<p>Virginia tech is supposed to be in the top 3. I believe Syracuse is up there too. I have never visited the school either. I also understand Univ of Buffalo has a good program.</p>
<p>I went to VTs website and they do have a M.Arch program so if he got his BS in Arch studies at univ of buffalo, he could get his M.Arch at Virg Tech.<br>
[VT</a> · school of architecture + design · a+d · architecture master of architecture](<a href=“http://www.archdesign.vt.edu/architecture/m-arch]VT”>http://www.archdesign.vt.edu/architecture/m-arch)</p>
<p>No one will care where his 4 yr degree is from. If he waits to try to reapply to the B.Arch at Vir Tech after a year of Urban Planning, he will spend 6 yrs getting a 5 yr BS degree. He can still have his dream to go to Virg Tech if he is admitted to the Masters program, he just may not be able to start his dream there. </p>
<p>You obviously need to go see the school. Find out truly how difficult will it be for him to get in if he waits. Virg Tech is very competitive and if he didn’t get in the second year, he then will need to be satisfied with a 4 year degree in Urban Planning. He can still get his M.Arch there (though from what I have read, it is recommended to get your Masters from a different school to show you are diverse) but without studio classes, it will take 3 more years not the 2 a BS in Arch studies allows.</p>
<p>In the end, he can still be an Architect and still go to Virg Tech it will just take longer if that is what he chooses. He still needs 3 years of internship (no matter which route he takes) before he can take his tests to be certified. I wish you and he good luck in your decision.</p>