URBAN PLANNING Q&A: grad school, career, and tips for aspiring planners
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- #urbanplanning #gradschool #career
Hey friends,
In this video I delve into my motivations for pursuing a masters in urban planning, how I chose a career path, and tips for aspiring urban planning professionals.
Ultimately I decided not to work as a traditional planner, but instead to work in community + economic development as a commercial corridor manager. TIMESTAMPS BELOW
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments, and be sure to like, comment and subscribe!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
00:40 WHAT IS URBAN PLANNING?
2:34 WHY I CHOSE TO PURSUE URBAN PLANNING
5:06 TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR AN URBAN PLANNING CAREER
6:23 MY EXPERIENCE IN AN URBAN PLANNING MASTERS PROGRAM
7:51 ANY REGRETS FROM MY GRAD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE?
10:53 ADVICE FOR ASPIRING URBAN PLANNERS
11:48 WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY URBAN PLANNING DEGREE
14:23 MORE TIPS FOR ASPIRING URBAN PLANNING PROFESSIONALS 
Кино
I just graduate with my masters in urban planning! It’s so nice to see Black women getting into the field. Marginalized groups are often highly impacted by city plans but they often do not have the privilege to be active in the decision making process to begin with.
I just got admitted into uni to study urban design and planning. Can we be friends
Yesss! We need more people of color in these jobs ! You are the future!
In what way are you marginalized?
I’m a white male thinking about getting into urban planing to build city’s that work for the working class, this would greatly help poorer areas of the city which are indeed poor largely due to city design. But pointing out race all the time such as applauding someone for being in position and also being a certain race or gender does more harm than good, it creates more divide instead of healing it. It makes much more sense to use labels such as working class which includes all races and genders thus brining everyone under one flag against our rigged capitalist system.
@@logans3365shut up
I'm an inspiring urban planner and let me tell you how good I felt when I saw a black muslim woman being in this field ! I'm so happy to see ppl of my community engage in this field that makes me feel very good (sorry for my weak english...)
bi bi this comment made my day! Thank you for watching and I hope this video was helpful to you 💜💜
As a black girl planning on going into urban planning. I am so grateful for you, you have no idea. I'm so excited to pursue this career, but workforce discrimination makes me so nervous
Go for it sis! 💖
Stop this victimhood
@@Quesadiyah Can u be moi mentor sis?
I just started in this field
I withdrew from this major five years ago. However, after watching this video, I feel compelled to go back. I was the only Muslim woman in the cohort and I didn't give myself enough time to adjust…. I'm a teacher now, but I would love going back and finish that master's degree.Thanks, sister!
I’m a junior in high school and it’s very fun to hear that someone else did the same sort of nerdy city-studying that I like to do. I really appreciate the video and the advice.
if this is a year ago, then that means were both high school seniors! glad to see others like me interested in this field!!
About nerdy stuff, I love walking through Google maps and see different cities "from the inside"
And I am junior and applying this fall for major in Geography/environmental studies to provide a strong basement for my career. After that I'm going to apply for Master degree in Urban planning. My plans might change, of course.
P.s. I am on my gap year now, applying again.
I’m obsessed with google maps 🤣
Looooove doing that too. It’s so interesting to see the variety of cities and streets around the world!
same here. same degree, gis and env studies. im looking at grad school at the institutions accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board
I’m a town planner, based in South Africa. Would be nice to make town planning friends all over the world! 🥰
its really an issue when you go into a field and you see nobody like yourself doing it. I see you, and I am all of a sudden far more motivated to get into the field.
GO YOU!!!! THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THE FIELD! just changed my major to Geology and planning to go into Urban Planning for either environmental policy or transportation. Best of luck to you 🥰
OMFG YOU WENT TO COLUMBIA SHE SMART AS FUCK
Thank you! 😊
Haa yes, I am an undergrad in Geology. Was wondering whether it makes sense to do a masters in Urban Planning. But I was strongly interested in Planning. Now that I have seen this, Imma definitely go do that shittttt 🥺❤️
Literally me right now
I was interested in Urban Planning for these exact reasons, but Capital City by Sam Stein explains how planners maintain capitalism and the inequalities we go into the field trying to change. Very frustrating ethically.
