Last year's thread
It's a new school year, and this a new grad/PhD application and acceptance thread. Enjoy, and good luck!
Last year's thread
It's a new school year, and this a new grad/PhD application and acceptance thread. Enjoy, and good luck!
Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell. -- Edward Abbey
Looking to start applying to several PhD Planning programs for Fall 2011. Looking at:
U Washington
UT Austin
UC Denver
UMass Amherst
UNC Chapel Hill
U Michigan
Ohio State
U Oregon (LA Based)
Have BLA (Bach Landscape Architecture) 2001 w/ 3.3 GPA
9+ years experience of land planning and 3+ years as General Manager.
Currently in MBA program at local university with expected December graduation w/ 3.9 GPA.
Retaking the GRE in September. First time I took GRE I prepared very little and did just enough to meet minimum entry requirements.
610 Math
490 Verbal
4.0 in Writing
I hope to do much better this time around, been studying for over a month now.
Looking for any tips, suggestions on boosting application materials, etc. Also, any thoughts on the above listed schools or schools I might be missing? Trying to stay out of Cali and Ivy league. Thanks everyone
smallwine
Was going to apply last year but got complacent due to my job.
Pretty much only applying to schools in CA as it's where I want to work after graduating.
Berkeley
UCLA
USC
Cal Poly SLO
UCI (Maybe, I really don't want to live in the OC for two years)
Graduated from a large CA public university in 07 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Geography. I have 2 years of experience as a private sector land use planning intern and over 3 years of experience as a planner for an international consulting firm. Projects worked on range from TOD studies and plans to transit planning and corridor studies.
Stats:
GPA: 3.1 (Major 3.6)
GRE (Going to retake in hopes of higher quantitative and writing scores)
640 Verbal
600 Math
4.0 Writing
I'm looking at returning to school for a PhD program.
So far, I am considering the following:
UCLA and USC for a planning program
San Diego State University for a geography program
and UC Santa Cruz for environmental studies
It is going to be a long ride!!! Eager to get back into academia though!
Retook the GRE today and it wasn't as good as hoped for or expected after several weeks of studying. Although I did raise by 100 points.
Verbal 560
Quant 640
Waiting on essay scores of course
I hope my SOP, relative experience and portfolio can make up for any potential issues the GRE may create.
Now on to the applications.
So check it, applying to 8 schools. I've actually dropped and added schools within the past couple of months thanks to reading the forums, so i definitely appreciate all the comments and rants/raves. It's really nice to read the insider thoughts. This is such a better place to get info than say: studentreview.com or the actual school website ("I am so happy I chose this school....")
In order of hopes and dreams for Master of City Planning (or urban/policy variation):
UI-Chicago
UNC-Chapel Hill
GATech
NYU
UC-Denver
Rutgers
Hunter College
Clemson
GRE:1340 - GPA: 3.1
Studied abroad in Buenos Aires, ARG and Bogota, COL. My letters of rec. are from some respectable sources so Im confident I will get accepted into at least 4 of the 8. Currently, volunteering for local planning firm in Augusta, GA. I NEED to get out of this city. Anyways, good luck everyone
I was going to apply last year but I became complacent with my current job and decided to wait until now.
Location: Durham, NC
Stats: University of North Carolina, Wilmington; 3.4 GPA (3.8 my last 2 years); 1060 GRE (retaking it in October)
Work experience: 2 planning internships (each lasting about 7-9 months); Research Assistant for a public health research organization (about 2 years).
Applying to: UNC (MCRP/MPH joint program), Tufts, Rutgers, Univ of Washington (Health Geography program), UC Irvine, North Carolina State University (MPA).
My SOP and letters of recommendation should be solid. My obvious weakness is the GRE. Best of luck to everyone!
Oh, gosh. It's finally my turn to participate in one of these threads.
Looking at a billion (okay, 10) schools so far:
U Washington - Seattle
Portland State
UC Berkeley
UI - Chicago
U Minnesota - Twin Cities
U Penn
MIT
Harvard
Rutgers
U Wisconsin - Madison
I think that's it so far. My list keeps growing and changing, so...
