<p>I'm accepted at both Pratt and Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>Does anyone have some useful insight into the programs at either?</p>
<p>I got 15,000 a year at pratt and would pay out of state for cal poly. All of that leaves pratt about 8,000 a year more expensive. Is it worth it?</p>
<p>Cal Poly was rated #2 this year by DI. Take this with a grain of salt, but, if you want to know, its a great school.</p>
<p>Travel to and from SLO can be challenging and pricey for OSS which might cut into your 8K spread. Also I’ve heard complaints that it’s “you pay for every little thing” program, so you have to budget $$ for all supplies, fees etc. (I don’t know what Pratt supplies) Also CA budget cuts really effect things at Cal Poly and it is hurting for repairs, maintenance and any extras. There was a on campus housing squeeze, but I think that’s been mostly resolved and there’s abundant off campus housing. It’s our “neighborhood” school, just down the road a ways, so I know many attending students and grads, (although not a single architecture student!). What you might check into is that I haven’t met a single kid in the last few years who has graduated on time, everyone seems to have trouble getting in necessary classes as sections fill quickly. However that may just be kids “stretching” their college time while on their parents nickle. I don’t know if this applies to architecture as it’s such a rigidly sequenced program.</p>
<p>That said, the weather is wonderful, the area is beautiful, it’s a highly ranked program. Did I mention the great weather and how beautiful the area is? I’m a bit biased, it’s practically in my backyard and they accepted my son (who declined so that he can freeze his butt off in New England!</p>