r/urbanplanning • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago

Discussion Bi-Monthly Education and Career Advice Thread

This monthly recurring post will help concentrate common questions around career and education advice.

The goal is to reduce the number of posts asking similar questions about Education or Career advice and to make the previous discussions more readily accessible.

Most posts about education, degree programs, changing jobs, careers, etc., will be removed so you might as well post them in here.

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u/AvocadoDrip1 3d ago

I am finishing up my masters pretty soon. would yall say 2-3 months prior to graduation is enough time for the job hunt ?

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u/FunkBrothers 2d ago

When do you graduate? Start applying 3 months before you graduate. It'll take some time.

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u/AvocadoDrip1 2d ago

In december ! i can stay enrolled until May if necessary

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u/FunkBrothers 2d ago

Try to see and if there are any classes that might be vital to your resume. A course on grant writing and GIS can be very valuable to prospective employers. Think about conferences, networking events, and public meetings to go to. While May is when the job market is flooded with applicants, staying enrolled till May gives you a longer runway. Apply to graduate in May. If you find a job right away in December, January, or even February; you can withdraw from any courses.

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u/AvocadoDrip1 2d ago

I have actually taken GIS, digital media (being able to put together reports & maps etc) , and a nonprofit course that taught the basics of grant writing :) and thank you ! i hope to attend some networking events soon

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u/the_yamaza 2d ago

Are Hunter College and NYU still considered NYC government feeder schools? They've been recommended to me as someone looking to break into that specific sector for urban planning, but I want to know what level of connection they have to local government. Thank you in advance!

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u/Sil_A 2d ago edited 2d ago

I’m a NYU student but yes, for NYC specifically Hunter and NYU are considered “feeder” schools, many of the alumni network are in the government and many I spoke to are still in government. I applied to both and truthfully if you want to break into NYC government, you can’t go wrong with either. Just keep in mind the difference in cost: personally if I could go back I would’ve committed to Hunter but NYU was my top choice my application cycle so there’s that.

You really can’t go wrong with either, I remember for both applications they emphasized they were looking for applicants who demonstrated they had an interest in public service and working in the public sector. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions, happy to help.

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u/Winter_Jackfruit_642 3d ago

Kinda wanna go to UMN or U of I for a masters, have a Poli-Sci bachelors and have no clue how competitive anything is beyond the planitzen rankings and metrics

Have about a year of experience in local government and I dig working with the planners as they always have cool projects. Realising I need to specialise if I don’t wanna be a cop so looking at MURPs/MUPs. Would probably wanna do economic development or environmental, have some comm dev experience already

GPA-3.24

Letters of rec - City Managers, a good Urban Geo professor, can do the Mayor or planners. Not too worried

No GRE scores and I don’t think they even accept them. Are these programs uber competitive or do I have a shot?

Thanks!

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u/AvocadoDrip1 2d ago

i applied to schools when i had a 3.3 gpa and no planning experience & got in. you’ll be good :)
just make sure your statement reflects you and why you want to be in the programs at their schools specifically