Having trouble deciding to go to Auburn University or Carnegie Mellon University in the fall to study Architecture. I visited both and loved both and got accepted to both. These two schools are obviously super different which is making it hard for me to decide (especially since both are top ten ranked for architecture).
About me:
From Naples, FL (Never lived in a place with winter)
Maybe joining a sorority haven’t decided
Love big cities but also nature/very into environmental science and design
Really don’t like unintelligent people but also don’t like unfun people
Would appreciate any advice from current members at one of the schools or current seniors going through the same struggle!
You should post your question on the Architecture college confidential board. There are other students, parents and Architects that would love to help.
I’m not the parent of an architect student at Auburn, however, I will pass on that my engineering son’s first summer roommate was an architecture major and my son said that his workload made engineering students look like slackers. I’m not sure how it works but apparently you have to apply to be accepted into the architecture program and then into the “studio?” My son said his roommate (really nice guy) would leave in the morning and he wouldn’t see him again until the next morning - he must have slept in the architecture building. He apparently had a number of scholarships and decided on Auburn.
Auburn is not rural but more suburban and 1.5 hours up I-85 to Atlanta (your big city) and there are 14 RT shuttles from Auburn to/from the Atlanta airport 7 days a week, you can catch MARTA from the airport into downtown. As far as the school environment goes you can read through CC and google it but my son (and his parents) will attest to being a very friendly and happy place. Students seem to smile a lot. Spring is pretty when the trees start leafing out and the azaleas begin to bloom and the hammocks come out - hammocks all over campus (tree to tree) on pretty spring/fall days. You didn’t mention whether you have any interest in sports but Auburn is a great place to be in the fall (even when we have a bad football season, the environment is just electric), we have a great softball team this year along with equestrian and gymnastics. Baseball’s coming along and we have a great park to watch the games - son takes his laptop and his textbooks and does homework in the stands on pretty days.
Like you mention, CM and AU are two very different school environments. Visit both and you’ll probably find your fit.
Auburn is in the middle of nowhere, Pittsburgh is a great mid-sized program. I think it all comes down to, if money is not a consideration, what you want from college life.
Ummmm - Auburn is not in the middle of nowhere, it is considered a suburban area. Very pretty.
Unless you just prefer living in an urban area - Auburn is very appealing. Atlanta is 90 minutes north, Montgomery is 45 minutes south - you may have to trek there for the high end stores but your Dillard’s, Macy’s etc are in Auburn/Opelika.
Heh, I wrote this whole long thing until I realized this question was asked before Decision Day. I’d also be curious to know whether you already decided, OP.
