Advice Appreciated, U of I vs NYU (Does GIS Matter?)

[Queenducky21]

As of yesterday afternoon, I was ready to submit my acceptance to the University of Illinois. Then I got a call from NYU offering me a full fellowship for two years + stipend. The programs are completely different and I could use your advice.


Purpose for pursing graduate education: To obtain skills to get a job doing international urban planning policy. I am particularly interested in working for an international org (like the UN) and helping to develop recommendations for urban policy to reduce urban inequality. In the future, I would like to be able to use GIS for analyzing cities. I think a question is "do I need more GIS classes, or do I have enough skills now?" (I worked at ESRI for a year and have publications). And "does the job that I am hoping to get even exist?"



NYU:
Pro:
Located in New York City with opportunity to network, full funding + stipend for 2 years, stipend is from working at a research center that I could see myself working at in the future, I can get a paid internship and still have the tuition free, great networking, alumni network, huge emphasis on public service, the courses seem more interesting than at U of I


Con:
Not much GIS (3 classes, which seem extremely basic...they cover the things that I can do easily and does not go out beyond that), NYC cost of living (should be mostly covered by stipend/ internship money)


Not sure if this is a pro or con:
~Many part time students, meaning that they will bring their real world experiences to the class room but that reduces the cohort feel of the program.
~The Capstone project is done in a small group rather than individually, but they have interesting projects.

U of IL:
Pro: Great cost of living, GIS classes (a HUGE PLUS), competitive admission (meaning interesting peer group), small program allowing me to get to know peers and professors better, in IL so close to family and Chicago where I still have all of my Field Museum connections, I have a great living situation, social justice orientation, LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of GIS classes.


Con: Located in corn fields, few internship opportunities (none relating to what I'm interested in), Urban Planning is a stand alone program meaning you aren't able to interact with other allied professions,


I have faculty at both schools who have spent time talking with me on the phone and seem very interested in working with me. I know that both options are great, and that either will help me further my career. Or, if you can think of questions I should ask to the schools, I'd appreciate that.

Thoughts are much appreciated.

[Nabad]

I don't know anything about the schools, but, having interacted with UN staff in the developing world, I can tell you that having a solid network on the inside is a great help in landing a position. Out of the 10 or so people I know who work for the UN, all of them got in by being excellent networkers, with the exception of one who started at the bottom of the totem pole and another who submitted tens of applications before even getting an interview. If your objective is to work with the UN, I think it makes sense to go to NYC.

[HomerJ]

I would contact professor Faranak Miraftab at UofI to get a better idea on what international opportunities are available. Obviously, NYU will provide the best networking opportunities, but I know there are still a number of opportunities to study/work abroad through UofI.

[Queenducky21]

I would contact professor Faranak Miraftab at UofI to get a better idea on what international opportunities are available.

Thanks, I've got a call set up with her next week!

[nrschmid]

UIUC alum here (BAUP 2003). I have 11 years GIS experience, all of which I learned on my own while in school. Unless things have radically changed at DURP, and I seriously doubt they have, don't enroll in graduate program and expect it to be highly technical. The GIS course, not courses, was a complete joke. I dropped out of the course after a few weeks because I thought I could learn GIS skills faster on my own. I spent at least 1-2 semesters learning the nuts and bolts of ArcView 3x on my own time, mostly on the weekends, and put together a portfolio and went after GIS internships. I received absolutely NO help or guidance from the faculty or graduate TAs. UIUC provides a well-rounded education with ample coursework in every planning area as part of a generalized degree. It is NOT a technical program in the slightest.

[Queenducky21]

One concern I have with NYU is the amount of group work that is done. I will admit, that I am not the greatest at group work (type A personality). Many students are part-time, which is an added co concern.

Is group work a legitimate concern to have with a program?

[JamieJack]

One concern I have with NYU is the amount of group work that is done. I will admit, that I am not the greatest at group work (type A personality). Many students are part-time, which is an added co concern.

Is group work a legitimate concern to have with a program?

Being able to work well in a team is a key career skill to have in this day and age, whether one likes it or not. As bad as it can being part of a team can be as a student when people don't do their part, this tendency only gets magnified when you work in a team project at work and it's your job on the line and not theirs

[csld09]

Are there really only three grad-level classes in all of NYU that pertain to GIS, despite that "Center for Urban Science and Progress" they have? Or would you not be allowed to take courses with them?

[nackteziege]

At least at the PhD level, it seemed to me that you can take classes outside of Urban Planning at UIUC. You may want to ask about this to be sure. Ask about interdisciplinary groups on campus; I was under the impression that there are groups that get together to discuss their work and mingle across fields but with related interests (these may be PhD groups?).

I also don't like group work but it's definitely important to have the experience. I will say that working with people who also have jobs/families can make things even more frustrating but I don't know if that should really be a huge deciding factor.

I know UIUC has some professors that use GIS as a analysis tool.

What about the internship opportunities in Chicago? At least here at my school, plenty of people pursue internships away from our city, particularly over the summer.

Do you have funding at UIUC?

[Queenducky21]

I talked with uiuc and I'm allowed to take gis courses in other programs. I'm funded at uiuc.