Statement of Intent for ASU

I thought I'd share my statement of intent for my graduate school application (note: it had to be 600 words maximum and cover certain topics, i.e. my interest in the program, what I hoped to do with it and my educational background).

I initially developed an interest in the field of Urban and Environmental Planning during my first year of undergraduate study at the University of San Francisco. I noticed striking contrasts between San Francisco and my hometown of Salt Lake City in terms of both efficiency and sustainability. The transit systems in the two cities provide some of the most noticeable differences. In San Francisco, subways, trolleys, and electric buses move people quickly and reliably across the Bay Area. The city relies heavily on its public transportation system and is able to do so because of outstanding urban planning. Conversely, in Salt Lake City it is difficult to rely on public transportation. The bus routes are constantly changing and many buses arrive only once an hour, making them relatively ineffective. Other transportation options are limited as well. During good weather I attempt to ride my bicycle as much as possible. But, again poor planning makes it difficult to do so quickly and safely.
Despite these problems, Salt Lake continues to improve its mass-transit system. The addition of a light rail system has transformed entire neighborhoods as well as the culture of the city. All along these rail lines, business and home developments have flourished creating a demand for further mass-transit development. Watching these changes take place in my community has inspired me. Having experienced a first-rate mass-transit system in San Francisco, I know how much of a difference well-planned transit can make in urban areas around the United States. They help advance the concept of self-reliance in an approach that improves both the community and the environment. They also create an opportunity for smart growth and mixed land use. It is my hope to build a career contributing to development projects that serve to make the community a better place by accommodating pedestrians, bicycles, and public and private forms of transportation.
My professional interest in sustainable urban planning has led me to seek out case studies and theoretical models, such as Peter Calthorpe’s “The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and American Dream.” I am particularly fascinated by Calthorpe’s work on transit-oriented communities and his investigation of the changes in population habits that arise in these areas. I believe that my background in history will be enormously helpful in my pursuit of a career in urban planning. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to research and develop a case study of the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. I examined the reasons for its development, its cultural significance to the city, and the effects that these factors have had on the more-recent development in the neighborhood. For my undergraduate thesis at Westminster College I investigated community and cultural shifts in San Francisco’s Japantown during the internment period of the 1940’s. I believe that only by looking back at cultural, political, and environmental factors can we truly understand current developmental patterns and how to shape future growth.
The MUEP program would provide me with an excellent opportunity to learn more about sustainable urban planning and give me access to leading educators in the field. I am a dedicated and diligent worker and I believe that my passion for the environment and building better communities will inspire me to exceed requirements and expectations. My goal is to be an active learner: a student who participates both in class and in research opportunities and internships. I hope to take the knowledge and experience that I gain from the program and apply it to a career in sustainable urban planning so that I can contribute to a better, more environmentally conscious, future.