To Future Planning students: Advice from a fourth year Urban Planning Student at Toronto Metropolitan University
Once upon a time I too was in the shoes of a senior in high school. The anxiety of getting into a university, not knowing what program to pursue and navigating a new environment was something that I and many students have felt. It seemed as if my whole life would revolve around this decision and that scared me. Unfortunately, I was never the one who knew exactly what career path to take; many of my classmates were certain about their aspirations, including becoming nurses, doctors, and lawyers, but I was unsure. Nonetheless with the proper guidance and time, I was able to make my program decision through genuine interest.
- Go to University events/open houses early
Many students only visit university open houses and events in their last year of high school, however I started going in grade 9. This allowed me to scope out different universities without the pressure of having to decide the same year. It was nice to see what each university had to offer. In grade 9 I went to both the university and college fairs. In grade 10, I narrowed down my decision to university fairs and in grade 11 when I had a better idea I would go to the open houses hosted by the schools of my top choices when I had a better idea of the program I wanted to attend.
A little bit about me and my journey navigating my decision: my name is Bianca and I am going into my fourth year as a urban planning student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Before I chose to go into the urban planning program, my highschool courses were aligned for an engineering program. I excelled in physics and math which led me to think engineering was the right path; however the thought of doing math all my life was not attractive.
I felt I was stuck in my decision until I started talking to older students and friends who were in university. One of my friends mentioned they were in urban planning and that stood out to me. This led me down the rabbit hole of research till I found that I could see myself studying this! Research alone was not enough for me. I wanted to learn more about the day to day life of someone who was in urban planning to see if this program was a right fit for me. At the time my friend recommended this girls mentorship program called, Girls E-mentorship (GEM). I applied and was set up with someone who was not in urban planning, however they connected me with those in the industry. It was nice to learn about their work- life balance and the day to day work as an urban planner. This allowed me to picture a lifestyle with this program and how it would fit into the goals in my life.
I personally wanted a career/job that allows more social interaction, has the ability to work hybrid and non repetitive. Based on my interviews with some of the industry professionals I found that as an urban planner many things are project based, meaning that every day could be different — site visits, policy research, meetings, etc. — which is exciting to me.
2. Research! Research! Research!
If you are unsure of a program you would like to pursue, try your best to research the type of work you may do, the classes you will study and the possible lifestyle it could lead you to. These are great things to look into so you know the general content of your program and if it interests you. It is a bonus if you are able to connect with professionals in the industry to ask them any questions or concerns you may have. This can lead to having reassurance on the program or give you clarity on what you do not like.
My time at TMU has been nothing but great. I have enjoyed the urban planning program so far and what it has offered me. Going into university, I had lots of anxiety about making friends, the courses I will take and my future after the program. This program is quite small compared to many other programs, such as business, as there are only about 150 students. The urban planning program is quite small so you see many familiar faces and get to work with everyone throughout all four years. This made making friends easier as you would see everyone multiple times a week.
The program does a nice job of easing students into different sectors of urban planning through offering specializations. For example, I am doing a specialization in transportation planning, I take a certain amount of offered transportation courses. There are different specializations such as housing, urban design etc. These allow the students to learn more about their specific interests within urban planning. If you are unsure you can still take any course that interests you without trying to pursue a specialization.
3. Internships and Placements
Internships and placements are great ways to get real work experience while still in school. Through these experiences it will allow you to see what kind of planning you would like to pursue. If I knew better before, I would have tried to get an internship in the summer of my second and third year. TMU offers a placement program as well, however it is unpaid and during the school year. The course pairs you up with a company partnered with the program and you work for them for a semester. This is also a great way to network with professionals while pursuing your degree.
4. International Semester abroad
Something I wish I knew about my program is that it is eligible for an international semester abroad within the right requirements. If traveling is something you are interested in I would recommend looking into a semester abroad. Being well traveled within the urban planning field is an asset as you see the way different cities work first hand. Having this experience can open your eyes to new perspectives based on your studies.
As you continue your educational journey, remember these feelings of uncertainty and nervousness are natural. When I think back on my time at Toronto Metropolitan University, I can confidently say that those first doubts eventually cleared. Seize the opportunities to meet new people as those can lead to lifelong friendships. Make use of internships and placements to expand your professional network and acquire real-world experience. Above all, have faith in your abilities to identify your passion and navigate this journey.
Bianca Tapangco is a Communications Coordinator at Urban Minds
