How much does location matter? Rutgers vs. UCLA

[argunaw]

I was recently accepted to Rutgers, UCLA, and NYU for a masters in urban planning. I want to focus on transportation and am deciding between Rutgers and UCLA. I'm a New Jersey resident and received some grant money from Rutgers, but did not receive any money from UCLA.

I am trying to avoid debt as much as possible and could probably avoid it entirely if I went to Rutgers. However, I don't think I want to live in the NJ/NY area, at least not after I graduate. Will I limit my chance of getting a job outside the tri-state area if I attend Rutgers? Is it worth taking on debt to go to UCLA? I'd really appreciate any input!

[zimzolla]

I'm just another student who is also entering grad school this fall, but I have some input, as I have talked to lots of people about this.

Essentially the most job opportunities you are going to find are going to be through your network, either jobs from people you know, or jobs you hear about from people you know, etc. This is generally how this industry operates, since there is an abundance of planners and fewer jobs (trend may reverse when economy picks up). Basically most cities aren't dependent on nationwide searches for planning staff to fill their ranks.

Does that mean you will never leave New Jersey, or even preclude you from finding a job in California or Chicago or wherever if you go to Rutgers? No. But you have to consider that after two years of school, friends, work experience, and contacts you will most likely be able to find a job in your region due to those connections. Now factor in the opportunity cost of all the connections not made in LA or Chicago, and the job offers you never hear about and the ones you aren't competitive for because you live in NJ.

Then factor in that the grad school you go to is your laboratory, so that affects your education and your experience.

Obviously all these only apply to recent grads. After ten years in the field it doesn't matter where you went, but the school will have a significant impact on the start of your career. Another thing you could still have in ten years is student debt, don't forget that.

[JamieJack]

I was recently accepted to Rutgers, UCLA, and NYU for a masters in urban planning. I want to focus on transportation and am deciding between Rutgers and UCLA. I'm a New Jersey resident and received some grant money from Rutgers, but did not receive any money from UCLA.

I am trying to avoid debt as much as possible and could probably avoid it entirely if I went to Rutgers. However, I don't think I want to live in the NJ/NY area, at least not after I graduate. Will I limit my chance of getting a job outside the tri-state area if I attend Rutgers? Is it worth taking on debt to go to UCLA? I'd really appreciate any input!

Here are a couple of other things to think about:
1) Given all the damage that Sandy did to the transit systems (both roads and mass transit) in the NYC area. Think about the learning/intern possibilities there. Get experience in disaster recovery and you'll have options- like down in Florida when they get their next big hurricane.

2) The debt difference- if you have little or no debt, then you'll be able to take that awesome but low-paying position in that cool city in some place you've always wanted to live. If you graduate with a lot of debt, your career/life decisions are truthfully going to be made thinking about that debt first. So you may wind up chasing $$$ versus doing exactly what you want to do and where you want to do it.

[DetroitPlanner]

I have been in transportation planning for 20 years.

Rutgers is a top school for transportation planning. It has contracts with DOT to provide continuing education to professional transportation planners through NTI.

http://www.ntionline.com/

If you can get money from Rutgers and nearly all transportation planners consider that to be a top school, I think the choice is obvious.

[JNA]

If you already live in Jersey consider the relocation costs.

[8hesaid]

I was in a similar bind last year; I was accepted to USC and Rutgers. I grew up in Boston and want to stay in the Northeast. After speaking with a lot of people at both schools and seeing some of the post-school job locations of USC students (3/4 Southern CA), I realized that it made no sense for me to move to LA and then try to move back home. Rutgers has a good name and alum all over the place.

Cost was also a huge concern. The reason I did not apply to UCLA was because I knew they gave no aid. Even though USC gave me half off tuition, it would still be more expensive when comparing comprehensive costs (tuition and housing) than Rutgers if I paid full-boat at Rutgers (which I did not). This was stressed so much to me and I'll say it again- do not go into serious debt for a planning degree. I even spoke with some USC alum who told me that their alma mater, as much as they loved it, was not worth the cost. Someone else I knew regrets going to Cornell for planning becauses she's in serious debt and working with a bunch of grads from Maryland who are much better off financially.

