I put Cincinatti too.
I put Cincinatti too.
During the time frame of the question the highest growth rates were in the South and South West. I therefor reasoned that Albuquerque was correct because it was the only City mentioned in either of those regions.
so that maybe Albequrque is the right answer, if only I could spell it, but my question is this.............
WHY did it grow so fast??? Who cares which one did, it seems to be a more appropriate question for planners as to WHY it grew so much. Was is easy zoning codes, no moritoriums, good weather, great Tex/Mex?? Why Why Why Why...............
I wonder if birds know it's Tuesday?
My .02 about the answers to the questions being discussed
1. For the growth managament question I chose Ramapo, because it was the "first" case
2. For the negotiation question (which was tough) I chose the answer that said something like "when a party comes back with alternative proposals late in the negotiation" I figured people would want to negotiate in that case not back out inappropriately.
3. For the questions about the cities I also chose Cincinnati and Albaquerque
Does anyone remember the question about who to report ethics violations to? the answers did not include the "Executive Director" which is what it says in the ethics advisory. I think that question should be thrown out. They didn't use the same language that is in the ethics code. Is the president of the chapters title the "Chapter President" or the "Executive Director"? I didn't know if they were referrring to the APA and chose AICP commission instead (and probably got it wrong).
It's good to know that I was not the only one who was mystified by the choices given for the ethics code violation question. I kept thinking to myself, Executive Director of what???? I chose the AICP commission as well, only because the other choices were too vague.
I chose Alberquerque (sp?) for the fastest growing city - my answer came in the form of a song or famous saying "Go West!!!!" Who cares anyway, except for maybe the people in those fastest growing cities.
I'd like to know how many people attempted to do the calculations required for some of the answers. Even with a calculator, I was like "when in doubt, choose B." LOL
Long time lurker, first time poster! But, after that great test of planning skills that I took I too feel the need to rant. I was absolutely stunned by the exam. I don't even have a good reading on how I feel I did, but I can sure protect your wellheads if you want me to! The exam guide has to be the worst $195 plus shipping I ever spent. I went through all of the CD ROM's painstakingly and took the practice exam at least 50 times. Is anyone else amazed that in the only exam that certifies planners nationwide that there was not one question concerning variances, special exceptions or non-conforming uses? While many planners do not deal with those issues on an everyday basis anymore most of us got our start doing development review type stuff. To not even question us on any of it is ridiculous. I have already written to ask for my money back for the study guide. An utter waste of time and money. And APA wonders why so few people vote in the elections. Sorry this is so long but at least I waited til Thursday. I was really hot on Monday!
Calculations???? I used it once to refresh my brain on the 160 acre thing, and then twice again??? How many calculation questions were there....................
Wait, wait........never mind......................it's over. O. V. E. R.
I wonder if birds know it's Tuesday?
I was surprised at that ethics question also, since the correct answer was not listed. I was going to point it out on that sheet they gave us, but then I changed my mind since I am fairly sure they meant for the correct answer to be the "AICP commission." Therefore, even though the answer is wrong, I sort of hope they don't throw the question out since I need as many correct answers as possible, even if the answer is not "really" correct. (Hope that makes sense!)
As for the calculations, I think I officially used the calculator twice, but could have easily gotten by without it.
Well, it has been about five days since the test from hell, and I am happy to say that I am definitely on the road to mental recovery. And, if I don't pass, I will have to really consider whether or not I want to take the test next year since I have some serious philosophical issues with the very idea of this test. The most serious issue I have is this: We all know by now the Code of Ethics, and that our main responsibility is to our employer/client. With that said, the AICP people expect us to study our asses off for months and months - which absolutely interferes with our professional life (not to mention our social life) - and then they give us a test that doesn't even evaluate what we studied. So, all this time I could have been working extra hours, and getting some extra work done. But instead I studied law cases and wellhead protection techniques.
Maybe its a bit of a stretch, but it sure seems like a violation of the Code to me...
Our main responsibility is the serve the public interest, not to our client/employer, unless you consider employer to mean the public, which in all fairness you would be right if you work in the public sector. As for your comments regarding the ethics violation of the AICP, I the bigger issue should be that, in my opinion, is the fact that APA/AICP has the nerve to sell that LANPLN cd at such an inflated price. It states in the code that the more experienced planners should strive to educate and train less experienced planners, it does not say make money off of them!
Ok, I really think the AICP exam is a joke. All if measures is your ability to cram a bunch of irrelevant information and hope you can remember enough to pass. It has no bearing on whether you are a good planner or not.
The AICP, in my opinion, is a feeble attempt by the APA to "legitimize" the planning profession (and raise a ton of extra money in the process). Planners suffer from an inadequacy complex...we are not as technical as engineers, as artistic as architects, as shrewd as politicians, or as knwledgable as lawyers, but we have to know elements of each of those professions and much much more. There is such a wide variety of knowledge, job duities, and laws that planners have to deal with that a 150 question test is a complete joke if the APA is trying to measure what planners "should" know.
Professions such as engineers, architectcs, doctors, and lawyers have extensive certification requirements because if they don't know something, it can have serious results. If a lawyer screws up, the client could wind up in jail for life, if a doctor screws up, someone could die, if an architect screws up, a building can collapse. If a planner screws up, what happens? Some building is too close to a road? A resident has to deal with a McDonalds next door? You get the picture.
If I don't know details about the City Beautiful movement, does that make me a bad planner? If I don't know who wrote some obscure planning book, does that mean that I am unworthy of the AICP designation? I would hope not, but the way the AICP is set up, not knowing who wrote some stupid opinionated book could cost a planner their certification, and that isn't right.
"I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me, no matter how dumb my suggestions are."
- Homer Simpson
jt, way to rant. It's funny because the two guys and myself that also took the exam just got a chance to vent at staff meeting. There are three other planners in the office with AICP and they all said the same thing about the AICP exam.....they studied their butts off and really didn't need to because the questions where so obscure that it really didn't matter if they studied, and they still passed. One guy said he studied about two hours the day before and "wouldn've studied more, but it was sunny outside...." and still passed.
I love your reference about how we have to know a little about a lot............perfect.
don't worry though, from what I'm getting from others, you probably passed.
ps, love the Bad Religion..................
I wonder if birds know it's Tuesday?
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