Not necessarily. And even the planners who do "maintain capitalism" (mostly private sector consultants) don't do it to the extent that most engineers and business majors do.
Look into some of the Marxist urban studies literature!! You don’t even have to be “Marxist” to understand and appreciate its significance. It’s incredibly prevalent in the field/related fields. While the basis of much of it is that the city (according to Manuel Castells) is primarily a vehicle by which capitalism maximizes its own profits, the field itself is constantly trying to challenge our very definition of the city and the functions of the city. Without urban planners who are cognizant of the inequalities that they could be maintaining the inequalities will only grow! Be the ethical change you wish to see in the field I guess haha
@@mikaelsmith22 Right on! OP might also be interested in reading some urban theorists like David Harvey, Ed Soja, and Leonie Sandercock.
Look, if you go by what Stein says, this kind of moralizing just means a lot of times people who listen to him don't end up doing anything and are stuck in a morass where nothing is good enough and staying in poverty. This ideological approach paradoxically keeps the system from changing by keeping new ideas from building new infrastructure. Don't let this kind of cynicism because that's ultimately what it is, keep you from doing this. If we all twiddle our thumbs instead of embracing ambiguity and pluralism we end up with nothing.
Are you sure it 'maintains' those conditions or simply works within the current system? This sounds eerily similar to the "You criticize society yet you exist" critiques supporters of capitalism will use to deflect any new ideas. I'll take incremental change over nothing any day.
it is so inspiring and refreshing to see a black muslimah passionate about urban planning! i only recently found out about urban planning but i have also been someone who has been in interested in cities from a young age. for the past few weeks i have been considering changing my major to urban planning. i was wondering if a bachelors in urban planning or studies is really necessary to delve into the field? or should i focus on grad school? also parents are against it as it is not a lucrative career but that is not much a concern for me. did you have to convince your parents to understand the field? btw your current job sounds very interesting and rewarding! glad you found something that was the right fit.
Hey sis! Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful!
I don't think it's necessary to major in urban studies undergrad, but if you could take some classes in the field, or if you have a similar major like political science, sociology or engineering, that would be helpful. Grad school is more important than the undergrad major in my opinion.
My parents were kinda hesitant initially because you're right, planners don't get super huge salaries lol, but there's a lot you can do with a planning degree - you can also go into consulting, and there's more money there. I explained to my parents why I wanted to do planning and my passion for it and they were okay with it after awhile. If you genuinely enjoy what you're doing, it kinda makes up for the salary reduction. if you have any more questions, let me know! ☺️
@@Quesadiyah Wait, are you telling me if I majored and have a bachelors in political science I can just go for urban planning grad school and become a certified urban planner? I'm doing my bachelors in Public Adminstration/Political Science and Econ (due to my journalistic interests, idk) and i'm very much interested in urban planning as well but got scared of choosing something so specific. Would that be possible?
Eagerly waiting for your answer :)
@@Jordan-xg4pn I dit that ! I've got an undergrad in political sciences and communication, and I'm started my master's in January. It is a certified program in Canada, in my province, and the USA. A lot of MUP programs actually do not require a background in planning. As it has been said, taking a few classes in undergrad can be good, then you can do a MUP and become a certified planner. Your undergrad program seems like a good fit for planning, and you will have still the option to do something else with it, if you decide planning is not for you.
You should start playing cities skylines, maybe even stream it?
This was so helpful! I just graduated from undergrad with a degree in psychology and I originally wanted to pursue a PhD in community psychology with hopes of understanding community dynamics and how I can be of service to them and learned that the field is far more theoretical than applicable. I’ve been reading a lot more about urban planning and I have this interest in place making and public land use and am looking into masters programs for urban planning. I definitely want to engage with communities in a genuine way and I’m curious about how cities will change as a response to COVID. Thanks for this balanced review of the field, I don’t see a lot of black women in urban planning and if I do seriously pursue planning I hope to help change that narrative. You have a great, honest spirit, seriously so glad I found this video!
Thank you! 💜 I’m glad you found it helpful. And yes, we definitely need more black women in the planning field to provide our unique perspectives. Best of luck to you!
My name is Sadiyyah too! And I give ppl the "quesadilla" reference as well (since they act like they can't pronounce it otherwise lol). I majored in architecture and looking to get into city planning. What a blessing it is that I found you!