Rutgers is a great program that gives good money and it's REALLY easy to get in-state tuition for at least 3 of your 4 semesters here. We also have a strong alum network that's certainly helped me out. Career services is unbelievable too.

Also, if you're concerned about being stuck with a bunch of Jersey townies, don't worry. Most Rutgers students are not from Jersey. We hail from across the country and the world.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat further about Rutgers.

[zimzolla]

I was in a similar bind last year; I was accepted to USC and Rutgers. I grew up in Boston and want to stay in the Northeast. After speaking with a lot of people at both schools and seeing some of the post-school job locations of USC students (3/4 Southern CA), I realized that it made no sense for me to move to LA and then try to move back home. Rutgers has a good name and alum all over the place.

Cost was also a huge concern. The reason I did not apply to UCLA was because I knew they gave no aid. Even though USC gave me half off tuition, it would still be more expensive when comparing comprehensive costs (tuition and housing) than Rutgers if I paid full-boat at Rutgers (which I did not). This was stressed so much to me and I'll say it again- do not go into serious debt for a planning degree. I even spoke with some USC alum who told me that their alma mater, as much as they loved it, was not worth the cost. Someone else I knew regrets going to Cornell for planning becauses she's in serious debt and working with a bunch of grads from Maryland who are much better off financially.

Rutgers is a great program that gives good money and it's REALLY easy to get in-state tuition for at least 3 of your 4 semesters here. We also have a strong alum network that's certainly helped me out. Career services is unbelievable too.

Also, if you're concerned about being stuck with a bunch of Jersey townies, don't worry. Most Rutgers students are not from Jersey. We hail from across the country and the world.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat further about Rutgers.

Please elaborate on your point of getting in state tuition for Rutgers. I always thought that you couldn't get it until after the first year.
You are saying you can get it your second semester?

[8hesaid]

@zimzolla: I sent you a message

[vl3]

I'm in a similar boat; I grew up and currently live in Boston. Most likely, I will return here (or somewhere nearby) after grad school, if not right away, then within a few years. After weighing all my options, I've narrowed my choice to either Berkeley or Rutgers. Berkeley offered me a one-semester fellowship worth $11,000 -- but nothing guaranteed after that, and Rutgers offered me $8000/year for each year. Overall, Rutgers seems more financially viable: Tuition and cost-of-living will be less expensive, plus the 3-semester in-state potential helps tremendously... but I'm torn.

I've always loved SF and attending Cal has always been a dream of mine! Also, Cal's name is nationally stronger than Rutgers'. I visited Cal last fall and I know it's a great fit for me academically and personally. I've already interacted with students and faculty, and I feel fairly confident that I could find research opportunities, which would also help subsidize tuition. Students I've spoken with assure me about the availability of funding options once enrolled, but I'm not sure I'm ready to take that trust fall.

I haven't yet visited Rutgers, but I do plan to attend their Open House in April. I'm optimistic that my opinion of Rutgers will be positively swayed, but at this point I'm tentatively still leaning towards Berkeley.

At either school, my concentration will be HCED (Berkeley), or Housing/real estate (Rutgers). Do any current students or alumni have any input about funding options and total cost? Is either option the obvious choice? I appreciate your help!

[carmen d.]

At either school, my concentration will be HCED (Berkeley), or Housing/real estate (Rutgers). Do any current students or alumni have any input about funding options and total cost? Is either option the obvious choice? I appreciate your help![/QUOTE]

I have heard from students that it's pretty easy to establish residency in CA and get in-state tuition for the 2nd year. That's definitely something to consider as well as it appears that RA positions are fairly easy to come by.

[carmen d.]

I'm in a similar boat; I grew up and currently live in Boston. Most likely, I will return here (or somewhere nearby) after grad school, if not right away, then within a few years. After weighing all my options, I've narrowed my choice to either Berkeley or Rutgers. Berkeley offered me a one-semester fellowship worth $11,000 -- but nothing guaranteed after that, and Rutgers offered me $8000/year for each year. Overall, Rutgers seems more financially viable: Tuition and cost-of-living will be less expensive, plus the 3-semester in-state potential helps tremendously... but I'm torn.

