Is graduate school location important in obtaining a job?
I've recently been accepted to various grad schools across the country. I'm not quite sure whether I want to go back home to LA for grad school, or whether I want to spend the next two years in a different location. (I've already been away the past four years.) I would like to eventually settle back in LA, but I'm fearful that getting a planning degree from a different part of the country will negatively affect my job opportunities in LA. All the schools I've been accepted to are highly praised programs. I only have small interning experiences, so my grad degree will be one of my most important attributes. Does anybody have any insight on my dilemma? Will there be any difference if I decide not to go to school in LA? Is regionality of my degree important for job placement?
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the location issue.....
Well, I just completed my first year of graduate school at the University of Southern California (I'm from NJ) and I can say that I've learned ALOT about southern california specific planning issues, and very little with regard to east coast planning issues. I've also met alot of city officials from LA, and the school does provide tons of networking opportunities(mainly from CA companies).
That being said, I feel as though if i knew as much about the NY/NJ area as I know about CA, I would be better prepared to get a job when I graduate(or at least have some area relevant phone numbers to call!). Not to mention that an internship in NYC would probably be more helpful when trying to eventually get a full time job in NYC. The location of a school is one of the factors to looks at, and i would say it also depends on whether you would like to work in the public or private sector.
Public-you should probably go to school close to where you want to work. Private-location may not be as much an issue. Hope this helps...i have actually had quite a few "revelations" from this past year, and if you would like to ask any other questions, you can email me cjohnsen22@aol.com