Temple Ambler campus (Penn: dorms, job market, landscaping)

[danwxman]

What is it like? Is it feasible to live in the city and commute the Ambler campus? How long would it take from Center City? I've been accepted to the Ambler campus but would like to live in the city. Thanks for any help.

[kelb]

It's a beautiful campus. They run buses from there to the main campus in the city, so I guess you can catch a ride in the other direction. Drive time from center city would be 40 minutes or so. You can also take a Septa train to Ambler, but the campus is several miles from the station.

[Philly Dave]

The Ambler campus is in a very nice setting, but it is obviously much smaller than the main campus, and therefore it doesn't offer nearly as much. And as the previous poster said, your transportation options include the shuttle from main campus, driving, or taking the R5 train. And although the campus is probably about 2 miles from the train station, there is a free shuttle bus from the train station to the campus. The shuttle from main campus is obviously the best bet if you live anywhere near North Philly since it's free and you can do work or sleep during the ride. However, they do have dorms on the Ambler campus, so you could always live there and then shuttle down to the city as needed.

[solibs]

The campus shuttles are free so they're the best bet. From the main campus to Ambler it takes 45 minutes.

The train will cost you but if you already have a transit pass it will be $1 or $2 per ride. It takes 20 minutes from the main campus to Ambler station and the shuttle bus to the Ambler campus meets every train and takes, at most, 5 minutes.

It's a really nice campus but it is a little isolated. I'm in the Spanish Lit. program on the main campus (even though, thus far, i've taken most of my classes in Center City) but I had to go to Ambler a few times because that's where the urban planning department (went to Rutgers for that)

If you had classes there everyday it would suck. Twice a week wouldn't be so bad.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

To get my degree, and to work around my schedule, I had to go to both campuses- the main, and up in Ambler. I lived in Philly, so of course the main one was closer. I preferred the Ambler one though. I didn't have to drive through dangerous streets, and I found it alittle.....dirty there. In Ambler it is beautiful, and very.....different. Luckily, I had a car and I drove. I didn't mind the extra gas or time it took to go to the Ambler over the main.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Bewitched

To get my degree, and to work around my schedule, I had to go to both campuses- the main, and up in Ambler. I lived in Philly, so of course the main one was closer. I preferred the Ambler one though. I didn't have to drive through dangerous streets, and I found it alittle.....dirty there. In Ambler it is beautiful, and very.....different. Luckily, I had a car and I drove. I didn't mind the extra gas or time it took to go to the Ambler over the main.

What?

[Greeneyed Grad]

It's a really nice campus but it is a little isolated. I'm in the Spanish Lit. program on the main campus (even though, thus far, i've taken most of my classes in Center City) but I had to go to Ambler a few times because that's where the urban planning department (went to Rutgers for that)

Hi,

Can I ask you how the urban planning program experience was for you? did you get a Master? I am looking into Rutgers MCRP. The only downside is that I'm also interested in Landscape Arch and they don't have a dual MLA/MCRP.

[solibs]

ha. doesn't every planner go for an MLA?

I don't have a master's yet. I working on another undergrad in Spanish right now and will probably do my graduate (planning) work in Spain. Although, the job market in Australia is so hot right now I might wind up there.

I liked Rutgers a lot. Well, i liked the faculty. They come from diverse areas within the profession and, at least the undergrad aspect, was intellectually challenging. I would imagine the grad program is a lot more about studios and real world projects and a lot less about theory. Anyway, as an undergrad the school bureaucracy leaves a bit to be desired but I'm sure that's different on the graduate level.

As far as prestige goes, I'm sure you know the Bloustein School has an excellent national and international reputation despite being relatively new. I mean, if you're sending a resume to Ireland or Australia your interviewer will likely be familiar with the programs at UPenn, UChicago, maybe UMichigan and Rutgers - and that's about it.

Personally, i'd be more interested in a master's that focused more on urban design than landscaping . . . but that's why i'm looking to Mardrid and Barcelona. They know what's up when it comes to gorgeous streetscapes.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

Originally Posted by JHG722

What?

Ummm....can you elaborate?

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Bewitched

Ummm....can you elaborate?

How is our campus 'dirty'?