B.Arch vs M.Arch 2020

College Majors Architecture Major
21

Congrats to your son. I’m curious if Cornell has had their studio classes in person this year?

22

Thanks. Cornell has had their architecture studios in person this year (for fall it was in person through Thanksgiving), although students had the option of doing it fully remote. They separated all the desks in the studios and turned some other spaces into additional studies. They changed the format of reviews to avoid students gathering. Some of the other Arch classes were online.

Overall, we were very pleased how Cornell and the architecture school managed everything. My son really loves it there.

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23

Good to hear. I think it’d be hard to be remote for first year studios for practical reasons and for all the bonding.

24

Anecdotal comments only, but…

  • D2 graduated with her BArch
  • Got a job with a Washington DC boutique architecture firm before graduation
  • Worked 3+ years before moving to SoCal to work as a set designer in Hollywood (lifetime goal)
  • DC arch firm encouraged (both financially and time-wise) both BArch and MArch employees to get their registrations. As far as I heard from D2, the firm’s emphasis was on getting registered versus getting any graduate degrees.
  • In other words, both BArch and MArch degree holders were treated identically in the real world.
  • FWIW - YMMV
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25

That’s awesome that your child their dream of being a set designer! Congrats!

26

Curious, did the architecture degree help her get the set design job? Why didn’t she just do set design as an undergrad? Strategic or practical?

27

[@Helimomma, I think you meant to reply to @QuietType above.]

Thanks for this helpful thread, all. My S22 is interested in architecture but not entirely committed yet. He’s taking a virtual summer course at Boston Architectural College this summer, in part to gauge his level of interest (and to create a portfolio in case he does go forward). He’s interested in Cooper Union and Pratt, and also NYU if he decides to do an architecture-related BS and M.Arch. Still building his list otherwise. I do get the sense he might prefer a general-interest university so he could switch gears if he decides architecture isn’t for him, but we’ll discuss all of the options so he goes into it with his eyes as open as possible. He has no interest in school spirit, raucous partying or Greek life, so a hyperfocused program wouldn’t be a problem for him in that regard.

28

That was @QuietType whose child became a set designer. I remember seeing many arch schools we toured having students who went into set design… the design background and structural design helps in that field too. Arch degrees give students really broad design and project management backgrounds that are useful in many fields.

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29

I have a Jr who might be interested in Architecture. Can you provide some information on what type of activities he did to help his application to architectural programs?

Thank you!

30

You will likely get more feedback starting a new thread since this one is 2 years old.

31

Thanks!