<p>I got accepted by University of Michigan. It seems they ranked the 1st for graduate architecture program in 2011. But I could hardly find any reports about their achievements or famous alumni. Is it a decent program?</p>
<p>Uncle, I not sure about the rankings, but Michigan has an excellent architecture department. When my son was choosing, he attended the program for accepted students and was very impressed by the faculty and facilities. In the end he chose to stay in the Northeast, but Michigan was a top contender.</p>
<p>Have you visited? That might give you more confidence in the strength of the program. Also, I’m sure the school would be pleased to provide you with more informaiton on their famous – or at least accomplished – alumni/ae.</p>
<p>The Dean, Monica Ponce de Leon, is well respected as an academic and as an architect. In the five years that she’s been at Michigan, she’s recruited a team of excellent professors and intensified the school’s design focus.</p>
<p>I did my undergrad for architecture at Michigan, and I loved it. Even though I was an undergrad, you share the same floor as the graduate students so I’ve seen a lot that they do. The studio environment alone there is something you won’t get at a lot of other places that have small cramped studios. I believe they have the largest studio layout out of all of the other schools, its completely open, with nice desks and credenzas. It’s very easy to get connected with the faculty there as well. Show interest and enthusiasm and you will get lots of help from any professor.
They also like to rave about their fablab. The usual laser cutters and 3d printers, but also routers, waterjet cutter, zund knife cutter, and robots, if you are into fabrication at all.
The program is very design focus, and branches into theory if you have the interest. I will say that you don’t learn much about structures and such, but the classes are there for it. Just not a whole lot of emphasis on those things.
There is a lot of research going on at U of M currently as well. So, like I said, very easy to get involved and have great discussions with professors, probably on just about anything you may be interested in architecturally.
Great school, wonderful faculty, and overall good experience for me. Go Blue!</p>
<p>ricearch - Great post! Were you able to have a life outside of the studio? Did you pull all-nighters frequently? thanks</p>