<p>Hello, I'm an international student from South Korea who will be applying as a freshman for the Fall 2014 semester. I want to apply to an accredited undergraduate architecture course that focuses on the Design portion rather than Mathematics & Physics, as my Math is weak (I am a computer whizz though). I would like some guidance in choosing proper programs that meet my needs and that I meet the needs of. I plan to graduate with a M.Arch and become a incensed architect. I have had architecture in mind for a long time but I have considered a music major (electronic music) for a short time which allowed me to stack up an impressive resume for music, but not so much for architecture.</p>
<p>Stats:
GPA - 3.6 (Unweighted)
SAT - 1930 (Will take again in October; expect at LEAST a 2000)
ACT - 31 (Might take again in October)
AP (May not submit) - Psychology 3
- World History 3
Awards - Couple of English competitions both in school and regional
- First place in 3 remix competitions; 11th place in another
- First place in the National Sports Competition for Floorball
- Third place in the National Sporting Conference for Floorball
Extra curricular - Hosted a remix competition; released the single with three winners
- Released 1 EP; another on the way
- Over a 150 songs posted on SoundCloud (like YouTube, but for music)
- Aired a 1 hour DJ mix for Frisky Radio
- Interned at a small architecture firm
Volunteer work - For 2 years helped create and maintain a park
Portfolio - A couple of works done; no portfolio compiled yet</p>
<p>So basically right now, I need help choosing colleges to apply for. I have a list but am open to suggestions.</p>
<p>The most important things for me are:
1. Availability of scholarships and/or financial aid to international students (My father will retire soon and will have to live off of approx. $25k)
2. The major (focus on Design)
3. Location (I would prefer a university either in the West Coast [CA, UT, AZ] or in the South [GA, SC, NC, FL]) (Not TOO important)</p>
<p>My List:
Reach
University of Southern California
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Carnegie Mellon University</p>
<p>Match
Savannah College of Art and Design
University of Cincinnati
Auburn University
Pratt Institute
North Carolina State
Syracuse University</p>
<p>Safety
UNC Charlotte
Iowa State University
California College of the Arts
Arizona State University</p>
<p>First, are you eligible for need based aid? Ask your parents to use an on-line calculator to determine how much you might receive. Predicting need based aid is tricky for internationals, but will give you a starting point. </p>
<p>Second, are you looking at B.Arch programs or do you intend to get a separate M.Arch degree after you complete an undergraduate BA or BS degree? If the latter, then you’d have a wider range of schools to choose from for undergraduate. Once you have an undergraduate degree (either a B.Arch or a BA/BS) you can apply to any M.Arch program, either at the same school or a different one.</p>
<p>Curious to know how you determined your list, as the schools don’t seem to have much in common. Some others in your preferred geographic area: Clemson, Oregon, Florida.</p>
<p>As a general statement architecture programs are not heavily focused on math or physics, though there are usually required courses, especially for admission to M.Arch programs. The major point of differentiation would be whether you want an art-school atmosphere or a full-service university.</p>
<p>Some B.Arch programs require portfolio submission, some do not. You have to check each one. It’s to your advantage to have a strong portfolio.</p>
<p>The reaches aren’t worth the debt you’ll likely get into in case you get admitted. </p>
<p>The matches, well, SCAD is pricy too, Pratt as well (but the experience in NYC), Auburn is awesome. Add Arkansas to the mix also. If money is no object, Tulane and Miami too. Oregon is good with excellent athletics. </p>
<p>Safeties look OK. </p>
<p>Excellent English btw. If you want a school with a good music program and awesome architecture program, Cincinnati is a good choice. Can’t think of many more.</p>
<p>@momrath
Thank you for your response! Unfortunately most schools don’t offer aid to international students such as me, but most on my list do. Yes, I have been using the fee calculators that are available online, of course, subtracting aid such as federal aid. I’m mainly looking at programs that get me through a BA/BS then a M.Arch, but I am open to B.Arch programs. My list was compiled according to the three conditions I stated, the third condition being negligible. I might consider Oregon, but Florida and Clemson are either expensive or do not offer scholarships and aid to international students. I would prefer an Art school BUT, I do recognize that Universities offer more opportunities in general. -and, yes I am working on my portfolio, but that will be posted later on a new thread.</p>
<p>@turbo93
Yes, I only put in the reaches because I wanted to see if I have a chance. But, I see I should just eliminate my reach schools because I wouldn’t be able to pay my way. Money is the biggest problem for me, so I may remove Pratt and replace it with Arkansas. -oh and thanks for the compliment, I attended American schools while I lived in Europe for the first 14 years of my life.</p>
<hr>
<p>Okay, right now my number one priority is the University of Cincinnati. My second is SCAD. Should I apply ED for UC? Since I am not in any situation to rack up debt, I will have to leave the ‘give it a shot’ schools out.</p>
<p>Match
Savannah College of Art and Design
University of Cincinnati
Auburn University
University of Arkansas
Pratt Institute
North Carolina State
Syracuse University</p>
<p>Safety
UNC Charlotte
Iowa State University
University of Oregon
California College of the Arts
Arizona State University</p>
<p>Oh I also forgot to add my TOEFL iBT score: 117</p>
<p>Many strong architecture programs in the USA are at state (public) universities.
