Can any current students or recent graduates from McGill’s School of Urban Planning share their thoughts?
I’m aware that the department is in a stage of transition, and the program’s weaknesses have been mentioned here in the past, but I would be grateful if anyone aware of the department’s current state could share their thoughts. I’m particularly interested to know whether there’s a strong sense of community within the program.
I'm a prospective student like you, but I did geography at McGill for my undergrad so I also took a few classes in the planning dept and know a handful of profs (hard not to when there are like 7 faculty).
The dept in teeny tiny, so it would be impossible for it not to be intimate. Although I'm aware of the downfalls of a small dept, one of the reasons I would consider McGill is because of the size. Even now I can go to guest lectures and all the professors know who I am and it gives you that nice fuzzy feeling that you're important and you're part of a crazy, planning-obsessed family. You would definitely get way more one-on-one attention at McGill and if your research interests are closely related to one or two profs then it shouldn't matter as much that it's a small faculty.
My friend linked me to a McGill planning Halloween party photo where one person dressed up as a "sad cul de sac". If that isn't a sell, I don't know what is.
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