<p>Hi guys I'm an architecture student looking to apply for top architectural undergrad universities and right now the two schools that i am deciding between are Cornell university and Bartlett UCL. I would like to hear from some expert on which one to pick assuming that i get accepted by both. </p>
<p>I have went to the cornell summer camp for high school students and honestly i didn't quite enjoy it as much. Why? well its because i found the cornell way of architecture way to practical for me. by this i meant that everything is some what traditional, starting with the fact that there is much more emphasis on the function, material, and ergonomics(which i know arevery important in architecture) but somewhat lacking in terms of the design (traditional/conservative yet practical yenno :/) anyways i didn't enjoy this aspect of it and an architect i really look up to is Zaha with her post modernism, which i did not experience during the camp. However, UCL Bartlett is less of that and more focused on the fine art renderings, flexibility, and design of conceptual architecture while caring less about the ergonomics etc. </p>
<p>i totally realize this but i have always believed in the concept of becoming a wild beast (in terms of creativity/ design) and then getting tamed (then studying the rules of architecture more: setting boundaries on which design is more practical). because of this, i would prefer the choice of going to UCL for the design and then back into the US for masters in places such as Columbia etc where designs are less "imaginative." so conclusion: design --> Practical </p>
<p>My parents on the other hand are very against this due to the fact that apparently the UK is currently in decline. they want me to go to a top university that is also very good in arch. frankly speaking, cornell matches my parents expectations. Me on the other hand believes that UCL also matches this criterion since UCL is a top notch school with a famous architecture department. </p>
<p>Anyways so the message is which path should i take? Am i folly for wanting to go to UK (where according to people is deteriorating) and take a design approach to architecture first or should i consider going to the US for the fame ivy league can give me despite the fact that i don't like the approach to architecture particularly at cornell?</p>
<p>I would like to ask you University/Architecture gurus' opinions on which route is a better choice despite the fact that I'm favouring UCL. Thanks a lot for patiently reading this long question! Any feedbacks would be truly valuable and impacting! </p>
<p>Thanks again~</p>