I am deciding between USC and NYU for urban planning.
My plan actually is to study law immediately after urban planning. Although I am not sure what kind of career path I will take with the two degrees, I am just too much interested in both fields and see the extra money and time of getting two degrees as absoutely worthwhile.
Having said that, I don't see myself working as a city planner in the future. I am more interested in the policy and the administrative aspect of urban development (hence the two urban planning programs that are part of schools of public policy/public service) and am also interested in real estate and economic development in the cities of Asian countries like China, Korea, and Malaysia (although I love European cities like London and Madrid very much too and would LOVE to work there one day).
Having grown up in So Cal, I always knew about USC's impressive alumni network ("the Trojan Family") and the excellent planning and real estate development programs it has. I guess USC has always been a familiar place. And for this very reason, I applied to NYU; I wanted to try the other greatest American city and experience something totally unlike Los Angeles-- take the subways instead of the freeways, live in a high-rise apartment rather than a ranch-style one, and wear black leather jacket with gloves and scarf instead of cut-off shorts with flip-flops and a t-shirt all the time. What is NYU's reputation like out there in the east coast? Does NYU's Wagner get overshadowed by Kennedy school or MIT?
Which school would you pick?
My plan actually is to study law immediately after urban planning. Although I am not sure what kind of career path I will take with the two degrees, I am just too much interested in both fields and see the extra money and time of getting two degrees as absoutely worthwhile.
Having said that, I don't see myself working as a city planner in the future. I am more interested in the policy and the administrative aspect of urban development (hence the two urban planning programs that are part of schools of public policy/public service) and am also interested in real estate and economic development in the cities of Asian countries like China, Korea, and Malaysia (although I love European cities like London and Madrid very much too and would LOVE to work there one day).
Having grown up in So Cal, I always knew about USC's impressive alumni network ("the Trojan Family") and the excellent planning and real estate development programs it has. I guess USC has always been a familiar place. And for this very reason, I applied to NYU; I wanted to try the other greatest American city and experience something totally unlike Los Angeles-- take the subways instead of the freeways, live in a high-rise apartment rather than a ranch-style one, and wear black leather jacket with gloves and scarf instead of cut-off shorts with flip-flops and a t-shirt all the time. What is NYU's reputation like out there in the east coast? Does NYU's Wagner get overshadowed by Kennedy school or MIT?
Which school would you pick?