I clearly remember the day that I received a call from MIT faculty notifying me of my acceptance into the Master of City Planning (MCP) program. I could not believe that a department within the illustrious MIT (and I do not say that facetiously), the epitomic bastion of computer geeks, rocket scientists and the like selected me for its MCP program. Moreover, the path that led me to that moment was somewhat accidental. My interest in urban planning, though earnest and fervent today, was not grounded in even the slightest exposure to urban planning or urban design in my pre-MIT life.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago. Graduating in 1998, I spent the next ten years in a number of different positions, but my most significant experience was in financial services. I worked in Information Technology Training at Morgan Stanley in New York City between 2001 and 2006, and specifically as a Training Specialist for four of the five years I was there. My group focused on curriculum development and management for programmers in the firm; my myriad responsibilities included reporting, logistics management, marketing and some client relationship and curriculum management. At the end of 2006, I moved to Baltimore, where I held a number of temporary assignments, some good and some not so good. I always planned to pursue a graduate education; however, the dearth of job opportunities, given my experience, made the pursuit of an advanced degree urgent.
I heavily pursued business school in previous years. In my last pursuit (there were a couple), I was advised to try to get into business school via a “backdoor” method, applying to one school – public policy school in particular – and applying to business school once I was there. Why public policy school? My personal advisor, a graduate of public policy school and my husband, thought my chances of getting into a public policy program were good. With this advice and a new fire in my belly, I started to research public policy schools and stumbled upon a Master of Public Policy/Urban Planning program at that other school in Cambridge. I became intrigued and even excited by the topics covered in its urban planning program and about urban planning in general.
As a native of Brooklyn, New York, I observed how previously unpopular neighborhoods in Brooklyn went through urban revitalization and in the process, lost affordable housing along with the people who needed it. I debated with friends and colleagues about the similar fates of neighborhoods, such as Harlem and the Lower East Side in Manhattan. These processes of urban renewal and the shrinkage of affordable housing were fascinating, and I found a basis for study of these phenomena in urban planning programs. As they say, the rest is history.
As a new convert, I look forward to developing the vocabulary of and knowledge base about urban planning and planning theory, and housing and community development. I also look forward to developing technical skills, such as finance that will be very useful in housing development. However, the most valuable aspects of my experience at MIT, will be the discourse I will have with classmates and faculty, and the practical experience I will gain doing work with organizations in the field. This will give me the basis from which I can confidently challenge, influence and lead as an urban planner.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago. Graduating in 1998, I spent the next ten years in a number of different positions, but my most significant experience was in financial services. I worked in Information Technology Training at Morgan Stanley in New York City between 2001 and 2006, and specifically as a Training Specialist for four of the five years I was there. My group focused on curriculum development and management for programmers in the firm; my myriad responsibilities included reporting, logistics management, marketing and some client relationship and curriculum management. At the end of 2006, I moved to Baltimore, where I held a number of temporary assignments, some good and some not so good. I always planned to pursue a graduate education; however, the dearth of job opportunities, given my experience, made the pursuit of an advanced degree urgent.
I heavily pursued business school in previous years. In my last pursuit (there were a couple), I was advised to try to get into business school via a “backdoor” method, applying to one school – public policy school in particular – and applying to business school once I was there. Why public policy school? My personal advisor, a graduate of public policy school and my husband, thought my chances of getting into a public policy program were good. With this advice and a new fire in my belly, I started to research public policy schools and stumbled upon a Master of Public Policy/Urban Planning program at that other school in Cambridge. I became intrigued and even excited by the topics covered in its urban planning program and about urban planning in general.
As a native of Brooklyn, New York, I observed how previously unpopular neighborhoods in Brooklyn went through urban revitalization and in the process, lost affordable housing along with the people who needed it. I debated with friends and colleagues about the similar fates of neighborhoods, such as Harlem and the Lower East Side in Manhattan. These processes of urban renewal and the shrinkage of affordable housing were fascinating, and I found a basis for study of these phenomena in urban planning programs. As they say, the rest is history.
As a new convert, I look forward to developing the vocabulary of and knowledge base about urban planning and planning theory, and housing and community development. I also look forward to developing technical skills, such as finance that will be very useful in housing development. However, the most valuable aspects of my experience at MIT, will be the discourse I will have with classmates and faculty, and the practical experience I will gain doing work with organizations in the field. This will give me the basis from which I can confidently challenge, influence and lead as an urban planner.
Your impressions of MIT's planning program
Tamika, thanks for sharing your experience. I have recently been considering leaving commercial real estate finance to pursue a master's degree in urban planning. I read Planetizen's guide to graduate programs and was surprised to see some strong (and contradictory) student feedback regarding MIT. One student claims that the faculty is very accessible, while another is "stunned" by the lack of attention they give to students. What's been your impression so far? Several students have also pointed out how the orientation towards "typical" planning problems marginalizes the social and cultural components of planning. Does there seem to be an ideology to the department? Are some types of problems over-emphasized while others are pushed aside? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this.
Dave
Welcome to Interchange
Welcome to the Interchange blog, and congratulations on your acceptance to the MIT planning program. I hope you find it a satisfying field and look forward to your observations.
I share your interests, and think the increase in cost of some urban neighborhoods is partly a result of the relative scarcity of places with similar mixes of amenities and proximity in the metropolitan region. With profound demographic and cultural shifts taking place, preventing unaffordable housing for both new residents and old in these places must involve creating new neighborhoods with similar amenities. In essence, we should interpret high prices not just as a problem but a sign it reflects market demand for a specific combination of housing, amenities, and location.