Planning Admission 2021

[yellowsurf]

Age/Gender/Citizenship:

21, M, US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Urban Studies, UC, 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.9 GPA, 152Q 168V 6.0AWA GRE

Work Experience:

Not much actual work experience besides a general sustainability-related internship. But tried to be really involved in school. Founded a planning club and did a fair amount of projects, research, TAships, and competitions.

Letter of recommendations:

Two planning professors and one internship supervisor. Known them for a few years each, should be all very strong.

SOP:

Pretty good, I think. Talked about my internship, club, and a research project. I had a few current graduate students from the programs I'm interested in look at them.

Schools applied to: UCLA, UC Irvine, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, Cal Poly SLO, San Jose State University, Berkeley

In: 

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: UCLA, UC Irvine, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, Cal Poly SLO, San Jose State University, Berkeley

Results:

Edited January 29, 2021 by yellowsurf

[yellowsurf]

On 1/29/2021 at 3:49 PM, yellowsurf said:

In: SJSU

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: UCLA, UC Irvine, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, Cal Poly SLO, Berkeley

Results:

First acceptance!

Edited February 1, 2021 by yellowsurf

[austinplanning256]

How is everyone handling this wait lol? Seems like we should start to hear back from a few programs in mid to late February.

[jbourne1]

11 hours ago, austinplanning256 said:

How is everyone handling this wait lol? Seems like we should start to hear back from a few programs in mid to late February.

I went from checking every hour of every day in November (why did I do that? I dont know lol), to not caring too much when worked picked up in Dec/Jan to now being irrationally angry (how long does it take???) so I think you could say I've hit each stage of application grief.

Anyone know when UCLA's supposed to get back? Berkeley sent an email saying if you don't hear from us by 03/05 reach out (so we can deny you to your face haha). But UCLA's been pretty silent.

Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

Edited February 4, 2021 by jbourne1

[ameger]

2 hours ago, jbourne1 said:

I went from checking every hour of every day in November (why did I do that? I dont know lol), to not caring too much when worked picked up in Dec/Jan to now being irrationally angry (how long does it take???) so I think you could say I've hit each stage of application grief.

Anyone know when UCLA's supposed to get back? Berkeley sent an email saying if you don't hear from us by 03/05 reach out (so we can deny you to your face haha). But UCLA's been pretty silent.

Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

I haven't heard anything official from them regarding a timeline, but I talked to someone who went through the UCLA application process last year and I'm pretty sure she said that they notify relatively late. Unfortunately, I think we'll be waiting until mid March to hear back from them. 

I really hope I'm wrong but I'm afraid that the next 3-6 weeks are going to crawl along very very slowly haha.

Edited February 4, 2021 by ameger

[Planner101]

Age/Gender/Citizenship

31/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Public Affairs  / State School  - TX 

MRP / Top Ten Planning Program 

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.4 BS / 3.8 MRP - No GRE 

Work Experience:

5 years in planning; 2 years of research experience 

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

Former Grad Adviser, Thesis Advisor, UG Dean 

Schools applied to: MIT, HGSD, UMICH, USC, UPENN

In:

Out: USC

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: MIT, HGSD, UMICH, UPENN

Results: USC 

[nc2nyc]

On 11/19/2020 at 6:22 PM, nc2nyc said:

Hi everyone. Glad to have some support through this journey. I'm actually a current MRP applying to PhD programs in planning. I'm happy to talk about both journeys. 

Age/Gender/Citizenship

24/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Public Administration / large southern flagship university / 2019
BS in Environmental Design / same large southern flagship university / 2019
MRP / ivy league / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.8 BA/3.6 BS/3.5 MRP - Less-than-satisfactory GRE scores in 2019, but good enough for most masters programs I applied to; not submitting this time around

Work Experience:

Internships in urban planning, non-profit, urban design, economic development, and public education

Research Experience:

Transportation planning, community development, education policy

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

Program chair from undergrad, Program chair from masters, current internship supervisor, former internship supervisor

Schools applied to: Stanford (education policy), USC, UNC, University of Michigan, Texas A&M

In: UNC

Out: USC, Stanford

Wait-list:

Awaiting: University of Michigan, Texas A&M

Results:

While I'm over the moon to have gotten into my top choice UNC, and I knew Stanford was a reach, I'm taking the USC rejection pretty hard. I thought I was a great fit, I had a great conversation with some professors there. And looking at the forum results, it looks like they rejected a lot of highly qualified people, which should make me feel better, but doesn't. 3 down, 2 to go.

