Since completing my Bachelor's at SAIT I have been keeping up with trends in GIS via LinkedIn as well as working to increase my knowledge using open source tools such as QGIS and Python.  I have continued to enjoy learning, but having a lack of direction with it means I often find myself drifting from completing some things.  While I am benefiting from reading and working through online resources is is clear I would do well to have a more structured environment. 

I had considered doing a Masters program once I had finished my program at SAIT, but really I still never really thought of myself as someone who would do that much school.  My first forays into post secondary education in my 20s were disastrous.  Still I finished my program at SAIT, not only with honours, but with a 4.0gpa. 

After some self reflection I determined I could do this, it was attainable given a few circumstances such as needing it to be part-time and probably online as I would not be able to quit my job to complete the program.  I began looking and came across a few options, one was a program out of Vancouver Island University, which has been closed since May 2024.  This left two options I had come across.  Johns Hopkins University (of the Covid Dashboard fame) and the University of Leeds.  Johns Hopkins looks to have an excellent program, but has two major strikes against it, from my perspective:

1. It was about twice the price of Leeds.
2. It was located in the USA, and given the current relationship between the US and Canada and the current political climate in the US at the time I am writing this, it was easy to choose elsewhere.

With an idea of where I would go, I fell back on my indecision.  Did I want to do this?  Was this worthwhile?  Was I good enough?  I went over the pros and cons, as I often do with large decisions like this and procrastinated.  Then finally earlier this year I sat with friends I knew had Masters degrees and I asked them their perspective.  Everyone thought it had been a worthwhile endeavor.  So I applied. 

I was accepted to the University of Leeds.

I start in a week. 

I am excited and nervous.