<p>So I have recently been accepted to both Carnegie and USC's 5 year programs for architecture and am very conflicted... Anyone willing to clear up some rumors/share experiences with either of the schools or their architecture programs?</p>
<p>same here. Still confused (have visited CMU… will be visiting USC next week). Any advice?</p>
<p>CMU’s portfolio-optional, and more into the techical aspects.
USC’s more design based.</p>
<p>USC’s ranked higher by Design Intelligence if that matters to you.</p>
<p>@subroofer, the best thing you could do is visit both. Based on what i’ve seen of CMU and what I’ve heard about USC, the programs seem to be very similar–both very design-driven and team project-based. CMU’s big thing is sustainable design, while USC’s big thing is about being dynamic and current with the times(this in turn makes USC’s program very difficult to define; one year it’ll be one way and another the next). Expect more theory/history at USC’s program than at CMU. USC also requires more General Education courses than CMU(I think…may want to confirm this).</p>
<p>If you can’t decide based on the program, you could always make your decision based on the school as a whole, in which case, I say go with USC because of the fact that its got more of a University feel than CMU.</p>
<p>But based on the program alone, it’ll take a lot of thought and investigation on what YOU want from your education.</p>
<p>and @arctic92, the portfolio is optional, but it seems that most of the students there who survive all five years of the program are the ones with artistic talent.</p>
<p>@ Arctic: It’s actually the other way around. CMU (#7) is ranked higer than USC (#12).</p>
<p>CMU actually went down this year, which shows just how unreliable DI’s ranking list is. How does a school go from #7 to below the top 10 in one year? doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>[2010</a> Americas Best Architecture Schools | Features | Architectural Record](<a href=“http://archrecord.construction.com/features/0911BestArchSchools/0911BestArchSchools-2.asp]2010”>http://archrecord.construction.com/features/0911BestArchSchools/0911BestArchSchools-2.asp)</p>
<p>akmeecheen, that’s true for all colleges… If you can’t make the cut you’ll get weeded out :P</p>
<p>But yeah, visiting both would be a good idea like akmeecheen said. as for the GE stuff - USC has a core curriculum that they want their students to take, but i’m pretty sure you can waive some reqs with APs.</p>
<p>That’s true. But for most people it’s just self-imposed. It often isn’t that they’re failing the courses, they just can’t handle the workload. To some extent I can understand their feelings I guess. B.arch program works you to a pulp–if you care about money, you might as well pick Pre-Med or Pre-Law. Same, often even lower amount of work than the B.Arch program, but you’ll probably earn more income.</p>