[alliecask]

Hi everyone! I can't believe we're a few weeks out for decisions...... I can't bear to refresh my email much longer. Good luck to all!

 

Age/Gender/Citizenship

21/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Economics, Sustainable Urban Development / private, Midwest Liberal Arts school / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.92 BA - No GRE, part of the reason I applied this year

Work Experience:

1 year community development internship at a local government, senior thesis to be published in May, super involved in APA-IL, extracurriculars, etc. (like other posters, I am depending on my SOP and LOR; graduating college a year early and had a prestigious internship opportunity ruined because of COVID)

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

BA thesis advisor, PhD; Head of Economics Dept., PhD; Former Economics Advisor, PhD

Schools applied to: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Portland State, UIC, New Mexico

In:

Out:

Wait-list:

Awaiting: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Portland State, UIC, Uni of New Mexico

Results:

Edited February 5, 2021 by alliecask

[yungzuko]

On 12/6/2020 at 10:49 PM, yungzuko said:

Age/Gender/Citizenship

20/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Public Affairs (Urban Planning concentration) and Economics / Jesuit University / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

GPA: 3.44 / GRE: None

Work Experience:

- Research associate with a community organization doing work on placemaking and cultural asset mapping
- Senior thesis on ethnic enclaves
- Housing development internship with affordable housing nonprofit
- Advisory board member with an ethnic enclave organization doing preservation through community engagement and advocacy
- Started and manage an instagram account about ethnic communities and urban planning
- City planning intern with the city planning department
- Volunteer GIS tutor

Letter of recommendations: 

Public policy professor/thesis advisor, GIS professor, work supervisor/mentor

Schools applied to: UCLA, USC, UW, UPenn, PSU, Harvard

In: UPenn

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: UCLA, USC, UW, PSU, Harvard

Results:

In at UPenn!! Got an e-mail from the department chair of early admission!

[jbourne1]

On 2/5/2021 at 8:14 AM, nc2nyc said:

While I'm over the moon to have gotten into my top choice UNC, and I knew Stanford was a reach, I'm taking the USC rejection pretty hard. I thought I was a great fit, I had a great conversation with some professors there. And looking at the forum results, it looks like they rejected a lot of highly qualified people, which should make me feel better, but doesn't. 3 down, 2 to go.

Hey, no harm no foul so long as you got into your top choice. I'm sure it sucks but what made you a great fit at UNC might not have at USC. And perhaps they saw your background and interests as going in a different direction away from what they offered or what they want. It's not always just ability/aptitude. 

I look at it like NFL draft sometimes. Sometimes sure fire players get passed up on because they don't fit with what the team needs. It's not that the team thinks they're bad, they just are looking for something else. Luckily, you found your #1 team!

Edited February 6, 2021 by jbourne1

[nola360]

On 1/28/2021 at 12:21 PM, nola360 said:

 

Hi! Best of luck everyone!

 

Age/Gender/Citizenship

21/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Economics and Environmental Studies / top private school in the south / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.6 - 163/157/4

Work Experience:

Internship at renewable energy nonprofit, community gardens internship, tutor/TA

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

intern supervisor/band director/professor

Schools applied to: Yale, UCLA, USC, UCI, Berkeley, UIC, UNC, Duke, UPenn, Michigan

In: UPenn

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting:  Yale, UCLA, USC, UCI, Berkeley, UIC, UNC, Duke, Michigan

Results:

 

[rogueginger]

Age/Gender/Citizenship

22/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Architecture/Washington University in St. Louis/2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.4

Work Experience:

research at environmental field station, vacant land reutilization intern for city organization, 

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

director of scholars program/ landscape arch prof (that I did research with)/ landscape arch prof/ writing prof I TA for

Schools applied to:  USC, Berkeley, UPenn, Michigan (all to the dual degree with Landscape Architecture), Texas and WashU for Landscape Architecture

In: UPenn

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting:  USC, Berkeley, Michigan

Results:

[alliecask]

I saw three posters receive decisions from Berkeley yesterday, 2/10. If anyone else got a decision, what time were you notified? I know a lot of posters applied to Berkeley and I can barely stand to wait another minute. 

