merci Posted April 2, 2016 Posted April 2, 2016 I have been accepting to two programs (my first choice rejected me) which are very different and I am having a very difficult time deciding which is the best choice. Simon Fraser and Calgary have both accepted me and offered me similar funding. I'll outline the main differences below..SFU - Master of Resource Management (Planning)-$6500 funding plus opportunity for SSHRC and TAship money which would entirely cover tuition and more-accredited planning program-co-op option-Focus is on environmental planning and resource management-research opportunities for pipeline benefit sharing agreements with First Nations, implications of Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, etc-supervisor is head of the program and has done some extremely prominent research-only 1 elective-allows me to pursue a PhD in the future if I choose to-no studios-very little emphasis on urban and community planning- no GIS or computer modelling course required-in Vancouver (I would like to work in southern BC and I am from the Lower Mainland)-more job opportunities in provincial govCalgary - Master of Planning-$6000 funding which covers half of tuition. I do not think there are opportunities for SSHRC or TAships (I will email and confirm)-accredited planning program-no internship or co-op option, but i can always find my own summer student job-VERY well rounded curriculum with a focus on environmental design and community planning-4 studios and major project-mandatory technology elective plus 2 others-could not do a PhD after-in Calgary (which is not where I would like to settle)-more job opportunities in local govAbout me:I have a degree in forestry and have a summer of experience working in forestry and living in a very small town. I am taking part in a legislative internship program with the government for 6 months currently. I am interested in natural resource management, parks and regional planning, and community planning and development.If you are familiar with BC, I would ideally like to work in the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley/Island/Sunshine Coast/Okanagan. These are all areas with small urban centres and usually surrounded by forest and farmland and very much influenced by natural resource development and extraction. Ideally, I would like to work for a local government and they often would like you to be very familiar with municipal policies and community planning. I believe my 'dream' job would be to be a Parks Planner or Land Use Planner in one of these areas and also have broad enough experience to have input into community plans and development.SO my question is... Do you think it would be better to go to a school which places more emphasis on 'community planning' rather than resource management if I would like to work for a municipality? Or should I take all the experiences I would get with SFU, in a city I would like to live in, and cross my fingers I can find a co-op in a municipality? One other option I have been considering is going to SFU and if I have a hard time breaking into the municipalities, then take a graduate diploma in urban studies or applied planning... though that is more time and money..Thoughts??
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