Graduate/PhD 2014-2015 applications and acceptance notices: United States

[Dan]

Previous threads:

2013-2014: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47171
2012-2013: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?45079
2011-2012: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?41653
2010-2011- http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?38769

Feel free to discuss programs in Canada and elsewhere, if you're also considering universities outside of the US. Canada-specific threads include:

2014-2015 (current): http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49046
2013-2014: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47170
2012-2013: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?45719
2011-2012: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?41652

As before, discussion of planning, MSRED, architecture/LA, geography, and other allied programs is welcome.

[the]

Hey everyone,

I am just beginning my research into MUP programs and have started by looking at Harvard's GSD. I'm just looking to get an idea of what types of schools I should be aiming for with my grades, experience, and interests, so any advice would be appreciated! I know Harvard is not necessarily the best, but I'm from Canada and am interested right now in researching the brand name schools.

My undergrad degree is from a Canadian university, GPA approx 3.7 when converted to that scale. My major is not planning-related, though I did take a couple classes related to urban studies while abroad. I did 2 study abroad programs, one in Europe and one in Asia. After graduating, I worked/volunteered/interned in two more Asian countries for several months at a time, in communications and international development related work, one placement as part of my Master's degree which I'm completing now in international development, at a Canadian school. I'll graduate this December. My "focus" of courses will be sustainable cities. My GPA is currently about 87.5%.

I am strongly drawn to the visual, creative, design aspects of cities, i.e. urban design, though I have no formal training in this regard, and my academic interests are in merging planning, and design in developing countries. Thus, Harvard's strengths in urban design and the GSD's Aga Khan program appeal strongly to me.

My academic and work experience is thus far not related to planning, but it's where my true interests lie, and I'm not sure how to make that apparent in an application (other than the fact that my specialization this semester will be in sustainable urban futures). Would the lack of practical or academic planning-related experience be a big hindrance?

Thanks for your help!

[jwhitty]

Long version:
I am interested in applying to PhD programs with a start date in the Fall of 2014, but I can't afford anything that doesn't include guaranteed multi-year funding. I declined enrollment in Virginia Tech's Planning, Governance, & Globalization program due to lack of funding opportunities and I have heard that USC's professional planning doctorate is dead. I am not really interested in applying to programs that are decaying or those that have limited or no research, conference, teaching, or assistant opportunity funding. My research previously focused on organizational learning, democratic participation, and international development. I'm relatively confident with my mixed methods skills, working (allegedly) on a alternative GIS methodology pub, and would love to increase my complexity skills. I do use political economy, anarchism, and black feminism in my writing, so those haters probably wouldn't work either. Any suggestions?

Short version:
I'm looking for planning PhD programs, or interdisciplinary programs with the ability for a planning bent, that aren't shrinking and have funding opportunities.

Reflection:
I realize that this may be dumb, given where the social sciences within the academy are headed and I'm not Ivy connected.

[Queenducky21]

Jwhitty, I just sent you a message with my thoughts.

[jwhitty]

Thanks! I think I sent you a response. <Verizon DSL isn't a fan of this site>

[abarbier]

Throwing my hat into the ring! I plan on applying this year to several programs after being rejected to Portland State University last year. It seems that last year I was rejected based on a lack of experience. Hoping that my luck will change this year.

Objective information: 3.9 GPA in Social Science from small liberal arts school in Illinois. GRE: 155 quant 162 Verbal and 5.5 writing.

Experience: I am currently doing a one year stint in Americorps working with a community economic development team in a rural county. If anyone has any suggestions for volunteer experience in the Portland, OR area I would really appreciate it.

I was wanting to gauge schools that people think I would be competitive at. Also, I am seeking a more policy based program.

My short list at the moment: UNC, Georgia Tech, University of Illinois Chicago, PSU.

I hope this is a successful cycle for everyone!

[dundee]

Hello everyone!

I am in the process of applying to Georgia Tech, Maryland, MIT, and Rutgers for PhD programs. My GRE scores were 170V, 165Q and 5 writing. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about applying to the CDD concentration at MIT. Would you recommend submitting a portfolio for someone coming from a planning background instead of architecture/ landscape architecture? I have a few Sketchup drawings and sketches I could include from projects, and I used to build so I could put a picture of a house in, but that would be about it. Any thoughts? Also for optional writing samples-- does it look bad to not include these optional items? Thanks for any suggestions!

