Cornell Architecture vs Cooper Union Architecture vs Brown

College Search & Selection
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Hello! I feel extremely lucky to have gotten into my top choice schools, but I don’t know how I’m ever going to come to a decision about where to attend. I realize these schools are very different, and that I’m comparing apples to oranges, but if anyone has any input that might help, I’d very much appreciate it!

I feel most excited by the prospect of a studio-based education–I love the idea of a very intense very creative environment in which my own ideas and projects govern how my time and energy are spent and where I spend hours and hours working alongside my peers in the studio. I’ve grown up in a creative environment, and working on my portfolio (for Cornell and other arch schools) and on the studio test (for Cooper Union) was a really really great experience. I am at my best when I’m working with my hands on some project that came from my own imagination–its probably my favorite feeling.

The quality of student work I’ve seen from both Cooper Union and Cornell is quite impressive. Cooper Union sounds a bit more like art school, and Cornell seems a bit more traditional, but I could be wrong. I really love the idea of living in NYC (more so than Ithica) , but I think I like the size of Cornell’s arch school a bit better and I would still have some of the resources of a large university.

However, I’m not entirely certain I want to be an architect–it’s either that or something in the entertainment industry (probably film). I fairly confident in my abilities in architecture, and a bit less so for film. If I were to go to Cornell or Cooper Union, I probably wouldn’t have time to do anything but architecture, so I wouldn’t get the chance to dip my feet in my other career interest. At Brown, I could definitely try out both fields, but the architecture concentration they offer has only two available studio classes, which is really what I’m interested in. They do have some great sounding art courses and film courses. I would also have time at Brown to join a film club or improve or theatre or whatever else I might discover, which would be difficult at arch school.

I realize I could go to grad school for either field, but that’s more expensive and it feels like a bit of a cop out for just committing to something.

I know only I can make a decision, but I think it’s helpful just to hear what other people would do. Thank you!!!

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Wow!! Congrats on those acceptances!!

Since you do not want to only focus architecture (which will be very intensive at Cornell and Cooper), and possibly want to do film, I would suggest Brown U as you will also have the opportunity to take courses at RISD as their campus is quite integrated with Brown. I’m not too sure of the film opportunities at RISD so you should do some research on that.

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Re: Cornell, check the architecture college requirements, they probably have room for free electives that can be taken at any of its colleges. The other colleges there are all like that, but I know least probably about Architecture.

I know of someone who received a joint degree from both CAARP and the arts & sciences college. But that person was not an architecture major, and it was ages ago. To do such you would have to apply (when you are there already for at least a year, probably) to the other college, whether for transfer or for joint degree. But transfers between colleges are common and so long as you did well in coursework you’d probably be ok.

But no application is required just to take some courses offered at the other colleges. Basically everyone does that, there.

I understand the desire to “play the field” for as long as possible, but the other side is if you don’t go for architecture undergrad, and at the end you do decide you want to be an architect, you would have to go to grad which would take longer and be more expensive. I think. (But I am no expert in this.) so it might be better to try the architecture for a year, see how it goes, and if you decide you don’t like it, switch out.

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@CoLeGe2001 Three terrific choices, but the first decision you need to make is whether you are ready to commit to a BArch program or if you’d prefer a more balanced liberal arts undergraduate experience.

My son did his BA in visual art and art history and then went to Cornell for his MArch. This was an ideal arrangement for him, but I would stress that it takes longer and usually costs more than the BArch route.

Cornell’s School of Architecture deserves its reputation as one of the best in the country. The professors, the visiting instructors, the facilities, the alumni/ae network, the internship and career placement opportunities, the Rome campus are amazing as is the talent and intellect of the student body. If you want to pursue the BArch, you couldn’t choose better, however that’s a big IF. The BArch itself is intensely architecture focused. Although there are elective opportunities, it’s mostly all architecture all the time and the fall out rate is high.

Cooper is also an excellent choice. The differences between Cornell and Cooper are mainly in the environment – Manhattan vs Ithaca, in the size and type of the parent university/college and the interests of your classmates. Cooper students are intensely involved in a narrow range of disciplines. Cornell students are majoring in everything under the sun. Plus Cornell has Ivy League sports, a Greek system, a lively college town and basically a big American university experience. Cooper has New York and an elite reputation in the arts. Neither is better than the other, just different.