GPA: 3.8
GRE: 670 V, 720 Q, 4.5 W
I published some research (any other McNairs out there?), and my recommendations are going to be from my faculty mentors and thesis advisors. Hopefully they'll be good!
Glad to have this experience with all you other Cyburbians. It's...stressful. But at least we can all be stressed out together!
Good luck everyone!
Glad to be joining you all.I'll be applying this year too. I'm a bit worried since I don't have related experience in urban planning, only a strong interest. I worked in finance since graduating in 2007. But a lot of people are in similar situations right?
As of now, I am looking at
USC
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
Cornell University
University of Hawaii
GPA: 3.71 from Tufts University
GRE: striving for 1350 or better
Finally applying to grad school. Looking into the following programs:
Portland State
UOregon
UWash
San José
UCDenver
Clemson
North Carolina
Rutgers
I am most interested in sustainable cities, youth, and walkability. I have a BA in Geography from Syracuse with a 3.7 GPA. Scheduled for GRE at the end of the month.
Any suggestions?
I've been accepted to Ohio State and Buffalo. Still waiting to hear from McGill. Dan, what can you tell me about Buffalo's program?
Stats: B.S. in Psychology from University of Maryland University College, 2006, 3.63 GPA (Dean's list last 2 years);
GRE: 1260, 4.0 on writing
Work experience: 1+ year in Housing & Comm. Development for the City (current); completed 1 term as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer (full-time); ~4 years in kitchen & bath design/project management
Applying to: UT Austin, Texas A&M, GA Tech, UNC Chapel Hill
3.63 GPA
670 Q, 710 V, 4.0 W (retaking in November to improve Q and W)
Experience: 1 year AmeriCorps in workforce development, 1 year at nonprofit doing foreclosure counseling, 1+ years at local government community development agency in foreclosure and homeownership programs. Also participated in summer planning program at UC Berkeley this year.
Definitely applying to:
University of Illinois-Chicago
University of Texas-Austin
University of Minnesota
Portland State University
Considering Penn or Cornell, but not sure about my chances.
V: 560
Q: 650
GPA: 3.5, last 90 units
I have close to a year's working experience as a planning intern.
I want to apply to
-USC
-UCLA
-UCB
- Rutgers
- Penn or Cornell
-UNC Chapel
...I think I may have to retake my GREs.
Just planning programs include (i'll get 'em narrowed soon):
Univ. of Minn
Auburn (with MPA)
Univ. of Colorado (with MBA)
Eastern Michigan
Boston University
Tufts (though, I may wait on this one and apply in a year(
Other programs (public affairs/policy, urban affairs, etc.)
Loyola - Chicago
George Washington
American
Carnegie Mellon
as well as a couple other curve balls (organizational/leadership mgmt)
Stats:
BS Philosophy - univ. of Wisconsin
2.6 GPA (2.9 last 2 years)
6 months volunteering at New Orleans mayor's office (post katrina)
Peace Corps, including over a year helping a town council
Also, I'm an "underrepresented minority." They say it doesn't matter, but I know is does.
GRE TBD
I never know if I'm deluding or short selling myself.... meh.
I'd say your scores, grades, and work experience make you a really good candidate for Penn or Cornell. Don't write yourself off.Originally posted by Twin Citizen
Hello fellow McNair Scholar! Didn't think they existed on this board.
I'm also applying to graduate school.
GPA: 3.5 (3.8 for major)
GRE: 550 Verbal, 610 Quant, 3.5 Writing
Experience: 1 year transportation planning, 1 year serving as a student rep for strategic planning task force, sustainability committee, and facilities and operations. Leadership experience as president of PSO at my school and student rep for the local chapter. Merit award from my department and scholarship from student government. McNair research experience followed with 3 conference presentations (not published though =\). And rounding things off with a 10 month term in Americorps NCCC (just begun).
