Mistes

This is going to weigh on me - I think because I pushed myself towards planning and kind of peripherally viewed LA but never considered it much because most programs are longer than 2 years. I'm pretty sure I won't be doing another application cycle but that being said, is there any way I can set myself up by going the urban planning route? I was viewing the urban design concentration as a middleground that would help cross that divide but perhaps there is a more strategic move I can take. I may have enjoyed the solar company I was in as they trusted me with creating solar engineering designs after training me and reviewing my work...something a larger company is unlikely to trust someone not offically trained with. It may have driven me to set unrealistic expectations on the sheer amount of flexibility I like to have in my work. I do really appreciate the feedback - it's a perspective I found myself pushing aside to hone in on urban planning.

Age/Gender/Citizenship 27/F/US Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated B.B.A. International Business (Marketing/Green Business), Minor: Sustainability GPA - GRE - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 3.51 - no GRE [I took it but it was abysmal so I didn't submit it] Work Experience: 5 years Skanska (Civil Construction) - Infrastructure Proposals/Envision Certification Solar Company - A lot of positions from Marketing/Graphic Design through Business Development and Sustainability Management Urban Land Institute - Intern Side Note: I entered into various design competitions to bolster my portfolio Letter of recommendations: (from whom) Undergrad professor x2 (Green Business and Energy Resources teachers) Professional Managers x2 (Solar Company and Urban Land Institute) Schools applied to: UPenn, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard (2 programs, MUP and MDes) In: UPenn [Urban Design], Harvard MDes (This is the other program I applied to - I had the intention of doing a dual program with the Harvard MUP), Out: Harvard MUP Wait-list: UC Berkeley, #2 on waitlist for Urban Design Awaiting: Columbia Results: Legitimate question: I'm wondering whether I could do an MDes as a creative design-centric MUP alternative. It's not accredited but I will have an Urban Planning/Ecologies focus. Thoughts? Is an MDes considered useful when applying to planning or architecture firms or just says "I didn't spend 5 years in Arch school"? It might seem strange given my business/marketing background.