Oh wow, what are the odds! Lol thanks for watching 💓
Thank you so much, I’m in my 2nd year in town planning and I can relate to you in so many ways
That's the information I needed.... thank you
This is a great video. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this video!!!
Heading into college and city planning is what iv got my eyes set on
Wow this is the exact video and information/perspective I was needing in my life !
Thank you for making this video, very informative!!
Thanks, Quesadiyah! The info is really helpful.
Love the flow of your video, you know how to share your experience while keeping it relevant to the topic. Thank you 🙌🏼
This was super helpful - I appreciate you sharing each side of your journey into this career - the good and the bad.
Currently looking at urban planning grad school! This video was super insightful, thank you 🙌
Great video! Very thorough. Definitely provided thoughts that I will consider when looking for a masters in urban planning. Thank you!
JAK! Really appreciate this video. I've considered urban planning for sometime and I think this video has guided my decision better.
Finally someone who goes straight to the point and who gives complete information !! thank you ! Great video :) !
This is so so helpful! Feeling way more informed and affirmed abt my decision to pursue planning 🙌
Everything you described yourself as doing when you were young is what I’ve done. Only just started looking into urban planning, so you’re channel has been so helpful. Thankyou.
Really inspiring to see your journey and how you harness your intentions, dreams, aspirations, and obvious intelligence to drive towards the future! Thank you for this video, and may peace be upon you.
Love this video!! I currently studying Urban Planninng.
Thank. You. So. Much. Your insight into your career journey gave me hope! I too want to be a planner and am coming from a good place. Thank you for sharing your truth!
I love watching your videos! So informing! I'm looking to pursue a career in environmental urban planning.
Hello... I love what you said and you made some really great points. I'm 17 and trying to find potential majors that involve developing communities. I appreciate the advice you gave it was really interesting and it pointed out that in some cases urban planning doesn't always help the members of the communities. Very Insightful!!! Thanks so much! Congrats on finding a career that makes you happy.
Thank you so much for this! Currently in the process of transferring to a 4-year and am looking to buckle down on a major. Also feel like I am coming from a similar place as far as interests in social ecology and urban planning as well as focusing my career towards hearing and working for the people. I’m from LA and gentrification, lack of quality public transport, and pollution are just a few big concerns of mine and is something I’d like to do something about. This has inspired me, thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your story and all of these tips. I gained so much from this video! You've really articulated so many of the questions and concerns I have about moving into the field from gentrification to using it as a force for good to the day to day of a typical vs atypical urban planner. Its so amazing to see other Muslim women who are not only in the field but are putting up content to help others figure out whether or not the degree/career is a good fit for them. Thank you a million times! Going to watch part 2 right now!
thank you! such a helpful video, i am glad i watched it
Thank you so much for this informative video!!
Thank you for these tips! Im still considering if a master's in urban planning is something I want to pursue
Great video! My current career does not fulfill me anymore and urban planning is something I have always had an interest. Best of luck to you on your professional journey!
Thank you girl! Super informative
your regrets are exactly my fears about going into the field, thank you so much for sharing your experience! it’s helped me a lot ❤️
Thank you for this advice! I am a recent graduate applying for urban and regional planning at master's level. I will bear this information in mind going forward into my career!
This was so helpful. Thank you so much!
My advisor told me to look into urban planning for grad school today! Thank you for making this video :) I can’t believe I never knew it existed until today!! Thank you for sharing
thanks for this video! It’s rare to find urban planners on RUclips that share insights. As a 3rd year undergrad student, I need to start thinking about internships and easing myself into the industry and I was feelin real lost. This video has given a lotta insight! thanks!
I appreciated this so much! I’m a 3rd year undergraduate student and I wanted to find more information about masters in urban planning so thanks so much🤗
Planning and Development professional in London here! Good to see you in the sector!
Great insight.
Thank you so much.
13:00 i share a lot fo your concerns! where do you draw the line between enough development and not too much gentrification and is that even possible?? good questions to bring up
this is incredible! Currently studying Urban Planning at ASU. I felt the part when you said you played Sim City. I love cities. Glad to see this!