Applying to:
Berkeley
Cornell
UPenn
UWash-Seattle
Rutgers
Portland State
Georgia Tech
NYU
Maryland, College Park
It's an ambitious list. Do I think I can get in? =\\\\ . sigh. My recommenders will be my Professors.
Good luck to everyone!
Thanks WPGHSC! I decided to go for it and apply to Cornell.
You should be able to get into the top three on your list. Good luck.
Officially submitted apps to Ohio State, Wisconsin-Madison, UMass Amherst, and UT Austin over the weekend to each school's PhD planning program. Now the wait begins.
Still in-progress with UNC Chapel-Hill and UC Denver.
Hopefully I can get into at least one, but a choice would be great.
Location: Vancouver
BA (Hons.) Human Geography, emphasis in urban studies, Simon Fraser University, June 2011
GPA: 3.9
GRE: 1490 (760Q, 730V), AW section pending
Worked 2.5 years in special needs care, 2.5 years as public school teaching assistant
Internship at inner-city non-profit
University-affiliated volunteer work
Part of a grassroots urban design workgroup
The list (so far):
MIT
Berkeley
UCLA
UBC
U Toronto
McGill
UCL Bartlett
I Intend to focus on urban design theory and practice, so I'm trying to put together a portfolio in addition to all the other application hoo-haw. Any advice on portfolios for urban design is welcome!
No direct work experience, so we'll see how far the strong academics/GRE take me with all these selective schools. I still think I'll need some solid references and SOP to stand a chance at some of these places.
Best of luck everyone, I know this process is all-consuming!
I'm looking into a few schools that I'm afraid are a bit of a stretch for my stats, but hopefully with a solid SOP I have a chance.
GPA: 3.3 (University of Washington)- Political Science
GRE: V:580 Q:750 W 4.0
I don't have any professional planning experience but am in my second AmeriCorps VISTA year with a low-income housing non-profit.
I'm applying to
NYU
UC Berkley
Portland State
UCLA
Rutgers
USC
I was going to apply to Cornell but figured it's too far of a stretch since I cannot get a strong academic recomendation- most will be from my current supervisors.
Has anyone heard if there is a trends of increased graduate school applications because of people looking at other options due to the job market?
I'm posting for the first time, but since I just submitted by first app, I figured now is a good time!
Location: CT - working in NYC
BA: Sociology, minor in Landscape Studies, Smith College
GPA: 3.62/3.77 (major)
GRE: 1210 (5.0 writing)
- Internship with the Regional Plan Association in NYC
- Internship with the NYC Department of Parks and Rec
- Intern for the Office of Planning and Devlopment in my college town
- Currently in a year of service with AmeriCorps in NYC working for a non-planning- related city agency
My (really long) list:
Rutgers
UPenn
NYU
Columbia
Pratt
Hunter
UIC
Harvard
Cornell
U Albany
I'm pretty disappointed with my GRE, but I've heard enough schools say they don't weigh it heavily to ease my mind for now. Mainly, I'm just pretty clueless as to what my chances are and I don't really have any sense of where I could get it. Also, financial aid is important. Anyone have experience with certain schools being really great or really bad with aid?
Your profile is very similar to many of my colleagues at columbia. Looks like a good list.
Okay, as a newbie here, I'll throw my hat in... very nervous about apps, but we'll see. My list is very small - my city choices are limited due to my significant other's work and places we are both willing to live. I am also aiming to be a designer, but I am applying to 2 MLA programs and 2 planning programs.
Berkeley (MLA)
Harvard (MLA)
MIT (Planning/Urban Design focus)
UCLA (Planning, in conjunction with LA certificate)
I am currently in my first year of UCLA Extension's LA certificate program, which can license me as an LA in California, but I'd like my master's so I can teach, be a competitive job applicant, and focus on school full time for a few years.
29 y.o., BFA in the arts from a top private school, career changer with a successful 9 year career in film/tv, good professional references, decent art/LA portfolio, 1470 GRE, 3.0 GPA (I never thought I'd be applying to grad school
I have NO idea what my chances are, but I'm excited to send these apps in! Good luck to everyone.
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