<p>Cheers, Thanks so much for your comments. It's still early in the game here. I'll probably have more questions after the Columbia thing.</p>
<p>i never wanted to be a landscape architect!!</p>
<p>vyan, isn't that program is your best option? You've investigated the transfer. Don't you think you will be able to sort through the rest of the details once you are there?</p>
<p>Or you can delay a year and re-apply to architecture school for 2006.</p>
<p>A Gap Year, interning at an architect's office, is an option to strengthen your skills and your portfolio before reapplying next year.<br>
In the end, vyan, you must make these decisions yourself. No one can get you into a school like SCIARC. You must research the requirements and cost and see if it is a possibility for you. None of the parents on CC can tell you which path to take. You must make a decision, albeit a tough decision. A few months back, jnmom put up a thread called "How to Make a Decision". Perhaps that would help you.</p>
<p>Cheers - What kind of reputation does Pratt's architecture program have in the business world?
My son will be attending as a freshman this fall.</p>
<p>Great discussions on this board!</p>
<p>Pratt has a great reputation. Does he plan to stay in New York after graduation? If so, he should push to get a job at a leading architect's office.</p>
<p>We live on Long Island, only about an hours train ride from NY, so yes he most definetely can work in NY. Pratt mentioned that alot of the students end up interning for their professors since the majority of professors are practicing architects. Hoping that works out and opens doors for him.</p>
<p>Hello!
Someone above was asking about financial aid in graduate programs. Well...during my time in grad school, I've found that they aren't really giving out much of that 'free' money. MIT, Princeton, and Rice are known to be generous-GSD is known to be the worst. A typical yearly grant from GSD is 7 to 14k-not enough to really make a difference. I have heard some stories about people going bankrupt under the weight of 100k in loans. Its kind of random as to how the grants are handed out. Its not merit (although I've heard some rumors about string pulling for certain students) and its not really based on income (or else most people wouldn't get the same 7k or 14k)My best advice is get try to get as many outside loans as possible.</p>
<p>GPA wise, its seems that it matters more for M.Arch Is than M.Arch2s. I can only speak for GSD, but it seems that the M.Arch1s are much stronger academically in terms of GPA and GRE scores-probably because the portfolio may not be as important because of those with no previous design experience. It also seems that there is a strong concentration of students from certain schools (Yale, Columbia, Michigan, UF, Dartmouth, and of course Harvard) The M.Arch2 class is all over the place-our grades, portfolios, and schools (in my opinion) are a mixed bag. The portfolios are the most important part of the application-people have at least 5 years of design studio and many have lots of years of work experience and some are licensed architects. They aren't looking for the same type of students for the M.Arch1 and M.Arch2 programs. </p>
<p>Vyan-trust me Pomona rocks! Dont doubt your decision based on rank. As anyone who went to arch school will tell, any top 10 list in Architecture school should not dictate where you apply. Your experience depends so much how you want to learn about architecture and how you fit into the dynamic of the school you are at. Sciarc is NOT like Pomona or many other schools. The difference between a school like Princeton and Harvard or Pratt is pretty large-you have to know what you want to get out of a specific school before you commit. Do you want to go to a small program or a large one? A theory heavy program or a profession oriented one? A school emphasing experimental design or one that is more conventional in its design approach? These things are more important than the apparent rank of a school. You don't want to end up miserable-and it can be VERY miserable.</p>
<p>To JVP1- i have a couple of friends who went to Pratt and they loved it. One just struck out on his own with some friends and they just designed a bar in Manhatten.</p>
<p>Good luck to your friend! I haven't heard of anyone not loving Pratt.
Keeping my fingers crossed he will be the same.
Hoping it is the right fit for my son. I liked your description of what to look for in an architecture school. Sounds right on the mark.</p>
<p>bump for GSun</p>