Hello, I am a BS Architecture student graduating this December 2017. I want to get a masters in urban planning, and originally planned on applying for Fall 2018. This would give me about 8 months to get a job and earn some experience in-between my degrees. However, I have two concerns. First, I have been taking out loans and can not afford to pay them back yet, the government gives me a 6 month period after I graduate, and I won’t be back in school until 8 months because the Spring semester starts in August. If I start graduate school in Spring 2018, then I will not have to pay off my loans until I graduate in 2020. However, some schools I was looking into does not allow Spring entry and will limit some of my choices. Such as UC Berkeley, MIT, Columbia, NYU, U Toronto, Ryerson, UBC. However UW Seattle, USC, CUNY, Pratt, and UIC does allow Spring entry. Second, I am concerned I could not get a job in those 8 months. All of the entry jobs require 1 year experience in planning. I have none, and my school does not have connections like my potential graduate school could. If I can’t get a job, then waiting till Fall 2018 to graduate is pointless. Should I apply for graduate school in Spring or Fall 2018? Thanks for any comments.
I talked to financial aid, apparently I can defer my loan after the 6 months, since I am starting school again 2 months after. So now my main concern would be job opportunities during the 8 months, with no masters or experience for a planning job. I don’t want to waste 8 months.
Number one: don’t let 2 months of loan payments determine what graduate program you go to, because that graduate program can determine the trajectory of your career. If you know in December 2017 that you may have to make loan payments for July and August of 2018, just start saving some money now so you can make those payments. If the loans are federal loans, you can put them into general forebearance for two months. If your income is low, you may be eligible for income-based repayment, which will lower your payment. Whatever - there are ways around paying the loan for two months, but definitely don’t let figuring out two months of payment be the deciding factor in which graduate program you apply to. You can figure that out later.
Do good programs in your field allow for spring entry? If so, then go ahead and apply for spring entry, while also making a Plan B in case you don’t get in anywhere (aka look for some jobs).
Thank you for the reply. Very little good programs allow Spring entry except USC. I have decided to wait for Fall 2018 for more options. I will either save up for the two months of payment or take a night class at a community college, while I work. I have some prereqs I need anyway.
Just as another perspective, look at it from an employer’s point of view. It could be difficult to get a full time position if they know that you are going to quit 8 months into the job. They will have invested time and money into training you only for you to leave when you’ve been fully trained. If the job and company are in your field, it could hurt your reputation in the long run.
I would recommend looking into contract or project based positions that are 6-ish months long when searching for a job if you do decide to go with Fall 2018.
But kudos for having this research done well over a year before you would need to apply.