<p>Top colleges like UC Berkeley, Princeton, UPenn, etc though offer a course in architecture but are not accredited. I wanted to know how difficult is to get through architecture programs at Liberal Arts Colleges and for that matter any non-accredited programs. Is it easier? Do they view your applications differently than say Cornell or Syracuse would?
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>You need to do research on admission for each school because they all have their own standards. Some are pretty much SAT and GPA driven, while others look at portfolios and interviews. For a place like Cornell or Rice you need to be outstanding on all of them.</p>
<p>How tough will this be? You need to look at each program and see how many studios they require. Studio is studio and whether part of a BA, BS, or BArch program they typically require tremendous amounts of time and effort. I just looked at Berkeley and though they only require two years of design studio they suggest that if you plan to go on to an MArch program you take an additional two semesters of studio. Princeton is a two year studio program, and I am not sure about Penn.</p>
<p>I would also say the term ‘non accredited’ is a bit misleading. These are typically accredited architecture schools, but the four year program is not a professional program and only professional programs can be accredited. </p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Tan, just to clarify do you mean a general liberal arts (as opposed to professional) program at a large to medium university or do you mean a small liberal arts college?</p>
<p>Either way, architecture studies is not a professional degree. Regardless of the intensity of the program, if you get a BA or a BS you still need to get an M.Arch in order to practice architecture. </p>
<p>The BA/BS programs at the individual colleges and universities vary widely and as Rick said you have to look at each one separately. But the point is that you can’t compare admissions to a B.Arch program to a BS/BA program because the commitment, objective and end result are completely different.</p>
<p>Thank you Rick & momrath
@Rick: what I wanted to know was how tough is the admission’s process? I did do some research, is it true that the LACs evaluate every application (other than one for an engineering degree) with the same view? Like, say someone applying for economics and architecture is viewed in the same respect? Whereas Cornell and Rice are more focussed on the portfolio and the design capabilities ?
Will Princeton be tougher to crack when applying for architecture? </p>
<p>@Momrath: I meant LACs in general. I will be applying to Brown and Barnard</p>
<p>Anybody else who can give some answers? Anything at all that will be helpful?</p>
<p>Tan, First the term LAC usually refers to a small liberal arts college like Williams or Swarthmore – generally defined as a college with about 2000 +/- students and limited or no graduate programs. Large and medium universities also offer the liberal arts (in addition to professional programs) but they are not usually called LACs. Barnard is an LAC. Brown and Princeton are universities that offer the liberal arts.</p>
<p>If your objective is to get a BA or a BS in architectural studies, art or any other liberal arts discipline, then, yes, the admissions process will be different from admissions to a B.Arch program. At many (I’d say most) US colleges and universities, you are not required to declare your major until some time at the end of your sophomore year.</p>
<p>You may indicate your area of interest on your application, but I don’t see it as a having significant impact on admissions. So, yes, architectural studies and economics would be evaluated equally. </p>
<p>This is what Princeton says. Other colleges and universities that offer the BA/BS in architecture would be much the same.
</p>
<p>The key factors for admissions in selective colleges and universities are grades, rank, scores, recommendations, extracurriculars, talent and life experience. Overarching all of this are diversity factors like race, religion, economic status.</p>
<p>There may be exceptions that offer programs that COMBINE undergraduate and graduate degrees, the way some medical schools offer 6 year programs, but I’m not aware of any undergraduate BA/BS program that is a particular fast track to the M.Arch. </p>
<p>Under any circumstances if you have an interest and talent in art, architecture or design and have a body of work that you’re proud of, you should definitely submit a portfolio with your application, even if the college doesn’t require it. Private colleges and universities (Princeton, Brown and Barnard included) consider artistic talent a plus in admissions.</p>
<p>I think the first thing you need to decide is if you’re going for a B.Arch or a BA/BS+M.Arch. There are pluses and minus to both, but the process is entirely different.</p>
<p>My son has a BA in art studio/art history from Williams and is now in Cornell’s M.Arch program. If that’s the kind of path you’d be interested in pursuing, let me know and I will try to answer your questions.</p>
<p>Not to disagree Momrath, but just to expand. When talking about BA/BS degrees you need to differentiate between the two year studio ‘general education’ programs, and the architecturally specific programs with three years of studio. As you pointed out Princeton is an example of the first. You apply general admissions to the university, don’t have to declare a major, and only begin major specific courses after two years of general studies. These schools will typically require you to go three years for your MArch.</p>
<p>Clemson is an example of the later. You apply specifically to the architecture school, and you can be accepted into the university but rejected by the architecture school. You begin preliminary drawing and design studios your freshman year, with full studio work starting your sophomore year. Starting your sophomore year the studio experience is just as intense as any BArch program. This program allows you to complete your MArch in two years.</p>
<p>The smaller private schools tend to have the two year BA/BS option, most of the state schools seem to have the three year version. Just look at the course requirements and it should be pretty clear which one they have.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Thank you so much rick & momrath. The replies are extremely helpful.
