prokem

Adding to what @Boolakanakasaid, which I agree with - at YSE there are a couple of urban planning classes and a very strong urban learning community. Can’t speak for the other MEM schools but I imagine they might have some too, to scratch your urban planning itch

For class of 2022, a ton of people were admitted off the waitlist, I think because the school was really worried about covid related uncertainty. For class of 2023, I heard that all admitted students accepted, so no one was admitted off the waitlist. I don't have any firsthand knowledge of that year's waitlist stats though

Not to invalidate this person's bad experience at SEAS, but from the first half of their post it sounds like they didn't do their homework on the school before matriculating. It is very true that SEAS is in a period of growth (and is very open about it), which has pros and cons and is something each of you should take into consideration when weighing your options. Being upset at a lack of classes in a specific field is also something that you can anticipate, because course offerings are posted online. Personally, I found my SEAS advisor and professors there in general to be incredibly accessible. And from speaking with them and current students, I would definitely say I was encouraged to work (like a TA position) and that many students do that. They are apparently very competitive positions though. Just wanted to offer my 2 cents to contrast with that reddit thread. I think all of the people in this forum probably have a better idea of the schools they've applied to than the poster there. I personally decided against SEAS for a number of reasons, but those discussed in the first half of that post were not at all what I experienced as a prospective/admitted student. I'm sure many of you are doing this, but it is really valuable to speak with multiple current students, not just those that the admissions offices make available, but ones who you find on LinkedIn/through your network etc who have similar interests to you, in order to get a more holistic and unfiltered view of these schools.

YSE MEMs will be out fairly soon. For PhDs looking for more info, I recommend looking at a different thread or forum, as this one is primarily for professional programs

To fill in a gap from GSG's response: I would say YSE might be tough for two reasons. For one, their admits skew older/more experienced than other environmental programs. Second, and relatedly, those who go in with 1 or less year of work exp are almost universally extremely linear candidates who have had lots of internships/other experience in the field they're interested in. Your work experience doesn't seem to be related to energy/sustainability, so you would probably be at a disadvantage. But there's not much harm in applying if you have your heart set on YSE. from your list, I think SIPA and Tufts sound like great fits for your interest, and you probably have a decent shot at getting in, though like @GradSchoolGradsaid you may be at a disadvantage when it comes to getting scholarships.

When you're choosing between some of the top env programs, I would focus less on their rankings and more on how each program and their alumni outcomes aligns with your career goals. Bren sends people to very different places than Columbia for example, as far as I know.

YSE poached Dorceta this year

And Gerald Torres! YSE is slowly overtaking/equaling SEAS in terms of EJ curriculum and opportunities.

They may not admit the people who stormed the capitol on the ground, but they and other elite institutions have certainly fomented those who have laid the groundwork for and created the ideology behind the insurrection (steve bannon - HBS, ted cruz - HLS, mike pompeo - HLS, dan crenshaw - HKS etc...)

Nic and YSE are both great for policy!

No idea. Heard a rumor that they freaked bc of covid and accepted everyone off the waitlist last year, but have no idea if that's actually true

I did! Got off in mid/late March. There are roughly 120 or so MEMs per cohort.

I went through the process last year and would not say SEAS is a research oriented program. I think it differed within the program based on the tracks (policy, ej, etc) to an extent, but I think they are moving more towards a practical model which characterizes the other big professional environmental programs. Your "thesis" can be research or the more client-based approach that other big programs (YSE, Nic, etc) use. In terms of funding, first years with a strong work or educational background can get GSI positions, though like you said there is stiff competition and limited spots. Their GSI $+benefits are way more generous than any other school I know of. At YSE TAs get a couple thousand per semester (thank you UMich unions!). I also got the impression that funding opportunities are limited outside of the need/merit based $ announced with admissions. There are fellowships like Ford but they're hard to get afaik.

They definitely do value work experience heavily, more so than the other big 4 environmental programs in my perspective, but every year there are a handful of people with 0-1 years of exp, so don't count yourself out!

Last year they released funding info in the acceptance email (for some people at least). Could very well be different this year though