Education

From Cyburbian jread: I'm just curious as to whether or not anyone on here is going to an Ivy League school for their planning degree. What will you do with it when you get out? I know that local government employs most planners, so I can't imagine a Harvard graduate wanting to work for the City of Bugtussle for $40k per year. It doesn't seem cost-effective.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian kanben: I'm a Master's student in Massachusetts and was just offered a summer internship with the planning department of a small town (pop ~13,000) about and hour from Boston. It seems like a good opportunity for me because it's a small department and even as a summer intern I'd have a lot of responsibility, working on issues ranging from growth management, historic preservation, affordable housing, etc.

The issue I'm struggling with, however, is that I will probably be moving to Chicago after I graduate next year. In obvious ways, Chicago is different than this small New England town. While I will certainly gain practical experience that is marketable in any city I work in, I wonder whether it would be a better idea to try for a position in a larger city. I have applied for an internship in one city that, although certainly not the size of Chicago, is bigger and more socio-economically diverse than the one I've been offered the position in.

From Cyburbian hilldweller: Getting written work published in traditional media sources and scholarly journals has always been a prerequisite for those aspiring for a career in the ivory tower as a college professor. Likewise, many of the top institutions expect doctoral candidates to demonstrate the ability to produce written work and research that is recognized as a significant contribution to the field.

But written work that is deemed acceptable to the ivory tower does not neccessarily mean it is any better than other writing on nontraditional sources of media. Rather, it means that the academic establishment has signed off on the reputation/prestige of the particular outlet, and that the submission has been sufficiently vetted through a "peer review" or similar process.

From Cyburbian Signature: We bow to the wisdom of our predecessors! So now that you graduates are out there planning, zoning, and advocating, what courses do you wish you had taken during your urban planning program that you didn't? Thus far, I have heard an emphasis on public financing. What about design, law, or even emergency planning?

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian Dilettante: Reading the treads in these forums, I could tell that lots of people are whole-heartedly devoted to what they do, especially when I read middle aged people deciding to make a career change and start grad school. I want to hear how your passion got ignited.

As for me, I am just at the beginning of my journey. Recently I’ve traveled to Hong Kong, I am astonished by their MTR. As a tourist it is almost impossible to get lost, and so easy to get to your destination; not only for tourist, but it’s also an integral part of the locals everyday commute. This might be because I’m an Angelino (we go every where by car, which I think is stupid…). But I think the design is just simply ingenious, thinking that I can be a part of designing this gets my heart racing. It’s so much more meaningful than my current job, where I just get to save a big corporation a few bucks here and there.

From Cyburbian Rumpy Tunanator: I thought I might throw this out there to see what I might hook, catch and eat, and maybe catch and release. So here it goes: should a planning degree be required in order to take the AICP exam?

Here are some of my thoughts. Feel free to agree or disagree with them. I really don't care if you don't like what I am saying. I think the certification requirement is watered down. Its kind of like letting a mathematician apply for an engineering job. Keep in mind, a lot of math and statistics are used in engineering (and planning). Yet an engineer can take the AICP and yet planners can't take the PE (not that you would want to).

From Cyburbian lucifer: I have been thinking about his for awhile, but does being an ethnic minority (I am hispanic) have an advantage in these two field? I know these fields are actually not that diverse (compared to others). I question this because out of my graduating class at school for Geography, I am the only minority (and my school is very diverse). Everyone else is white. From what I have seen too, the Urban Planning, and L.A. world is not that diverse either (correct me if I am wrong).

This came up because UPenn's Design school (PennDesign), keeps bugging me with brochures, emails, and they called me once. Funny thing is I have never ever contacted them, or have ever had an interest in their school (For two reasons 1. So darn expensive 2. I doubt I would ever get in, it is ivy leauge). I am curious as to how they found out, and why an ivy leauge school keeps contacting me. Usually the better the school, the less they will have to "put themselves out there".

From Cyburbian D/M: Hello, I am a GIS student who is interested in urban planning, especially at the local government level. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice regarding the best volunteer opportunities to gain exposure in this area? I'm thinking in general terms, such as City Auditor, Planning Commissions, etc. Any advice would be very appreciated!

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian jread: 'm just curious as to whether or not anyone on here is going to an Ivy League school for their planning degree. What will you do with it when you get out? I know that local government employs most planners, so I can't imagine a Harvard graduate wanting to work for the City of Bugtussle for $40k per year. It doesn't seem cost-effective.

Just wondering where these folks end up after getting the piece of paper.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian Senior Jefe: Now that those of us with AICP status must now maintain our certification I’m starting to think about the best way to do that. Conferences seem the easiest. You just have to set there and be “infotained”. However, it is often a gamble as to whether a session or even a whole conference will actually provide something useful that you can apply to your job. The more I attend the less value they seem to have.

I’m wondering about some of the on-line web based courses offered by Bloustein at Rutgers or through Planetizen.

AICP has not yet accredited these programs but both programs anticipate that they will be. At between $99.00 and $260.00 per course for 14 or so credits they seemed reasonably priced.

UrbanPlan (http://www.urbanplan.org) is a realistic classroom-based, web-supported program in which high school students learn the roles, issues, trade-offs, and economics involved in urban development, providing them with hands-on experience in developing realistic land use solutions to urban growth challenges. UrbanPlan is an educational initiative of the Urban Land Institute, developed in partnership with the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and a team of high school economics and government teachers.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian ssnyderjr: Found an article in my professional society's (NSPE's) quarterly magazine where middle school students design cities using advanced technologies for fuel sources and power supplies. This competition (Future City) occurred during Engineering Week (E-Week), and sponsored by my professional society and the JETS program. Interestingly enough, Michigan school students fared very well in this endeavor. Maybe there is hope for my motherland after all.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian drjb: I am currently getting my master's in urban planning and am considering getting an MBA simultaneously. I want to go into real estate development, preferably green design. Is it worth it to try and get into the mba program? Does anyone out there have these two degrees, and if so what do you do with them?

OpenCourseWare from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides free, searchable, access to the school's course materials for educators, students, and self-learners. Course materials from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning) are included on the site.

(Cyburbia Forums original post)

From Cyburbian Magnetica: I might be moving to the Bay Area in CA if my husband takes a job offer there, and was wondering if anyone's heard of SJSU (San Jose State University). Apart from that, Berkeley is my only option in that area unless we decide to live apart for a bit - then I could go three hours away to San Louis Obispo.

Anyone heard of SJSU and the quality of their programme? It's an accredited programme, but I hope not too policy intensive... I want to study Physical Planning.