[Guest]

Age/Gender/Citizenship

24/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2018, public school in the South

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.57

Work Experience:

2 years in sales, various internships/volunteer work with community organizations (housing, food)

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

2 professors, 1 supervisor

Schools applied to:  Berkeley, Michigan, UNC, Sciences Po

In: Sciences Po (Governing the Large Metropolis)

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting:  Berkeley, Michigan, UNC

Results:

Edited February 11, 2021 by Guest

[acardigan]

Hey everyone,

After battling imposter syndrome for 5+ years, the pandemic finally pushed me to get this done. Here we go!

Age/Gender/Citizenship

31/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

Dual Degree: BA in Political Science, BA Economics. Flagship State University, magna cum laude

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.92 official (3.77 if you calculate my one non-major failed course). No GRE

Work Experience:

- 7 years professionally working for a city government, not directly planning related, but served on Architecture selection committee and assisted with development agreement for major shopping center.

- Two planning internships: one dealing with zoning matters, the other with small businesses and contracting.
- Created marketed program that allowed for bus transit expansion at my community college during undergrad. 

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

2 professors, including mentor and thesis advisor. 2 supervisors, including current city manager

Schools applied to:  Berkeley, Harvard, UNC, UPenn, Cornell, Columbia

In: Berkeley

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: Harvard, UNC, UPenn, Cornell, Columbia

Results:

Stoked about Berkeley! To the earlier poster who asked about time, I was notified yesterday (2/10) via email at around 7p Eastern

[takeitorleaveit97]

Age/Gender/Citizenship

24/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in an Interdisciplinary Degree + minor in French/ private university in NYC / 2019
MSc in Environment and Development / UK top school / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.68 BA/ still in MSc program - No GRE

Work Experience:

Lots of random research experience + year working abroad  

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

All from undergrad professors (I was close to all of them and so I know they have a lot to say)

Schools applied to: Berkeley, Harvard, UPenn, Cornell, UMich, Columbia 

In: Berkeley 

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: Harvard, UPenn, Cornell, UMich, Columbia

Results:

 

 

[takeitorleaveit97]

Does anyone know if covid will be a valid reason to defer acceptance this cycle? I have a feeling that the fall might be blended and I am not interested in doing online grad school again. I’ve had my fill ?

[nola360]

45 minutes ago, takeitorleaveit97 said:

Does anyone know if covid will be a valid reason to defer acceptance this cycle? I have a feeling that the fall might be blended and I am not interested in doing online grad school again. I’ve had my fill ?

I don't have any official informational, but most schools have said that you can only defer due to unexpected circumstances, so I don't think they would accept covid deferrals.

[jd212]

For anyone who has applied to the University of British Columbia's SCARP MCRP, is there an interview? I've seen oblique references to it on their website, but it's unclear if it's mostly intended for PHD candidates. I haven't heard anything from them personally regarding an interview, so I'm trying to determine if I should be reading into that or not. 

[numenor]

1 hour ago, jsm94 said:

For anyone who has applied to the University of British Columbia's SCARP MCRP, is there an interview? I've seen oblique references to it on their website, but it's unclear if it's mostly intended for PHD candidates. I haven't heard anything from them personally regarding an interview, so I'm trying to determine if I should be reading into that or not. 

Wondering this as well. My application status still reads "In Progress" so I'm not sure if the committee has even started reviewing yet. Sigh. Good luck to you!

[bananaghost]

Well, I can't stomach this wait any longer, so I guess I'll throw down my stats for future applicants.

