<p>My daughter has been accepted to the architecture programs at CMU, Tulane and Penn State (along with Univ. of Miami). We're down to the wire and must decide soon. Feedback on each school is much welcome!</p>
<p>Wow congratulations! I know about Penn State and understand it is VERY hard to get into that program. It has an excellent reputation. It’s a small school which can really help to make PSU feel less overwhelming. What does your daughter like? CMU is an urban environment and the students tend to be intense. Tulane…well you know about the impact of New Orleans I’m sure. </p>
<p>PSU is known as a party school, but it really depends on who you hang out with. I would imagine architectural students are pretty serious. It’s a fun place. Great college town. Beautiful campus. Most kids who are there LOVE it.</p>
<p>Thanks toneranger!</p>
<p>I have no idea what “you know about the impact of New Orleans” means. I take it to mean that Tulane students are completely involved in bringing the city back (Tulane and the uptown area are fine, btw), and architecture students have gotten to see many of their designs turned into reality. Tulane is a 5 year masters program, in case you did not know that, and it was recently named in Design Magazine as a “hidden gem” or something like that. Or maybe toneranger meant that the architecture in New Orleans is among the most beautiful in the country.</p>
<p>I don’t know enough about the other schools to comment, but those are a couple things about Tulane, plus the campus is gorgeous.</p>
<p>OK…I’ll be more clear although I will admit that my experience with Tulane is based on ONE kid…a son of a good friend. Folks in New Orleans generally like to party. Big time. The kid we knew reported getting pressure to party 7 days per week. I don’t know if this is true or an exaggeration. He said the school was good for smart kids who like to party. Certainly PSU is also a BIG party school…both have ended up in the top 10/20 list for YEARS. Although PSU is much bigger (may be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it). I would say CMU is NOT a party school, for what it’s worth. </p>
<p>Regarding the architectural students, I’m sure NO is a terrific place to be.</p>
<p>There is a forum for architecture-- [Architecture</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/]Architecture”>Architecture Major - College Confidential Forums). You might post there (and search the threads for these schools).</p>
<p>thanks, 1moremom. I’m new to CC – this is my first post</p>
<p>I understand now toneranger. New Orleans is a fun place and students do have to be disciplined enough to say no sometimes. 7 days a week is an exaggeration I am sure, but like Penn State you can usually find a good party if you want.</p>
<p>I think you are right that CMU is not as much of a party school, but of course 18-22 year olds will always have parties. Personally I am not that much of a fan of the Oakland section of Pittsburgh for going to school, but many kids like it. All a matter of taste.</p>
<p>You need to listen to “#1 Party School” from the radio show This American Life.
[#1</a> Party School | This American Life](<a href=“http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/396/1-Party-School]#1”>http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/396/1-Party-School)</p>
<p>I almost pointed that show out as well. I have on many other threads.</p>
<p>To be fair, I don’t think many schools in the top 50 party school list would come out looking rosy if a radio show plopped down and recorded everything happening at 2am on a weekend. For sure, there is a visible (and rather disgusting) minority causing these issues on campus. I feel bad for the residents. But we are naive if we think this is the only place this stuff happens. Really. </p>
<p>For a balanced view check out THON. These kids raised close to 8 million for childhood cancer last year. Probably not the same ones featured in the radio show I would guess… [Home</a> | THON.org - Conquering Childhood Cancer](<a href=“http://www.thon.org/]Home”>http://www.thon.org/)</p>
<p>Hi toneranger. I don’t think anyone is saying the This American Life episode is unique to Penn State. You could substitute dozens, if not hundreds of other school’s names in there and the story would still be very accurate.</p>
<p>There are TONS of great kids that go to Penn State. It actually wouldn’t shock me if some of those kids in the show did also help raise money for charity. It’s an interesting time of life.</p>
<p>^^^ oh I don’t know about that. I think there are LOTS of parents who would like to think stuff like this ONLY happens at PSU. It’s easier that way :)</p>
<p>Well, that would be quite wrong of them. They should spend a few days at Alabama, Georgia, Mizzou…I could put almost any state school name there and quite a few privates. Just a fact of college life.</p>