Thanks for the info and tips! It’s so helpful! I was thinking about getting my masters in planning and I’m currently a civil engineer I do roadway work that I don’t necessarily believe in I want my career to reflect what you were talking about more! I was interested in getting my masters in London now that I found out my company isn’t reimbursing school anymore but I think you’re experience has made me have a little bit more to think about
ahhh as someone who is contemplating a graduate degree in planning / public policy i can relate sooo much to your concerns about the field. really great and informative video
Working on applying to Grad schools for UP! Your video was great! Thanks for this!
Thanks for this superb video, with no 'derailing' from the topic.
As a recent graduate from an urban studies program, your channel is everything! I had a pretty unorthodox experience in undergrad and am looking at urban planning/law programs to further my education. This advice is golden!
I appreciate this video! I graduated with my masters in urban planning this past July. My concentration is in community development and housing. Now, I am continuing my studies and pursuing my doctorate in the field. I’m excited to see you in the field. Also, thank you for emphasizing GIS, I’m trying to learn in now.
Sadiyah, thank you for sharing your story and comments on the experience your career, and tips for aspiring professionals. I feel like I learned something important about a career urban planning. I can relate about the struggle to find a place in career and finding opportunities blocked because of not having enough technical skills. That's how I went back to school for GIS, in fact. Now I'm working as a GIS Technician and finding that it's not enough to fulfill my interests with helping people.
Wishing you best of luck on your career in Philly :)
Thanks for making this video! I am a sociology major and want to steer towards urban planning. This was super helpful and have a lot of insight into urban planning 😊
Thanks for sharing this information, so valuable :)
Wow so glad to see a sister in the field. I am going to study the same field, but I was thinking about doing the dual MSRED and MS in Urban Planning at Columbia University. I hope I see you in the field, I'm interested in developing Sierra Leone I can't wait.
You urban planners have such a responsible job, be proud of yourselves ☺️ I didn’t study urban planning but I sincerely am so interesting in cities & creating environments
Found you randomly searching for urban planning stuff. I'm from Brazil, I also study urban planning and it's so crazy how similar your perspectives about the subject is to mine.
You’re so amazing, thank you for the information!! really helped me out. I remember looking up random cities on wikipedia and being fascinated by its history and socioeconomic and political issues and solutions. Crazy how someone can grow up at the complete opposite end of the country and have such a similar experience! Thanks again 💜💜💜💙💙💙
The Last Word thanks for watching! 🥰💜
Thank you for this video. It was insightful! :)
Sebastian Alvarez thanks for watching! 😊
Im only 13 but this seems so cool and I really wanna pursue this in the future. I aslo get so immersed in cities just like you said, I cant stop reading abt them and being so interested, and this seems perfect for people like that.thanks for posting the video, it was very helpful.
Hey. This vid is helpful. Thanks.
Thank you so much for sharing!! You are wonderful
Thank you for watching! 💚
This video was so informational, I am about to graduate with my BS in Public Health and am looking to apply to grad school for urban planning. I think that your passions about community advocacy and equity, is a major topic that is involved in public health. Thank you for your tips and insight!
This was very useful, thanks!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO. I'm in high school right now and I've been so interested in the field of urban planning for about a year now and I am seriously considering it. GO women in urban planning!
Thank you for making this video! I'm a high school student interested in urban planning, and this video was a great way to get a sense of what the field is like.
Thanks for watching! 😊
Thank you for sharing your honest experience!
Thanks for watching!
absolutely love this video! i just switched my major to urban planning as a second semester sophomore so i’m definitely still trying to get a feel for what it all entails. your editing style is A1 too lol new sub!
Thank you for watching! Glad you found it helpful 🙌🏾
I got my undergrad degree in social work and am applying for urban studies masters programs. I'm born and raised NYC and had the same kinda nerdy interest in the city growing up and have the same passion for improving our communities. I appreciate the honesty for checking into the program and I didn't even consider the concerns around gentrification and am embarrassed with myself 😅 I love the idea of connecting with communities and advocating/developing public spaces but I know I need to keep check on my ambitions
That's a good presentation there, presentation is one of the skills we learn at the planning school. I studied BSc Human Settlement Planning in Ghana but would love to study project management for my masters. Just want to blend the 2.
SUPER helpful video!!
Finally finding someone i can relate to! Thanks for the tips and the video. Would love to connect 😊
thank you for making this video, I am going to do my first year of urban planning, design and management at UCL this September! So helpful!
