Hi Amy,
My thoughts of which grad school and even whether to pursue an MLA are mixed. There are many questions to ponder…and your transition phase can be so important~because it really is of you.
I did go for an MLA at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, after completing my BLA at Michigan State University. i am happy i took the decision to go back to the Southwest and further my studies. But interestingly- it was not so much the MLA courses but the courses in Historic Preservation and Regionalism and the Southwest Plants courses that i definitely benefited greatly from. it was accidental ?~ i did not even know UNM had an option for Historic Preservation and Regionalism Certificate Program. HPR is within the SAAP department, as is LA, Architecture, Urban Planning.
i do believe in trying out new locales- moving from Ann Arbor in be an interesting change. But if U of M offers a Masters Program that does give you more latitudes– it is only 3 years? When i was at MSU as a BLA we did a project with U of M MLA candidates and i recall [it was a few years ago] the were heavy on the Urban Planning approach… and Green Roof Design… so it will be very helpful to compare the 2 Unis’ approaches and- hey, there may be something between – as was HPR for me- so take time for yourself and consider what focus you really like to expand upon. as far as Harvard- i donot know of their program- but i do imagine it costs 2 or 3xs? -but there may be scholarships that they do not jump out to offer- not unusual.
Ultimately, you will be looking for work, and you may already be in that space. If you want to use what you know and find a firm that matches?.. sense that you desire to supplement or expand your knowledge base?- In the end the employer takes you on as a tool and the more tools you have accessible and enjoy using- the better for you both- to have more latitudes gives you opportunities to grow= even if the firm doesn’t have that on their agenda [tongue in cheek]- you will accrue that experience 😀 take a little time for yourself and investigate- Best- cathleen