[shaun.jacobsen]

Hi all,

Looking to apply to four schools (2 US and 2 Canada), I may add another, but right now this is the list I've narrowed myself to (in preference order): McGill, UBC, UIC, Berkeley. Looking at transportation focus.

I currently live in Chicago (work in market research - not related to urban planning). I graduated in 2012 from UW-Milwaukee with BA Sociology, French, certificate in Urban Planning, and minor in Economics. I studied abroad in 2010 (Paris, 6 months). I completed the 2 majors, certificate, and minor in 3 years (full summers and winter courses).

Final cumulative GPA: 3.55 (final two years: 3.56)

GRE (Sep 2012): 159 V, 150 Q, 4.5 writing (much lower than I want, but I don't know if I'll retake it).

Last fall I participated in participatory budgeting in Chicago, since my neighborhood was one that was participating in this. I thought it was some good, elementary introduction into "urban planning" and what it means to work with lots of people and interests to get projects proposed and planned.

I'm really focusing on McGill for a few reasons: I feel it will give me the most "foreign" experience I can get while still being in North America, I speak French, and the program seems to be more studio-based than theoretical. I had some project-based planning courses at UWM when I took graduate courses, and I felt that it was better than the theory-based courses with tests and tons of reading. One of the professors has done some research with bicycle and transport planning, as well (Professor Ahmed El-Geneidy). I've looked further abroad, but feel this program may be a good fit.

I've written my essay and had it looked over by some. If anyone else (who has already attended school) is willing to take a quick look at it, I would appreciate it.

Other than that, does it sound like I have a decent chance in your experience?

[akshali2000]

To Shaun - I can PM you.

[Irrationa_Indian]

Hey there!

I'm an undergrad in electronics and communication. (graduated in 2013) I want to do my Masters in Transportation/City Planning. Slightly unrelated fields, i know. During prefinal year of undergrad, I realised that I was passionate about public/urban transportation and various aspects of city planning.

Projects in Undergrad : Created a low cost smart card system for bus systems in developing countries using ARM and RFID, Also assisted the local town bus corporation with marketing of their BRT.

GRE : 321 ( 167Q, 154V) . IELTS : 8. 5
Graduated with a GPA of 7 from an average college in India.

Courses I've done on Coursera : Microeconomics, Technicity ( An urban planning course from Ohio State) Maps and Geospatial Data.
Courses from World Bank e institute : Integrated Urban Transport Planning and Street Addressing and Management of Cities ( will be doing them both in a few months and will complete them)

Currently working as a fellow for an urban lab for the past few months (six months now) . We do research on cities.

Projects :

1. Created a road network complete with node details to help the Municipal Corporation keep track of where all the road and sewage repairs and thus ensure government accountability.
2. Creating a database of where floods/waterlogging will happen in the city and showcase how the local ecosystem's been compromised upon and is responsible for them.
3. Got hold off a few hundred year old maps of the city and geo-referencing them to showcase the change in the city over the past few hundred years.
4. Assisted the State Postal Department in optimising work loads for postmen by analyzing zip codes ( parameters : load and delivery time)
5. Creating the first ever bus routes website for Hyderabad, IN. Multilingual. Got the Transport Organisation to endorse it.

Non work projects :

1. Collaborating on a project for documenting the history of the Residency Bazaars in Hyderabad.
2. Doing a hackathon like restoration of a 167 year old train station entrance.

Any chance of acceptance from MIT or UCB?

[Queenducky21]

Throwing my hat into the ring! I plan on applying this year to several programs after being rejected to Portland State University last year. It seems that last year I was rejected based on a lack of experience. Hoping that my luck will change this year.

Objective information: 3.9 GPA in Social Science from small liberal arts school in Illinois. GRE: 155 quant 162 Verbal and 5.5 writing.

Experience: I am currently doing a one year stint in Americorps working with a community economic development team in a rural county. If anyone has any suggestions for volunteer experience in the Portland, OR area I would really appreciate it.

I was wanting to gauge schools that people think I would be competitive at. Also, I am seeking a more policy based program.

My short list at the moment: UNC, Georgia Tech, University of Illinois Chicago, PSU.

I hope this is a successful cycle for everyone!

You might wanna look at NYU. I choose not to attend there, but they are VERY VERY policy oriented.