夏瑞慈 Good luck!
Great Video! Thank you!
I am literally you LOL
Im a junior in high school, and for as long as I can remember I’ve been looking up demographics of US cities, airports, and I’ve been learning all about Boston (my city). Im starting to look into the field, and this was a fantastic video to help me out. Thank you!
Hello! Thank you! Very helpful. Greetings from Nicaragua in Central America. :)
Jezabel Aponte thanks for watching! Wow Nicaragua, so cool! ☺️ I’ve only been to Costa Rica in central america
thank you for this video, im a senior applying for college and wanted to kind of go down this route (with some other intersecting things) and this gave me a lot of clarification i needed (:
What a very inspiring video! I’m currently obtaining my undergraduate in urban and regional planning with a minor in sustainable urban development. I’m half through college already and this information was very helpful. And I do I have to agree with you about the internships! I am a junior, and I am currently trying to apply to various planning internships and they require lots of skills that I haven’t experienced yet. It’s been very frustrating but it’ll payoff eventually.
Thank you for the insights!! Also your voice is super soothing :)
Maya KW thank you! ☺️
Wow your so smart. I wanted a career change and was looking into urban planning. Your video really helped me to make a decision! Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Yo this video was incredibly helpful! I’m in high school in LA and I have similar interests. Although I love urban planning and things like that, I think imma go more towards the polisci/law route. This helped me understand the really niche world of urban planning, thank you so so much!!!
Thanks for watching! 🙂
This is so inspiring! I'll be finished with my Master's degree in Planning in May. So excited!
thanks for watching! Congrats in advance ☺️
Thank you so much for this!
Amber J thanks for watching! ☺️
Thank you for this!! I’d love to see a video about your dissertation
Ami Savage sure! I can film something about my dissertation. Thanks for watching!
this is very helpful thank you !
Thanks =) You r really talented in communication!👍
I needed this! I’m interested in urban planning law and this is so truthful and honest!
me too!
Thanks for the introduction to urban planning. Great information. Impressive background Columbia and London School of Economics.
this is amazing guys!!
btw, i just remembered my school taught about this in 6th Grade
yup, 6th grade and that was our end-of-term
Thanks for this. I graduated from undergrad 2 years ago and majored in Urban Studies as well. I had an internship in transportation planning during college but have kind of been a bit all over the place the past two years (tech, then gap year working with youth and now research in public health). Trying to figure out what I want to do next and being drawn back into planning again.
Hi Lydia, hope you are doing well... I wish to connect to acquire some insights of the planning field in the US.
Very well explained.
I feel so seen! I came into urban planning with a city who is considered ghetto, and I entered this physical environment with different angles. From a profit driven angle but a lesser evil than agriculture, (I am Mexican and so this adds to my perspective on how cities depend on immigrant workers to be payed in terrible conditions and mistreated and exploited and it hits home as some family members and people I knew worked in fields.) And as a person trying to live freely in capitalism, I got an internship with a transportation agency which really helped give me huge insight in career fields and general knowledge of urban planning with an intersection of transportation. I thought a field working in transportation services which a lack thereof can cause a disconnect towards resources and you have to pay (as in a car) to reach those resources. So with all that in mind, I dream of almost fairytale-like cities, where population and resources can coexist without a hand in tipping scales as in gentrification and gerrymandering. Working with social jsutice groups on anti policing and student rights and the like, I learned to keep my expectations low when working with a city entitiy and this was proven with the bullet train being built in California (where Im from), is only being stopped because of change in political parties, individual agendas of said politicians, strain in funding, and not bringing the importance of transportation into the conversation.
You are so inspiring and doing my dream job and hope to follow in your footsteps. One thing I am scared of is reality scaring me away from this field. I heard once from a mentor, that it is really good that Im interested in this field because of who the field consists of and I was left confused on what they meant. But I think I know what they meant now. I also have social anxiety so speaking with others is going to take alot of work! Thank you for this video!
Thank you for this video! I just completed my undergrad degree in Urban Studies and I am considering the Urban Planning masters program at Morgan State. This was very enlightening!
thanks for watching! :)
Good video. You sound highly competent in your field and an intelligent professional.
Great video!