Hey everyone! Here are my college admission decisions:
Accepted:
UVA Architecture instate
Washington University St. Louis Architecture
Tulane Architecture with 30k scholarship
Syracuse Architecture with 15k scholarship
Virginia Tech industrial design instate
Northeastern University Architecture
Babson College Design, Technology and Entrepreneurship major
Denied:
Lehigh, Carnegie Mellon Design
Can anyone give me their opinion on where you think I should go? I have a preference for a 4 year arch program that has solid backup options if architecture doesn’t work out. I also have a very vested interest in entrepreneurship. Any thoughts? Thanks!
My D is at WashU and is studying Architecture. She told me her TA got accepted to the Ivy’s - Harvard, Yale, UPenn, etc. for Masters in Architecture and is having a hard time deciding which university to pick. WashU is really amazing. They sure know how to cater to the students (#1 food in the country, #1 dorms, top 10 in happiest students, etc.) My D loves WashU and she isn’t coming home anymore!
Have you visited any of the universities? That will help you decide. It’s after all about FIT!
From your list it looks like they all offer business majors too which seems important to you. WashU is big on entrepreneurship. They have a lot of on campus university businesses that are owned and managed by the students. For example, UTrucking and Bears Bikes are very popular at WashU.
You didn’t mention whether finances are an issue, in which case your in-state options would indicate UVA as the best choice since it would have a larger variety of optional majors than Va Tech if you change your mind (assuming in-state options are the most affordable).
Consider where you think you will want to work after you graduate. If you have a strong preference and really envision yourself living and working in a particular city or region, then choose one of the universities in that location so you can start building local connections. There is a big difference between Boston, New Orleans and St. Louis, etc. Maybe instead you have a preference for where you would like to live for the next four years, to try out a new location different from where you grew up, or perhaps to stay close to home, family and friends. Your lifestyle and happiness in a place will impact your overall satisfaction with your choice of university.
Think about how you will get to each university also – by car or plane or some other way? You will be going back and forth a lot. Do you plan to have a car on campus? If not, consider what local transportation options exist. Of course, Boston would have the most public transportation and walkable areas of your choices.
For the scholarship offers, take a good look at the minimum required GPA to keep the scholarships, and if there is any way to reinstate them if your GPA falls below the minimum. Consider whether the GPA is realistic for your major. Also note whether any of the scholarships depend on your choice of major, and limit you from changing your mind.
Lots of successful architects are essentially entrepreneurs, starting and running their own architecture firms. Your interests are not mutually exclusive. Good luck!
@jookes, Some good choices! The two factors that seem to me to be the most critical are the degree/program and the money.
If Syracuse means the BArch program and you don’t want to go directly into a BArch program, then that seems to be an easy one to eliminate.
The non-architecture choices (Industrial design, technology & entrepreneurship) are a little harder to walk away from because of your varied interests, but I would think that UVA, WUSTL, Tulane and Northeastern could provide a range of disciplines if it turns out that architecture isn’t for you.
I wouldn’t rank Northeastern in the same category academically as UVA and WUSTL (I’m not sure about Tulane) but NEU has the advantage of being in Boston – which is a good environment for architects – and its co-op program can add to your resume and help defray costs.
So I’d suggest you do a detailed analysis of what it will cost to get your BA/BS at each of the remaining contenders and evaluate how you will be able to fund an eventual MArch.
All of these architecture programs are well respected in the industry, and all could lead to solid MArch acceptances, but in addition to potential cost differences, there are also differences in location and culture. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to visit your shortlist.
I wouldn’t worry too much about losing out on the opportunity to satisfy your entrepreneurial cravings. Architecture is at the end of the day a business, which will become apparent when you actually work in the industry. You can supplement your undergraduate or graduate studies with as much business as you can absorb. Also with any architecture degree whether BA/BS, BArch or MArch, you can specialize in architecture subsets such as real estate development, construction management, technology, sustainability. It’s a broad field and design is only one aspect.
Thanks for all the help guys! I’ve narrowed it down to two colleges: UVA and WashU.
UVA will cost me around 30,000 (instate) and WashU will cost 35,000. I’ve visited both recently and loved both programs. UVA seems to focus a lot more on sustainability while WashU is very design focused. I’m honestly torn between the two.
Since you’re interested in design as well as architecture, I’d go with washU. If your family can afford 35k it really is a bargain . The level of support, comfort, facilities, resources you’ll have access to is quite incredible , such as even uva can’t match them. Since the cost differential is so small (in the grand scheme of things ) it’s a second reason for WashU.
My son was admitted to the 5-year B.Arch programs you were, plus Carnegie-Mellon and USC. He chose Tulane ans is really looking forward to it. We visited twice, and were incredibly impressed, esp. with the architecture program and the direction the new Dean has taken it in. I’ve heard great things about the 4-year B.S. programs at U.Va. and Wash. U. But we have several friends who are architects (all went to different schools and have had different career paths), and all advised going the B.Arch. route.
I have been advised against the BArch actually. I heard that it takes the same amount of time to graduate since it requires more internship hours, and doesn’t really offer much academic flexibility (which is fine if you are certain that you want to do architecture)
I’ve also found it will take 7 years (5 yr BArch +2 yr Masters) vs 6 years (4 yr BS + 2 yr Masters) which can be more expensive and definitely more time consuming. There aren’t many schools offering a one year Masters so you’ll have to go for 2 or 3 years. For example, Rice dropped their 1 year Masters in Architecture program. So if you are getting a Masters it seems like it will take less time if you take the 4+2 route. You’ll also have more grad schools options to choose from.
@Jookes which university did you choose? Good luck too!!
@UpstateNYDad good luck to your son too. That’s neat that Tulane offers both BArch and BS in Architecture. That’s allows a nice flexibility option for your son.
@UpstateNYDad, Congratulations to your son on choosing Tulane!
I think the choice between the BArch and the BS/BA+MArch is purely personal, depending on your level of commitment to architecture and the kind of undergraduate experience you’re looking for.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of BArchs go on to get MArchs. My observation is that it’s fairly common in some markets (New York, Boston, other major cities) but less so throughout the country.
Tulane 2015 architecture grad here. Congrats on Tulane!!! So Exciting! I chose Tulane over many other architecture schools (syracuse, carnegie mellon, wash u, among others) and it was definitely the best decision I could have made.
Just a couple of clarification points: a 5 year B. Arch and 4 year BS differ mostly in workload, so depending on your goals and what you are trying to get out of the experience, that can facilitate which direction you choose to go down. Generally, a B. arch is more architecture focused and a BS has a more liberal arts bend to it with a “concentration” in design. That being said, at most 5 year accredited B. Arch programs you do not need to go to grad school afterwards in order to get a job and take licensing exams, so you would actually be saving yourself a year or two of school. The trade off is greater workload, higher expectations, and a more rigorous studio environment. a B.S or B.A. in architecture you can work in a firm with your degree, but you cannot become licensed until you obtain an M.arch degree.
Not 100% sure, but a school such as northeastern still ends up being a 5 year program because of co-op, but it is still a BS in architecture, so always be sure to check the specifics and make sure you are getting exactly what you are signing up for!
Hope that’s helpful! happy to answer any questions!
) it’s a second reason for WashU.