<p>So I'm stuck with this decision. I was just accepted to USC, as a 2nd year transfer student for fall 09. but i was "virtually" guaranteed a spot at Pomona in 3rd year for fall 2010 if i stayed back at my CC for an extra year. I would like to know which program would be best. I'm leaning more toward USC, but still having doubts. Opinions, statistics, comments on carriculum everything welcome.
It would really help me out, because I need to give my decision to USC very soon.
thanks</p>
<p>i always thought that getting involved in a program as early as possible really helps, because you learn how to do things in the particular methods that they use at their schools and also it be comes a more comfortable fit. for that reason i would go with USC. and who wouldn’t like their football games?</p>
<p>i would definitely choose USC. better university reputition and will help a lot in finding job. in my opinion, better program than pomona.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>what did you do to make yourself be accepted to USC’s transfered architecture??
I need some tips…</p>
<p>yulin-76
i took a semester of Architecture at community college, put together a portfolio of some architecture stuff I had done that semester as well as art work. applied and sent everything out. as far as tips, i don’t think i have any, because I don’t know what my acceptance was based on.</p>
<p>Come to USC. With Calif’s catastrophic financial deficit and the resulting cuts that will soon have to be made at all public colleges in Calif, you should be concerned about your ability to actually graduate with a degree in architecture in a few years. Who knows what kinds of cuts to programs will have to be made at Calif. CC’s, the CSU’s and the UC’s in the near future.</p>
<p>so basiclly you have to study in Calif. first then will be easier to transfer to USC??</p>
<p>The real question is, Would you pay $150,000 or $20,000 for the same thing? I certainly wouldn’t shell out over $100,000 so I can watch a football game.</p>
<p>“With Calif’s catastrophic financial deficit and the resulting cuts that will soon have to be made at all public colleges in Calif, you should be concerned about your ability to actually graduate with a degree in architecture in a few years.”</p>
<p>Come on! Even with California’s catastrophic financial deficit and increased fees there’s no way they’ll cut a prestigious program such as Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design. Women Studies, Arts, Film, Dance, etc… those programs really are on the chopping block.</p>
<p>uh, this thread is over 6 months old CalPoly. I think the OP probably made up his mind a long time ago…</p>
<p>I realize this is an old post but for future readers, I find it irresponsible for USC boosters to brush aside the issue of cost and gloss it over with superficial football games, especially now since they’re ineligible for bowl play. It makes no sense for someone to go to a private architecture school, especially during a recession. Architects don’t make that much to begin with, with starting salaries in the high 30’s if lucky and topping off late in a career at 90k. Many of my colleagues from privates like MIT, Harvard and USC are currently unemployed while trying to pay off their debts while I’ve paid off my loan within my first year and can currently afford to travel the world and continue to educate myself culturally and architecturally. Seriously, a few of them had to foreclose on their homes to pay off their debts. I remember one of my studio instructors at Cal Poly Pomona, Michael Folonis, himself a USC graduate, telling us how many USC students had wished they’d gotten into Pomona for the similar education for less than a 10th of the cost. Currently tuition runs about 4k at Pomona and 40k at USC. Here are some similarities:</p>
<p>Pomona studios average 15 students and meet for 9 hours a week for the whole 5 years. Not bad for a public education.</p>
<p>Pomona named by Architect Magazine as one of three programs in the country that excel in Sustainable Design.</p>
<p>Faculty,</p>
<p>Michael Folonis, USC graduate, taught at Pomona
Margaret Griffin, Taught at Pomona and USC
Andy Cao, Pomona grad, teaches at USC
Richard Corsini, Pomona grad, teaches at USC
Frank Clementi, Pomona grad, teaches at USC
Yo Hakamori, taught at Pomona and USC
Michael Woo, Pomona dean, taught at USC</p>
<p>Hope this helps future architecture students put things into perspective.</p>
<p>“It makes no sense for someone to go to a private architecture school, especially during a recession”</p>
<p>I cannot speak to USC, but some private arch schools do offer considerable financial aid. And of course not all state schools are as cheap as UC/CSU (not everyone is from California).</p>
<p>We live in Illinois. I did a cost comparison for my son comparing USC (with the grant offered) to U of Illinois, Penn St, U of Cincinnati, Syracusse (with grant and scholarship). These are schools he applied (and got accepted). I also calculated for some other OOS schools and what if he went 4+2 (U of I) vs cheap in-state like Northern Ill (4+3) or UI-Chicago and living at home. Because of the financial aid USC offered, USC is the cheapest. At U of I he wasn’t elligible for a university grant based on income. We don’t live in Cal so Pomona might not be that cheap.</p>
