wow, this is so inspiring! thank you for sharing your journey. I'm considering Urban planning as a mid life transition, starting from scratch. My bachelors is in bioengineering, and after working in government work (med devices), I transitioned to permaculture and landscape design (self taught). Providing more affordable housing, parks, trails, and gardens and healthy food options to communities feels like it would be very rewarding. Could one get into this without getting a masters degree? Ive considered taking some GIS courses at my local community college, as this is more accessible and within my budget. Do you think this would be helpful? I also had concerns that government urban planning positions may have red tape or politically influenced, thank you for touching on this subject. The position you have with commerical cooridor manager, that sounds amazing! Is that a private section position? I love that you feel more impactful with the actual residents of the community.
I’m from Philly too! I’m so glad to see that there’s a Black native who pursued this route. I’m considering going into Drexel’s Urban Strategy & Design program. I want to do something that contributes to my community! Love this breakdown.
Thank you for this video! I'm literally stuck between a rock and a hard place 😂 I did my undergrad in Property development and planning and I'm trying to do my master's in Planning and Urban leadership or something similar because I like the design aspect of it but.. I can't seem to even find planning jobs. I keep seeing Building Surveyor jobs and now I feel like for security I need to do my master's in building surveying 🥲
Hi Sadiyah, thank you for sharing your journey on here. I am an urban planner myself, based in South Africa. I am trying to navigate through the job market abroad, do you perhaps have any tips on how to go about finding jobs for international candidates? And have you personally ever considered working for government?
I'm super interested in urban planning, but I don't like GIS much (took the intro class last year). How important is GIS to the field? Is it worth minoring in during college? Or is an intro class enough
Would it be possible for someone in urban planning to pivot to a career in urban design or vice versa with some training? How transferable are the skill you learned in urban planning to other careers?
i started getting really interested in urban planning after visiting a lot of diff cities and i came across this video! as a fellow hijabi muslim, thanks sister! ❤
I completely feel the same about the reality of the work. I asked a teacher at a school more and more about the job, but I noticed that there clearly is no eye for the residents. If it is, it's usually an afterthought. In my opinion, visionaries are needed. Otherwisa we'll keep building stuff that disappoints and turns our society to sadness
I withdrew from this major five years ago. However, after watching this video, I feel compelled to go back. I was the only Muslim woman in the cohort and I didn't give myself enough time to adjust…. I'm a teacher now, but I would love going back and finish that master's degree.Thanks, sister!
Sadiyah, thank you for sharing your story and comments on the experience your career, and tips for aspiring professionals. I feel like I learned something important about a career urban planning. I can relate about the struggle to find a place in career and finding opportunities blocked because of not having enough technical skills. That's how I went back to school for GIS, in fact. Now I'm working as a GIS Technician and finding that it's not enough to fulfill my interests with helping people. Wishing you best of luck on your career in Philly :)
What a very inspiring video! I’m currently obtaining my undergraduate in urban and regional planning with a minor in sustainable urban development. I’m half through college already and this information was very helpful. And I do I have to agree with you about the internships! I am a junior, and I am currently trying to apply to various planning internships and they require lots of skills that I haven’t experienced yet. It’s been very frustrating but it’ll payoff eventually.
I am peter from Kenya and i have watched this video more than once since I was in second year and now I am in fourth year. I keep referring to this vlog coz it reminds the roles of an urban planner. Thanks for this content❤❤
Love this! Thank you for going in depth about not only the logistics of the field but your personal ties to that area of interest from a young age! Just found your page and as some one trying to work up the courage to attend a MURP program for grad school, your insight is so so helpful. What mentors did you find in the field/best advice you've been given?
Hey girl, I just want to say i really appreciate you making this video. Im on my final year of undergrad for polisci and have had a growing intrest in urban planning for over a year now. I have some more questions on the field and i would love to talk through email if you dont mind!
