Cal Poly SLO vs. University of Oregon (adult architecture student)

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone,

I realize there is already a similar question in the forum, but not quite specific to my situation. I am a 27 year old student who is going back to school to earn a B. Arch. I am currently enrolled at a community college, and am a California resident. I am looking into going to either Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or University of Oregon. I have been to both schools and like them both as far as location goes - maybe Cal Poly a bit more.

Here are my questions that I would love your input on:

  1. Which school is more interested in things like historic preservation and rehabbing older buildings as apart of the architecture curriculum? U of O has a historic preservation minor, but I am more interested in incorporating historic reuse into architectural design (a mix of modern and historic design) not so much preservation on it’s own.

  2. Which school is more suited for someone who is a bit older? I will be 28 o 29 by the time I am able to transfer to either school. I am sure I will find my own group of friends in a similar boat, but does Cal Poly or U of O have a better learning environment for students who have had a career and are now going to school?

Thank you!

2

Does cost matter? If it does, than CPSLO may have a strong point in it’s favor if you are a California resident.

3

Good point, though cost isn’t much of a concern. But yes, Cal Poly would be a cheaper.

4

@lauren852
I don’t have insider information on either school, except to note that they are both well respected. My observation would be that the culture of the overall campus and of the architecture department would be somewhat different, and you might prefer one over the other.

CalPolySLO has more of a tech and structures focus and Oregon has a wider range of academic interests in general and more emphasis on design in architecture specifically. I’d say the same about UCLA and U of Washington. You might also look at Notre Dame “for a focus on traditional architecture and urbanism.”

About finding a critical mass of “older” students: (Some day when you’re my age you’ll smile at the thought that 28 is “older”). BArchs being undergraduate degrees admit mostly recent high school graduates. MArch students, on the other hand, are often older as it is common for them to have worked for a few years – in architecture or other fields – before seeking graduate degrees. At schools of architecture that offer both the BArch and MArch, the undergraduates and graduate students are generally integrated so as an “older” student you might focus on schools that offer both degrees. Oregon does. CalPolySLO does not.

5

Hi,
Any chance of getting into University of Oregon with a 2.9 gpa and 1230 SAT?