<p>D is trying to choose between UMD/CP (Scholars), Tulane, and VT (University Studies with hopes to transfer into Architecture). She likes aspects of all the schools and after scholarships, they are roughly equal in price. VT has the highest ranked Architecture program. Should she risk going to VT with the hopes of transferring into Architecture or should she pick one of the others? Any comments on the relative strengths of the architecture programs at Tulane and Maryland?</p>
<p>You can ask VT how many in house students transfer into their Arch program each year to get a sense of her chances but since you need a 4.0 GPA to get in as a freshman, it must be pretty competitive. If your daughter wants to do Arch, I think she should go to the school that accepts her in her chosen major rather than risk losing time and not getting in to VT’s program.</p>
<p>Internal transfer into Arch at VT is tough, even if you are successful. First, you are required to take two summer studio courses which determine if you are accepted into the program. Further, even successful completion, with high enough grades, of the summer programs can place you back into the first year of the five year BArch program. It can readily take six years to complete your architecture degree at VT with a transfer.</p>
<p>I would recommend going for an alternate school, as well.</p>
<p>Thank you for the feedback. Any comments specific comments on the UMD Architecture program vs. Tulane. Maryland is (4+2) BS Arch undergrad and Tulane is a 5 year B.Arch. We understand the schools are very different. We are looking for specific feedback on the quality of the architecture programs.</p>
<p>I am nearly certain that Tulane is in fact a 5 year M.Arch program. I do not believe Tulane offers a B.Arch. [Tulane</a> School of Architecture :: Degrees & Programs](<a href=“http://architecture.tulane.edu/programs/]Tulane”>World-Class Education in Architecture ,Estate Development)</p>
<p>Tulane’s dean has been there about 18 months and all reports are he is really excellent. High energy, very positive, and Tulane is really getting attention. It has also been cited as a “hidden gem” in Design Intelligence <a href=“http://architecture.tulane.edu/news/PDF/Design-Intelligence-1109b.pdf[/url]”>http://architecture.tulane.edu/news/PDF/Design-Intelligence-1109b.pdf</a> with Dean Schwartz being singled out. Post-Katrina Tulane’s architecture students have an unparalled opportunity to see their designs turned into reality <a href=“http://architecture.tulane.edu/news/PDF/DwellUrbanBuild_Article%20Dec_Jan3.pdf[/url]”>http://architecture.tulane.edu/news/PDF/DwellUrbanBuild_Article%20Dec_Jan3.pdf</a></p>
<p>Finally, New Orleans itself it a city filled with incredible architecture.</p>
<p>Tulane student here, we do get an M. Arch after five years but we also get a B. Arch (one of the very few schools that still do this. Tulane is definitely on the up since Katrina, and I would recommend visiting both schools before making your decision. Ranking is a highly superficial method of choosing a university: out of my choices back in high school, I went with the lowest ranked school but I am very happy here.</p>
<p>OK, cool. Thanks for clearing that up Sean. Clarify one more thing for us, please. You get both a B.Arch adn M.Arch after 5 years, but the way the program works at Tulane, can you get a B.Arch only or is it all or nothing?</p>
<p>You can’t do one or the other- you get both after you graduate. If you drop out after one year, you get a Minor in Architectural Studies. I’m not sure why we get both a B. Arch and M. Arch, probably just to emphasize that it’s an integrated 5-year undergrad/graduate program. We also offer a Master’s in Preservation Studies, which requires that you take an additional studio for one or two years, I can’t recall. Hope this clears things up.</p>
<p>It does, very much so. I think you are right, it is what they refer to as a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s 5 year program, and it is one option in some other areas of study, the other being a regular Bachelor’s in 4 years. In Architecture it just happens to be the only option. Thanks again for the info.</p>
<p>Sean and fallenchemist, thanks for clarification and the advice. Sean, with the 5 year M.Arch, is it 100% architecture, 100% of the time or have you had a chance to take other courses outside the absolute requirements for architecture?</p>
<p>I can actually answer that, but Sean should weigh in too with his first hand experience. But first let me point out this article that just came today which shows a great collaboration between the Scool of Architecture, the School of Business and the local community. It doesn’t get much more real world than this for an undergraduate!</p>
<p>[Tulane</a> University - Saving Circle Food](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/041310_circle_food.cfm]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/041310_circle_food.cfm)</p>
<p>OK, so the requirements. Tulane is extremely unique in that the School of Architecture is still part of Newcomb-Tulane College instead of being its own college. That means a student must still satisfy the requirements of N-T College which have extensive elements of the classic liberal arts education. See the following link to the university catalog and go to page 142 to see a typical schedule. <a href=“http://www.tulane.edu/~ntuc/catalog_pages/catalog.pdf[/url]”>http://www.tulane.edu/~ntuc/catalog_pages/catalog.pdf</a> You will see that there is a general elective in every semester, and sometimes 2, except for Spring semester of the 3rd year. Page 145 summarizes the non-Architecture electives, a total of 13 courses. I think you will agree that represents a very well rounded education.</p>
<p>That’s what is on paper, perhaps Sean can tell us what it really feels like “on the ground”.</p>
<p>You have a set base curriculum you have to take every year within architecture, and you always have to be in design studio. That being said, in my freshman year, I typically was taking half/half between architecture and satisfying some of my requirements. I took a history class and Arabic 101 in 2nd year, but besides that most of my classes have been architecture related. This is just my experience-- I have a lot of friends minoring in business related majors. Also, the architecture courses here are very diverse and i’ve never had the feeling that I was only taking studio. I took a lot of AP classes in high school so I fulfilled most of the Newcomb-Tulane requirements before even getting to school.</p>