The Brown architecture concentration is a strong program, even though Brown itself doesn’t have a school of architecture. Brown’s relationship with RISD which does have a school of architecture adds another dimension.

I wouldn’t consider getting a BA+MArch instead of a BArch a “cop-out.” The BA/BS+MArch route is VERY common among architects and many BA/BS grads work for a couple of years in the industry before heading back to graduate school. The additional undergraduate courses in other areas of the liberal arts will add to your depth and maturity as an architect. Architecture is a marathon; not a sprint.

Having said that, the MArch is an expensive degree and entry level architecture salaries are notoriously low. Financial aid in the form of grants is available, but is difficult to predict. With a BA from Brown, you may be able to finish an MArch in 2.0 years or it may take you 3.0 to 3.5 years. Each MArch programs is structured differently. So realistically you have to consider the financial element as well.

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Cornell B. Arch. sample curriculum is here:
https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/architecture/undergraduate/barch-curriculum

Looking on-line at the Sample Curriculum, there are about eleven course slots listed as “Free Out of Department Electives".
About ten other electives are specified as “Departmental Electives” and two more are specifically labelled “Out of College Electives”.

If the “Free Out of Department Electives” can be taken outside of the Architecture college, that would make a total of 13 courses, which really isn’t nothing, so far as exploring other interests outside of architecture. IMO. OP should ask them, if it matters to OP.

CAS has a “Department of Performing and Media Arts” that offers some programs and courses that may be of interest, as elective courses if not more.

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(got timed out)
If OP follows this curriculum for a year and then wants to switch out to an Arts & Sciences college, some of the first year courses might be counted as in-college credits by a liberal arts & sciences college (the out-of-college electives and maybe History of Architecture?), but others would likely have to be applied as out-of-college electives for the Arts & Sciences college, Whether at Cornell or elsewhere. Probably would not delay graduation but would limit flexibility to take more out-of-college electives at the new college. I would guess.

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thanks for the replies! I’ll be visiting all three next week, so hopefully that’ll help

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Hi, Im a current first year architecture student at the Cooper Union. So far I love Cooper Union’s architecture program. Although my entire class (36 people in total) agrees that we have gotten pretty lucky with one another as we are such a close group, I can see why the small class size is intimidating or off putting. In terms of your other interests, there are clubs at Cooper Union but quite frankly the work load is a lot, and so committing to other endeavors is hard to do. So, if you really are considering other majors or things like that, there isn’t really an option to switch other than transferring out of the school altogether to pursue your entertainment/film dream. I completely feel the same way that you do about studio culture. Something great about Cooper Union is that the studio for years one through four is connected- there is no separation, allowing for conversation between the younger and older students. It is definitely something we all appreciate, speaking to upperclassmen about assignments that we are currently doing, as well as asking them what they are learning too.
Im a commuter, so living in New York is not something I have newly experienced beginning college. However, I love the area that the school is located in. Being a block away from NYU, the part of the city both schools are located in is very young and present- it definitely adds to the schools appeal.
Overall, Cooper Union’s workload is demanding and requires a lot of attention, so Im not sure if you should be willing to give up your other option (film) to fully commit.
While I can’t speak for other programs, I just wanted to write from my own experience so it can answer some of your questions about Cooper specifically. I hope this helps! Good luck! :slight_smile:

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Thank you for the personal insight! My son was also accepted to Cooper and while we know of it’s great reputation and appreciate what it has to offer and its cool location etc. my son is not leaning towards it because he felt it is so limited with all things living and breathing “Architecture” with no outside interests and no campus. When we visited and he asked if the other students in Art/engineering intermingle sometimes --which would seem like a natural thing to do since the courses are somewhat related --the answer was ‘no’. When he asked a student about social activities the answer was that they mainly revolve around the studio…hanging out while everyone works? So I think he will select another school where he can have some downtime away from the studio. Probably not a lot but it’s nice to know there’s that option. But thanks again for your comments. It’s hard to get much info about the school.