I am admitted to the architecture program in both Rice University and RISD, and I’m having a hard time choosing one between them. Rice’s architecture program is a six year program that includes two degrees: B.A. and B.arch. I really like the Preceptorship Program in the fifth year, when Rice assign students in top architecture firms around the world for at least 9 months. Plus the class is really small, they only have about 23 undergraduates each year. But Rice is located in Texas and I’m worried about internship opportunities and connections. Also it’s a six year program and I’m planning to apply for graduate. But it would be a total of eight and a half years, which seems to be too long for me.
RISD’s program is a traditional five year B.arch program and is located near New York, which may has more opportunities regarding to internship. Also, RISD’s next to Brown, and RISD students can take classes at Brown. Some people say it is easier to get in Harvard GSD or MIT afterwards for graduate school. My worries about RISD is that I am not a vey artistic person. I looked up architecture undergraduates’ portfolios on issuu.com, and they seems really artistic and conceptual to me. Whereas Rice undergraduates’ portfolios seems to be more practical. The foundation year doesn’t really interest me that much even though some people say it’s one of the unique things about RISD.
Other things like tuition fee or weather are not the deciding factors to me, although Rice’s tuition is a lot cheaper than RISD’s.
I think both are great schools and have their pros and cons. But I am just having hard time choosing between the two.
RISD admits to the art and design foundation program (Known as Experimental Foundation Studies), rather than directly to Architecture (or any other major) so keep that in mind. You do not declare a major till after Wintersession. You will be taking your first year courses with a variety of future artists and designers (painters, illustrators, furniture designers, glass blowers, graphic artists, sculptors, etc.). It is a very different approach than just entering a five year B.ARch program directly. For instance, all your arch.- specific courses (the stuff required to complete the B.Arch) will need to be done beginning year two. However, keep in mind what foundation studies consists of: Drawing, Design and Spatial Dynamics studios - none of which will be wasted in the course of studying architecture! - as well as critical studies of art and design (for context). What you’ll need to do is ask yourself whether this sounds like what you are looking for in an architecture program.
You say you are not an artistic person; however, you must have submitted a portfolio to RISD in order to be considered for admission. And it was accepted - so that means that THEY believe you have the sufficient inherent creativity to succeed.
If you do a 6 year program at RICE does that automatically mean another 2 1/2 years in grad school? The B.Arch alone should be able to propel you into some more advanced arch. or design grad courses from the get-go. But maybe you are thinking of a specific graduate program.
RISD’s tuition may be more expensive but you are cutting a year off your study and that would have to be considered as well. Did you compare costs in total or just annual tuition amounts?
Finally, both programs are highly ranked - you can’t go wrong with either.
Well done and Good Luck!
@Mamelot Rice is a BArch is a 6 year program but one year is with the Preceptorship Program which is during the the fifth year, where Rice students work at top architecture firms around the world for at least 9 months. Its like an internship. Then you go back to Rice to finish the 6th year - so all in all it is a 5yr BArch + 1 year of work experience. So it won’t cost anything for the Preceptorship.
In case you aren’t aware, you can become a licensed Architect after you graduate with a BArch. You also don’t have to get a Masters in Architecture if you don’t want to.
My vote is Rice since you said you said you aren’t an “artistic person”. I would say RISD is probably more artsy than Rice - RISD is after all an Art/Design school.
Yeah, thanks for that clarification. Not sure what OP’s thought about grad school was. Everything I’ve read about architecture suggests doing a B.Arch OR M.Arch. (I kinda feel the same way about a bachelor in business vs. MBA. No need in my book to get both, though students do it all the time). In any case, that 6th year is probably an excellent option. RISD kids get jobs though - 100% current rate of placement. I think it just comes down to fit. If OP can visit both that’s optimal.
RISD definitely has artists, yes, but it’s the #1 design school in the country if not the world. It’s also ranked right behind RICE for architecture in DI. Both are excellent, and distinct, choices.
@jenniu55, I agree with @Mamelot : both excellent but with distinct differences in culture and location. There’s no question that RISD is a design driven school. Even considering the proximity of Brown, your classmates and friends will all be involved in some aspect of the arts. At Rice, although you’ll be spending a large portion of your time in the architecture studio, the university as a whole offers a wider academic base. This is also an important consideration in the event that architecture doesn’t work out for you.
RISD is well connected to both New York and Boston and internships in those cities are accessible. I’m not sure about Rice. With its high ranking and global reputation I would think that opportunities are not necessarily regional, but you might ask Rice for more information.
The preceptorship program really is extraordinary. Any one of these firms would give you an amazing start in the industry. http://architecture.rice.edu/People/Preceptors/
My observation is that in many markets having an MArch is fairly common, even though the BArch is all you need to become a licensed architect. I think it depends on the hiring firm. It’s also fairly common for BArch grads to work for a few years before returning for their MArch, so you wouldn’t have to do 8.0 years straight through.
I don’t know that RISD would necessarily give you an advantage over Rice for admission to a top rated MArch program. Admissions is primarily based on portfolio and life/work experience, and MArch classes are comprised of students from a broad range of educational background. Again, if you worry about this you could ask Rice how their students do in MArch admissions.
(For what it’s worth, Yale Architecture – which lists the education of its current students – shows one each RISD and Rice in its MArchII program: http://architecture.yale.edu/people/enrolled-students#MArch I First)
@Mamelot @momrath @newjersey17 Thanks for all the information! I’ve looked through the Foundation Courses and some undergraduate works on portfolios.risd.edu. I think RISD really focuses on developing every student’s artistic side and making students first become artists then become potential architects. I lot of people told me that the Foundation Courses at RISD is about learning fundamental concepts that are helpful throughout my entire educational life, and I might discover new interests or potentials that I’ve never imagine before. Moreover, I would have the chance to learn about other design areas. On the one hand, it is valuable for me to go to RISD and discover that artistic potential inside of me, because I don’t think any M.Arch programs would lead me step by step to discover and progress from art to architecture like how RISD is doing in its Foundation Courses. However, on the other hand, if I go to RISD, then I would miss the chance to work in one of the top architecture firms for such a long period of time, which is the Preceptorship Program that Rice University is offering. Compare to RISD’s, Rice’s architecture program is a more traditional one and more focused one. Everything I learn would be focused on architecture, probably won’t have the chance to learn about the artistic side of myself, and be less exposed to other design fields.
I don’t really have a specific architecture graduate program in mine yet. But I think I would go to M.Arch even though B.Arch is all I need to become a licensed architect.
I couldn’t visit both schools because I live in China and I’ve got IB exams coming up in May. Visiting both schools would cost me a lot of time.
@jenniu55 one possibility may be to attend Rice and supplement with additional art and design courses to the extent that your program allows you to. That way you would address all the benefits that you see in each program.
Edit/update: also please don’t rule out attending one for undergrad and the other for grad 
@Mamelot thanks for the information! I’ve already turned in my deposit for RISD. Thanks!