prospectiveplanner

Sorry for spamming the forum today but I'm waiting for news so I'm going a bit nuts and stalking it a lot haha! I had another question for you fine people. Is anyone wanting to focus on accessibility in particular and know of a program that has a stream that focuses entirely on accessibility? I am yet to see the word "accessibility" actually listed under any concentration/stream at any program I looked at and it has slowly become my main interest in planning and design. When I do see something about accessibility, it's usually in the context of social/economic access to services/housing for marginalized/racialized groups, not actually physical access to tangible places. Think accessible children's playgrounds and parks, Changing Places washrooms.... buildings, campuses and transit using basic ADA regulations as the bare minimum, etc. Lots and lots of grassroots activism is being done in buildings/park accessibility by disabled individuals but I don't see much collaboration with planners going on, and it seems to be a problem that needs more attention and I would love to get into this. It's a fairly recent interest of mine and unfortunately I didn't stress any of this in my statement of intent. That's the one good thing about potentially not making it in this year - whole new statement of intent for a new focus! Thinking of where I could apply to that focuses a lot on accessibility planning and collaboration with disabled people.

EXACTLY! I didn't even get asked about planning, SCARP, or my experience necessarily. I was asked "what does professionalism mean to you"! I was surprised they would ask such vague, work-interview type questions instead of anything relevant to the program. I researched and practiced a lot but it didn't even help me. I really would've preferred it with an actual human being too! It felt so stiff and fake:( I didn't do well at all. I'm quite crushed because SCARP is my first choice and it's the only accredited program I applied to. Yikes @ my life.

Anyone hear from SFU Urban Studies yet? It's their first week of admits and I've heard nothing. Not sure how their waitlist works. With UBC, do they send out rejections first at the same time as first-round admits, or do they wait until the very end of the waitlist to reject the people who didn't even make it onto the waitlist?

Wow, nice! How did your interview go?

haven't heard from UBC yet either, i'm so on edge as they're my first choice too!

I only applied to two programs. I don't have the funds to go out of province or even out of city (I have to live with my family, can't afford rent) so my options were limited to an accredited program and a non-accredited program. If I get into both, it'll hands down be the accredited one to fast-track my career in planning, but my chances are very slim so it looks like it will be the non-accredited one or none at all. I asked about the value of an accredited program in Canada vs a non-accredited program on reddit in the urban planning sub and the responses were overwhelmingly in favor of accredited. That's my main need. I'm trying to feel less garbage about possible rejection because I really could use a year of full time work and saving some $$ to apply to out-of-province accredited programs for 2022. If I take urban studies, I might struggle for a long time in finding relevant work and becoming certified - could take years.

Oooh, much to think about, lol. How exciting though, even getting into an Ivy would make my entire life if I ended up going or not ? That must be so, so expensive without aid, I can't even imagine!

Good god, Columbia. What a dream!!! Congrats!!!! How hard was the application process with them? Did you have interviews?

Not sure if you're Canadian or American but UBC in Vancouver offers a research degree and a practical degree. The practical one (the MCRP) is accredited with the planning institute and has a capstone project and internship and no thesis, but the MA Planning is designed for students pursuing research-focused careers and PHDs, and has a thesis, and is not accredited. SFU out here has an Urban Studies program which is not accredited, thesis-based, and more theoretical. I went to SFU for my undergrad (in archaeology) and it was all very theoretical, and less hands on than I would've imaged an archaeology degree to be. SFU tends to lean that way. That's what I know about Canadian programs at least! EDIT: Seems that in Canada, the degrees that are accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners (which are designed to get you registered and become a working planner sooner) are project/hands on based, and the non accredited ones tend to lean towards research and are a strong route to a PHD.

Anyone know how many interview invites SCARP sends out? I found out on UBC's website that they get about 200 applicants and have spots for 40. Trying to gauge my chances here.... and chances of getting off the waitlist if I end up on it.

Agreed. I have SCARP as my top choice because of the capstone and opportunity to build a portfolio as I'm not coming into this from planning. Super valuable to be able to make one during school!

I thought the same! Like, why does nobody know about this program!? It seems awesome. I wanted an accredited one as well, but environmental planning isn't the field I'm planning (no pun intended) on going into, so I ended up just doing Urban Studies and SCARP. I'm leaning heavily towards SCARP because of its accredation but the MURB has its benefits too, like it being run in the evenings and more accessible for working students. Good luck, maybe see you at SFU lol

Oh nice! Congrats! I applied to SFU's Urban Studies one, haven't heard anything yet. I think they send out their official notifications next week. I didn't have to choose any potential supervisors when I applied for Urban Studies, did you have to when you applied to yours or is the supervisor a prof that you knew already or...? I had to choose potential supervisors for UBC, though.

Thanks so much guys. I appreciate the kind words and understanding! It helps to know I'm not the only one freaking out. I worry sometimes that students coming from business or more businessy backgrounds will knock their interviews out of the park (no hate if someone does well! I'm happy for people who have good speaking skills and wish everyone the best - can't help but feel intimidated though!). It's so frustrating to have intelligent internal dialogue and then going to speak and absolute drivel comes out, lol. I sound straight up ridiculous on video! Well, like you said @heyhey101 it's up to the universe now lol. On a side note, anyone know how many students SCARP accepts per year and how many applicants they typically get?

Hi everyone, just made an account and I'm on mobile so I'll do that background/personal stats thing later on desktop! Anyways, I received a video interview invite to SCARP at UBC last Thursday and it's due this Thursday. I was meant to do it yesterday, had the whole day off, spent 8 hours procrastinating and having panic attacks over it. Didn't end up doing it. I know I'm not supposed to overthink it, but my brain is screaming "it's my whole future on the line!" so I can't help but overthink it, lol. I have really nasty video/virtual stuff anxiety and the whole thing is stressing me out. It's my dream school and dream program. It's not the questions I'm worried about, because as far as I can tell they're pretty reasonable and not technical and suitable for students coming into this without a planning background. It's my answering ability. I can have the most articulated thoughts in my head but when I open my mouth to get them out on the spot I either sit there with a blank look on my face like an Oblivion NPC or just ummmm and uhhhhh my whole way through. I'm so nervous for something simple that I really shouldn't be nervous about, it's this bloody anxiety! Anyone else experience panic attacks and performance anxiety over these interviews? I find that having a script or notes is even worse because I'll end up relying on them completely, but if I don't have any, I won't think of a word to say! I also applied to SFU Urban Studies - no interview required, and I'll hear from them this week or the next. Kind of regretting not applying to more schools because SCARP seems out of the question with this interview catastrophe hahaha.