Graduate School Plans

Caitlin H.

March 20, 2010 - 3:21 PM

I signed my name near the bottom, folded the paper into thirds and shakily sealed the form inside its envelope. The decision hadn't come easy, but I had done it. A million thoughts must have raced through my mind as I slid the envelope with its powerful cargo into the mail slot. Was I making the right choice? Was this the right time? Was it too far away from friends and family? Only time will tell. For now, I'm feeling excited and relieved to have made a choice. My intent to enroll form is in the mail... I'm accepting my offer from Michigan Sate University.

I'm going to be earning a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning  from one of the oldest academic urban and regional planning programs in the United States. That's exciting! But...I haven't even seen the school with my own eyes yet. That is a little intimidating. I have been doing a lot of compare and contrast between Michigan State and Oregon lately:

Quarter vs. Semester School - Both systems have their perks and downfalls. In a quarter system a student can take more classes, therefore has more opportunity to engage with different curriculum. But the quarters fly past and it can be difficult to really explore the depth of the subject before the term ends. In a semester system the exact opposite is achieved - more time with the material, but less exposure to a variety of classes. I've always been a fan of Oregon's quarter system, but as I move on to a graduate level study the semester system has become equally enticing.

Number of Students - After being enrolled in a smaller University (a year at Western Washington University and again as a study abroad student) I can honestly say I love the ‘big' University atmosphere. Oregon had a great balance of large campus feel while maintaining the charms of smaller city life. The UO student population totaled 22,386 last year, 3,872 of which were graduate students. At Michigan State the student population is more than double those figures, with 47,278 total students, 10,789 of which are seeking graduate or professional level degrees. That's a lot of people to think about.

Pac10 vs. Big 10 - I love my Ducks. I love the west coast. This morning I felt a small drop in my stomach when I realized how far away from the Pacific Ocean I'd be if I moved to Michigan. I've delighted in watching the Michigan State basketball team do well during the NCAA tourney, but I think a spot in my heart will always belong to the Ducks. Athletics don't weigh much in my decision, but I have thought about it. I've never been a big supporter of the Big 10 in athletics, but I've been rooting for the Pac10 my whole life.

Lansing vs. Eugene - Eugene will always be a small piece of home to me. I'm reluctant to accept that all the things that make Eugene special could possibly be found anywhere else on earth. But Lansing, Michigan sure is putting up a fight. A friend of mine is currently enrolled in law school in Michigan, so I've been able to see pictures and hear stories. Everything I've been able to uncover about Lansing leads me to believe I'm going to love it.

There is so much to consider while picking a University and program of study. I have browsed through more University profiles in the last six months than I can count. More often than not I return to realizing what Michigan State and the University of Oregon have in common. For instance, both are members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, a group of 60 U.S. and two Canadian universities regarded as the top research-intensive institutions in North America.

I'm hoping to make the trip to Michigan soon to visit the campus. Until then I can rest assured that at least I've made the first step. I'm getting excited to think about my life in Michigan, even if it only lasts a couple of years. Although the anticipation of leaving has me equally determined to make the most of every last second I have in Eugene.