<p>This is part of a PM (?) I sent, but I'd love any broader input: The background is that my son is a hs junior in his second week of arch summer college at Cornell. I'd welcome any response from Cornell arch students who beforehand did the summer program.
So, you're getting a B. arch at Cornell now? I gotta say, my son is a hard worker and knew what to expect, but I thought he might have time for at least a little fun. I feel like the summer college brochure should be ammended to read:
Ice cream socials, intramural sports, movie nights (but NOT for arch students). He hasn't been able to participate in any of that. He's played his guitar once (the weekend before classes started, and hasn't even taken his soccer ball out of his suitcase). Can you tell me, yes or no, is this truly a miniature version of the real Cornell B. Arch - or can you get a B. arch at cornell and have at least a little bit of a normal college experience. And by this, I mean, hang out with friends, play an intramural sport, etc. If not, do you think this would be true with any B. arch program -- he was thinking Cornell ED, CMU, Syracuse, RPI (?), Penn State (?). If so, I might encourage him to rethink the BA+M. arch option, because he's good at and enjoys a lot of things other than academics/design studio, and I'd hate for him to give these up at 18.<br>
thanks folks, I appreciate your input in advance.</p>
<p>i did the summer program too and though it is a lot of work and you do miss out on a lot of activities, i had a ton of fun being with friends in studio and occasionally doing things outside of studio. </p>
<p>the difference between sc and the real thing is that in the summer you only get to focus on studio, which is really nice. as a cornell arch student, you not only have to focus on studio, but you also have 5-6 other classes to take. that doesnt mean your son won't have time to have fun (though maybe towards crunch time it's a little different haha)..your son will really need to learn how to manage his time well to do activities outside of studio. it's really important to be balanced as an architecture student.</p>
<p>this is usually why first year can be tough because students aren't used to knowing how to manage their time efficiently and end up pulling a lot of unnecessary all nighters. </p>
<p>and lastly, the truth with any architecture program and especially at cornell, is that architecture is a very time-commitment major and if you dont have the total commitment to be willing to spend long nights in studio, then it may not be the best fit for your son. BA+M or the B.ARCH-either way, either education will require the same number of design studios. </p>
<p>on the other hand, those who enjoy it get a lot out of it. i certainly do and don't have regrets pulling all nighters for something that i am really passionate about.</p>
<p>Saw this a while ago, but am just now reviewing your helpful comments. Thanks again Sashimi, very helpful as always. Yay, 2 more weeks at summer college and I get my son back for a year! Whew.</p>