Age/Gender/Citizenship

28/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in International Studies: Int. Politics and Relations and Latin American Studies / mid-tier public university / 2015

Minors in German and Spanish

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.46 - 166V 156Q AW 4.0

Work Experience:

Summer internship in public health, 1 year data entry, 3 years teaching English abroad, 1 year Sales 

Research Experience:

Honors thesis on water use and agriculture

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

Thesis mentor and department head, academic advisor (PhD) and former boss from teaching job - I believe they were relatively strong 

Schools applied to:  UIC, Arizona State, UNC, Georgia Tech, PSU

In: ASU 

Out:

Wait-list:

Awaiting:   UIC, UNC, Georgia Tech, PSU

Results:

Edited February 12, 2021 by bananaghost

[jphd95]

On 1/29/2021 at 9:54 AM, jphd95 said:

 

Age/Gender/Citizenship

25/M/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Political Science, Urban Studies, 2018

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.34 - no GRE

Work Experience:

AmeriCorps VISTA - Economic Development, Regional Strategic Planning

Peace Corps - Community Development Associate

AmeriCorps VISTA - Entrepreneurship Development, Business Support Services

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

Undergrad professor x2 / AmeriCorps VISTA supervisor

Schools applied to: Portland State, Oregon, UIC, Wisconsin-Madison, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, TAMU

In: Kansas

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting:  Portland State, Oregon, UIC, Wisconsin-Madison, Iowa, New Mexico, TAMU

Results:

In: Oregon

[mmads]

Age/Gender/Citizenship

32/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in English Literature and History / 2010
MS in Public Policy / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.0 BA/4.0 MS

166V/163Q/4.5AW

Work Experience:

5 years in education, research assistant at labor-oriented think tank, graduate analyst on a municipal special program, graduate assistant for several history and polisci classes

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

Thesis advisor and two other professors (one of whom has a PhD in planning and runs the planning masters program at my university although I’m in the public policy program)

Schools applied to: Rutgers (Planning and Policy), Rutgers (Public Affairs/Community Development), UC Irvine, Columbia, Delaware (Urban Affairs) (I also applied to other schools in both polisci and policy—my research interests center around participatory planning and policy making in urban political systems)

In: Rutgers (Public Affairs/Community Development), UC Irvine

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: Rutgers (Planning and Policy), Columbia, Delaware (Urban Affairs)

Results:

[JSW_Planning]

Congrats to those admitted! Haven't heard anything back from my schools

Age/Gender/Citizenship

21/F/Int'l

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BS in planning related major / US Undergrad Top 25 / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

4.0 - GRE waived - TOEFL waived

Work Experience:

undergrad research assistant for 2 years (1 third-author journal paper, 1 conference presentation), city transportation department intern for 1 year

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

1 undergrad department chair, 1 undergrad prof (research with), 1 landscape prof, 1 internship supervisor

Schools applied to: UC Berkeley, Harvard, Penn, UCLA, ETH

In: 

Out:

Wait-list: 

Awaiting: UC Berkeley, Harvard, Penn, UCLA, ETH

Results:

Edited February 13, 2021 by JSW_Planning

[alliecask]

On 2/5/2021 at 2:42 PM, alliecask said:

Hi everyone! I can't believe we're a few weeks out for decisions...... I can't bear to refresh my email much longer. Good luck to all!

 

Age/Gender/Citizenship

21/F/US

Undergraduate degree/School/Year graduated 

BA in Economics, Sustainable Urban Development / private, Midwest Liberal Arts school / 2021

GPA - GRE  - TOEFL (for Int'l students) 

3.92 BA - No GRE, part of the reason I applied this year

Work Experience:

1 year community development internship at a local government, senior thesis to be published in May, super involved in APA-IL, extracurriculars, etc. (like other posters, I am depending on my SOP and LOR; graduating college a year early and had a prestigious internship opportunity ruined because of COVID)

Letter of recommendations: (from whom)

BA thesis advisor, PhD; Head of Economics Dept., PhD; Former Economics Advisor, PhD

Schools applied to: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Portland State, UIC, New Mexico

In: UIC

Out:

Wait-list:

Awaiting: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Portland State, UIC, Uni of New Mexico

Results:

In at UIC, email said no departmental funding will be available through this semester though.....