Cornell vs. IIT (Architecture)

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all,

I’m super excited to start pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture this fall!
However, I have yet to decide which school I am going to attend. So far, I’ve narrowed it down to Cornell University and Illinois Tech.

I realize that both schools have amazing programs, although Cornell typically ranks higher than IIT (though I’m not sure how much attention I should pay to rankings). The size and location of the school doesn’t really matter to me – I feel like I’d fit in either a large or small school, and even though I’ve lived in an urban setting my entire life, Ithaca seems like a very beautiful/refreshing place to go to school in. I am slightly attracted to Cornell’s broad reputation and possibly a more traditional campus-centered college experience. I got the vibe that Cornell’s program is a little more conceptual than IIT’s and I know it provides more opportunities in the liberal arts, which I like (as I would like to pursue visual arts and some other disciplines on the side), and yet I feel like I’d be missing out on a program that strongly emphasizes practice.

A large part of my decision is going to be financial aid – I’m projecting that Cornell will cost around $9,000 more per year than IIT, which means I would have to take out some loans before I graduate. Does anyone know if it would be worth the investment to attend Cornell for architecture?

2

@Merewif, Congratulations on two excellent options! Money is a big factor in any college decision, but especially in architecture where entry level salaries are low relative to the cost of education. I wouldn’t consider ~$50 debt insurmountable, though, but your family’s comfort level is what’s important.

I don’t know that much about IIT so can’t give you a direct comparison. My son did his MArch at Cornell which again isn’t a direct comparison, but overall, he considers the Cornell experience rewarding, personally, artistically and professionally. Despite accumulating more debt that he would have liked, he would make the same decision again – in a heartbeat.

The obvious factors to look at are overall culture, environment, location, reputation and what you might do if it turns out that architecture is for you.

IIT and Cornell offer completely different academic environments – one small (2500 students) and tech focused, one large (22,000 students) across a full range of disciplines. Though you’ll be spending a good portion of your time in the architecture studio in either case, the overarching culture will still impact your experience – in the friends you make, the professors your interact with, the activities you participate in.

Urban Chicago and rural Ithaca are opposite ends of the spectrum in physical environment. Cornell students do “escape” on occasion to New York or take advantage of study abroad opportunities, but the campus is insular and self contained. My son who had only ever lived in big cities was attracted to the natural beauty of the campus surrounding areas, but there’s no denying that it is isolated from the pulse of the industry.

Both schools are well regarded by architecture professionals. Cornell has outstanding name recognition nation-wide and throughout the world, with strong alumni/ae connections to major firms in all major cities.

You’re probably aware that the fall-out rate for BArch is fairly high. You should think about what your choices would be if you decided to transfer into another major – and ask about how a transfer would impact your financial aid.

I think your observations on Cornell are accurate. The facilities and the calibre of the students and professors are phenomenally good. Wait and see how your final packages come out. Talk to Cornell about the shortfall. Be sure to understand how the funding will be maintained over 5 years.

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$9K/year isn’t insurmountable and Cornell, besides being one of the best architecture schools in the country, also gives you more options should you switch out of architecture to another major and a degree from a prestigious university, with strong industry and alumni connections. In my opinion it would be worth taking out that amount of loans for.