I've always loved SF and attending Cal has always been a dream of mine! Also, Cal's name is nationally stronger than Rutgers'. I visited Cal last fall and I know it's a great fit for me academically and personally. I've already interacted with students and faculty, and I feel fairly confident that I could find research opportunities, which would also help subsidize tuition. Students I've spoken with assure me about the availability of funding options once enrolled, but I'm not sure I'm ready to take that trust fall.

I haven't yet visited Rutgers, but I do plan to attend their Open House in April. I'm optimistic that my opinion of Rutgers will be positively swayed, but at this point I'm tentatively still leaning towards Berkeley.

At either school, my concentration will be HCED (Berkeley), or Housing/real estate (Rutgers). Do any current students or alumni have any input about funding options and total cost? Is either option the obvious choice? I appreciate your help!

I have heard from students that it's pretty easy to establish residency in CA and get in-state tuition for the 2nd year. That's definitely something to consider as well as it appears that RA positions are fairly easy to come by.

[vl3]

I have heard from students that it's pretty easy to establish residency in CA and get in-state tuition for the 2nd year. That's definitely something to consider as well as it appears that RA positions are fairly easy to come by.

I've also heard that residency can be established for the second year at Cal, but the price difference is still relatively significant: out-of-state/instate per semester (*rough estimates!): Rutgers: $12,500/$7,500 vs. Berkeley: $16,500/$11,000. Factor in cost-of-living variables, and the totals will be markedly different! Though the aid offered to me by Rutgers isn't a large sum, at least it's guaranteed for every semester; and if I get a research or internship position, I could graduate with minimal debt, which would be optimal.

Perhaps quality of life in Berkeley/SF versus New Brunswick will help even out the playing field? I definitely plan to quiz every student at Cal about their aid/funding versus debt portfolio. Thanks for your feedback, carmen d! Hopefully visiting each school's Open House will make my decision easier.

[8hesaid]

If you want to eventually move back east, go to Rutgers. New Brunswick isn't as nice as Berkeley, but it's a cool city with plenty of bars, restaurants, a nice downtown grocery store, and 2 theaters. You're also an hour train ride away from NYC. Cost of living is so much cheaper here too. Most Rutgers grads, myself included, pay ~$500-600/mo for rent for a 3 bedroom apartment. If you drive, gas is also a lot cheaper in New Jersey.

Also, because you want to study housing, I think it really helps to study it in the Northeast where you ultimately want to practice planning. Affordable housing issues in small, home rule states like New Jersey and Mass. are a lot different than in CA. Rutgers offers some good housing classes, too.

[argunaw]

Thank you for all the feedback everyone. I just sent in my letter to Rutgers today saying I'll be attending in the fall! UCLA ended up offering me no aid, and between tuition and relocation costs, it would have been WAY too much. Debt would limit me way more than location would, plus Rutgers has a good network.

[8hesaid]

Congrats @argunaw!

[moose3030]

I was in a similar bind last year; I was accepted to USC and Rutgers. I grew up in Boston and want to stay in the Northeast. After speaking with a lot of people at both schools and seeing some of the post-school job locations of USC students (3/4 Southern CA), I realized that it made no sense for me to move to LA and then try to move back home. Rutgers has a good name and alum all over the place.

Cost was also a huge concern. The reason I did not apply to UCLA was because I knew they gave no aid. Even though USC gave me half off tuition, it would still be more expensive when comparing comprehensive costs (tuition and housing) than Rutgers if I paid full-boat at Rutgers (which I did not). This was stressed so much to me and I'll say it again- do not go into serious debt for a planning degree. I even spoke with some USC alum who told me that their alma mater, as much as they loved it, was not worth the cost. Someone else I knew regrets going to Cornell for planning becauses she's in serious debt and working with a bunch of grads from Maryland who are much better off financially.

Rutgers is a great program that gives good money and it's REALLY easy to get in-state tuition for at least 3 of your 4 semesters here. We also have a strong alum network that's certainly helped me out. Career services is unbelievable too.

Also, if you're concerned about being stuck with a bunch of Jersey townies, don't worry. Most Rutgers students are not from Jersey. We hail from across the country and the world.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat further about Rutgers.

Could you please contact me about Rutgers I have a few questions. New to site and could not figure out how to PM. Thanks