Unfortunately, many state universities do not offer need-based aid to international students. According to its Common Data Set entries (section H), Iowa State does. The average amount for 2012-13 was $4406. You might need more than that to demonstrate you can support yourself in the USA (which you’ll need to do in order to get a visa). Oregon, according to its Common Data Set, also offers need-based aid to internationals. For 2012-13, 127 international students at Oregon received aid averaging ~$10,079.</p>
<p>Michigan apparently does not grant aid to internationals. Virginia Tech (which has strong architecture programs) apparently does not. For Cincinnati I cannot find a Common Data Set document. The school’s site does show scholarships for internationals, but most of them appear to be small outside (non-institutional) grants targeted to specific nationalities. You better research this carefully (if you haven’t already) before applying ED to that school.</p>
<p>[By</a> the Numbers: U.S. Architecture and Design Schools: Top 10 schools according to firms - DesignIntelligence](<a href=“http://www.di.net/articles/by-the-numbers-u.s-architecture-and-design-schools-top-10-schools-according-to-firms/]By”>http://www.di.net/articles/by-the-numbers-u.s-architecture-and-design-schools-top-10-schools-according-to-firms/)
Note that Iowa State is on this Top 10 list.
Syracuse is, too, and according to its CDS it does offer need-based aid to internationals. For 2012-13, 31 international students received aid averaging $13,047. However, Syracuse is a private university with total costs exceeding $50K.</p>
<p>I think you’re on the right track in selecting a good set of reach-match-safety schools with strong architecture programs. You’ve done an excellent job, actually.</p>
<p>@tk21769
Yes, your answer is precisely why I avoided liberal arts colleges. While I might be able to get a 30k scholarship guarantee and have to pay about 20k, I wouldn’t want to spend my time studying to get into an accredited program later. -and yes, I am not the best student and my stats are not spectacular so I avoided any school which has a very low acceptance rate. I will not even apply to ones that have lower than 30% acceptance rate.</p>
<p>I will say this though, my mother has applied for a green card and currently holds a permanent residence card registered for California, could this possibly pave the way for a transfer to a CA state university and pay in-state tuition? Or maybe I should apply for a CA university, pay the first year for out-of-state and then pay in-state.</p>
<p>I mean, the most cost effective way is to attend community college and transfer later, but I feel that I did more than just for me to go to community college.</p>
<p>Cincinnati is a great school tho the area around campus is a bit, ehem, challenging :)</p>
<p>SCAD is quite expensive. </p>
<p>Regarding residency in CA you have to be living in the state to claim residency, it’s not as simple as it may seem.</p>
<p>Smith is a great choice for competitive international students like yourself! It’s all girls, and it is a fabulous choice in my opinion. But I’m biased because I go there. Also, if you want to learn more about how to choose colleges, there is a great website out there that is doing a webcast series about college admissions. I can’t remember all of the details, but I think they have one tonight about choosing colleges at 7 EST, and it’s free! Message or e-mail me if you want the info!</p>