<p>Private schools do offer good scholarships that may make it more affordable, but as a practicing architects, I have many colleagues who went to private school, and I cannot emphasize enough how impractical it is if you can’t get the financial aid. It hurts me to see architects with 10 years experience, with a 75k salary, a family, a home mortgage, car payments, taxes, and school loans still unpaid for especially since many of them are currently losing their jobs. The ups and downs of our profession are real and are here to stay. An architecture education is pretty much what one makes it to be. No one gets paid more because they went to a certain school or even if one has a Masters. People get paid by their abilities, which are mainly learned and nurtured throughout ones career.</p>
<p>Public schools offer pretty much the same curriculum as privates. For example, CPP’s program is centered around the design studio with core classes in history, construction, structures, mechanical/ electrical systems and professional practice with support classes in specialties such as sustainability, digital media, housing, urban design, and preservation. That’s pretty much the blueprint of all the schools out there, including USC. If one can get scholarships to make a private school attractive, by all means. Otherwise, paying 200k in tuition alone for an architecture degree is financially incomprehensible.</p>
<p>USC’s need-based financial aid is indeed generous… but so are their merit scholarships. I was nominated for a half-tuition scholarship, and i flew over and interviewed for it. I walked away with a full-tuition scholarship.</p>
<p>While its true that it might not be the most practical of ideas to go to a private university if you do not get enough financial aid, I feel that you shouldn’t decide to not apply to them just because they’re private… you never know what they might give you (I have friends with higher stats than me that didnt get any scholarships or were shot down).</p>
<p>Also… public schools in california might not be as viable financially to OOSers (like myself) as they are to in-state students.</p>
<p>Anyway, to stay on topic… as a trojan, all I can say is USC all the way :)</p>
<p>CPP out of state tuition is 14,000… Still loads less than 40,000 at SC. Apply to both and see what kind of financial packages you get. I seriously wouldn’t even pay 20k/ year for an arch degree. It just doesn’t pencil out.</p>
<p>I know this thread is old, but I’ll comment because I was in the same position this year, I was debating between Pomona and USC. </p>
<p>For me, it wasn’t an easy decision, both have top notch architecture programs. I ended up choosing USC though because I wanted their connections and felt that Pomona’s community was too local (not that it’s bad, I just wanted a larger undergrad experience).
USC is a really expensive school, but if you can afford it without worrying about the tuition, then it could be worth it. California may be in the middle of a budget crisis, but if you live in-state, the UCs and CSUs are definitely schools that are worth the tuition.</p>
<p>Arctic92, you traveled from the east coast to the west coast to study architecture? That’s really interesting and inspiring. I’m a high school senior right now and I live in California but I’m still debatting on whether or not I should apply to Cooper Union and Syracuse University. I have never been to the east coast so I was thinking if my first time there is when I go to college, wouldn’t that be really hard to adapt? How is it like to go out-of-state for college?</p>
<p>misstrwbrylvr: check the architecture threads for golflover (I think that is the name). golflover’s daughter is from Cal and is going to Syracuse.</p>
<p>Well, I’m actually starting my first year this august, so i’m not too sure on how it’ll be like to adapt… but from my visits to USC for my scholarship interview and orientation, I’m already in love with the SoCal weather (as well as the school itself, of course). But it’ll vary per person - I’d say i’m pretty outgoing and easily adapt, so it shouldn’t be too hard for me. But every person is different, so ymmv.</p>
<p>Syracuse and Cooper both have top-notch programs, so i would apply even if you weren’t 100% sure you’d like to move across the country. You never know, you might get in and really like it if you decide to visit. (and seeing as cooper is right here in nyc… i’m already biased with the school’s location ;)).</p>
<p>akmeecheen is another arch student on here who’s going from Cali to Syracuse this year, btw.</p>
<p>Thanks msheft and Arctic92! I’ll definately check with akmeecheen’s and golfover’s threads. 
and yes, I have to admit, i really like California too! it’s really eco-friendly and the weather is nice. ;D</p>