@Momrath - I am pretty much sure of architecture. I recently joined a drafting course and I love it. But I have varied interests which I’d like to pursue at college. I enjoy mathematics and have been a human right activist for a few years. So, I am looking at both the options. I know that a BS/BA + M. Arch is year longer than B. Arch. But besides that what are the cons?
Ps. Congrats to your son for Cornell.</p>
<p>Rick, Yes, there seem to be lots of different ways to get to that degree. My son commented that at his M.Arch class at Cornell, everyone seemed to have different class requirements and exemptions. </p>
<p>Tan, I don’t think you can do an M.Arch in one year with just a BA or BS. Maybe on top of a B.Arch? I may be wrong, but I think one year is overly optismistic. The Cornell program for example is 3.5 years. Many of the other M.Arch programs are 3 years. </p>
<p>Some of the specially tailored “combination” programs like the one at Clemson Rick described, allow you to get the M.Arch in two years, but these don’t leave much wriggle room to pursue other academic interests. As Rick said they are just as intense as the B.Arch.</p>
<p>The major downside of the BA/BS + M.Arch route is the time AND the money. You are basically paying for a full graduate degree. Grants are hard to come by so loans pile up. </p>
<p>The M.Arch may get you a somewhat higher salary than a B.Arch (or it may not) but compared to other graduate programs – like law or medicine or even business – entry level architecture jobs are notoriously lowpaid. If you intend to practice in the U.S., you also need to go through the licensing process on top of your B.Arch or M.Arch.</p>
<p>For my son however the plus side outweighed the negatives. He greatly benefited from his undergraduate liberal arts education and explored a range of academic disciplines and extracurricular interests.</p>
<p>Many M.Arch programs encourage some prior work/life experience and this contributes to the richness of the class experience. Architecture is multifaceted and in addition to creativity draws heavily on communication and analytic skills. The additional maturity helps.</p>
<p>The downside is that you may be in your 30’s before you’re licensed. To me, this sounds outrageously young, but I know that kids in their 20’s are anxious to start earning, and this lousy economy doesn’t allow for a lot of career experimentation.</p>
<p>The good news is that there are a lot of successful architects who are still going strong at 60, 70 or even 80. The joke is that that they’re still paying off their loans!</p>
<p>Haha thanks again momrath. If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me about your son’s stats and portfolio? It’ll give me a good idea.</p>
<p>Idea of the admissions process*</p>
<p>Tan, Bear in mind that my son did not apply to architecture school right out of high school. He considered a range of small liberal arts colleges and medium sized universities, but only actually applied ED to Williams. That was 8 years ago. Let’s just say he was in the middle of the high-achiever pack in grades/scores/rank but offered exceptional talent and life experience. </p>
<p>M.Arch admissions follows a totally different set of rules. You have a few years before you have to start worrying about that.</p>
<p>As I said, you’ll need to make up your mind whether you will apply for the B.Arch or go the BS/BA route. It’s possible to do both and make the decision when you get your acceptances, but you’d have to be prepared to put a lot of energy into your applications. </p>
<p>If you apply to selective BA/BS schools, my advice is to keep your grades up, don’t worry so much about scores, do the best you can on your essays and recommendations, submit a portfolio and any other pertinent information. Let the school know who you are and what your life experience will contribute to the campus community.</p>
<p>Instructions for submitting a portfolio are on the individual college’s website. They want to see facility with a range of media and creativity. Colleges – especially small LACs – need artists as well as football players and musicians. They understand that you’re just a high school student and will evaluate you on talent and potential.</p>
<p>Make sure you have a balanced list and add a couple of schools that go against the grain, i.e., don’t usually attract kids like you. </p>
<p>For information on B.Arch admissions you’d have to ask someone else, but for sure, if they require a portfolio it must be excellent, up a notch from level required for the BA/BS application.</p>
<p>BA/BS: Requires three-year minimum M.Arch 1st degree program to begin licensing process. !st degree program can be quite light on the structural engineering component for architectural license.</p>
<p>B.Arch: Accredited program allows B.Arch grad to begin licensing process, which is the apprenticeship period. Can obtain a 2nd architecture M.Arch degree in one or two years.</p>
<p>Note that M.Arch programs tend to have little financial aid available, and it’s not uncommon to graduate w/$100,000+ in student loan debt. I know several architects w/this debt load, and its a terrible burden when earning $35,000 to $50,000, and trying to establish a household.</p>
<p>B.Arch programs don’t necessarily require a portfolio of artwork, and admission is often based upon usual criteria of scores, GPA, etc. M.Arch programs want to see portfolio of architectural projects and/or artwork, plus references.</p>