MURP Choices... help!

[Azalea]

Hi, I am an aspiring planner and I would really appreciate any insight into how to choose a masters program.

I've been accepted at Cal Poly, UCLA, Cornell, PSU, and UIChicago. I'd like to do environmental planning (hopefully specifically related to water resource management). UIC has offered me a great deal (are they generally more generous?) so that is a big factor to consider. I'm from Portland originally and would like to live on the West Coast in the future. Suggestions?

Any environmental planners out there with tips?
Any current or former UIC grads-- what's with the classes being offered in the evenings? Also, did you have room with the core reqs to pursue your interests? (I'd like to take a couple classes outside the dept in stats and hydrology if possible)

Thanks for any help you can give. This is going to be a stressful week with decisions due on the 15th..eek!

[Queenducky21]

UIC has offered me a great deal (are they generally more generous?) so that is a big factor to consider. !

UIC offered me the least good deal out of all the schools I applied to (rutgers, UCLA, NYU). My dad rightly pointed out that if a school throws money at you, then they think you are a good fit

[nackteziege]

Courses are often offered in the evening to accommodate students with internships or other job commitments. I personally disliked having evening courses but it does make sense for those individuals.

I have heard that going to school where you want to work can help you get a job in that area. Also, you're probably going to become familiar with the general planning approach of the state/area where you attend school, so that could also help you land a job where you want. However, if UIC is offering you significantly different funding than the west coast schools, that's a huge consideration; you want to take on the smallest amount of debt possible in these relatively uncertain job times.

[Boguechitto]

Tabasco,

I have been losing sleep over a similar set of choices for the last month. After talking to a lot of people about this, the two best pieces of advice I received have been the following:

1."Go to school in the part of the country you want to live". (from a planning grad I met in New Orleans) She pointed out that she has significantly more connections/opportunities in the Midwest where she went to school, but later decided she didn't want to stay in that region.

2. "Whatever decision you make is going to be the right one" (from my grandma) cheesy, I know, but this is actually pretty good advice. All your options are good, there's no wrong answer, so feel confident in whatever you decide.

Good luck,

BGT