<p>There is no UNC Charlotte thread on CC so I'm asking on NC State if anyone has any sense of how the UNC Charlotte Architecture program ranks next to NC State. UNCC has a rigorous application process, first you get admitted to the university, then you complete a separate Architecture application, and then 200 get invited to interview, of which they pick 64. That sounds very selective, yet I hear nothing about the program on any of the ranking list. If anyone knows how this program is perceived in North Carolina, I'd love to hear. Thank you.</p>
<p>My girlfriend applied to both. The general opinion is that while both schools are great, State’s is more prestigious and firms tend to recruit more from State than Charlotte. Considering the distance between the two cities, though, I don’t think competition will be a major factor in getting a job. Most students with very high grades also apply out-of-state to other schools of architecture.</p>
<p>Admittance to NCSU’s College of Design is also a very selective process.<br>
In NC I think people think of NCSU over UNCC for Architecture. I’m sure UNCC’s program is probably a strong one also. I have a degree fr. UNCC. Programs aside, I would say NCSU is a better college experience/more fun than UNCC.</p>
<p>acme- I hope this helps a bit…I was design major at NC State and can vouch that it is an incredible program, both intellectually and technically. I am now in grad school for interior architecture (in PA) and people here recognize the rigor of NCSU’s design program. They tend to attract a different caliber of students due to their high GPA standards, and I would say that the quality of their professors are on caliber with CMU or Cornell. NC State also offers a great campus experience…and the design school is a pretty tight-knit community.
Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>My daughter applied to both schools in October. She is a Boston area high school senior. The process definitely seems more rigorous for NCSU, and thus far the application was easier for UNCC. It will be interesting. Her GPA is NOT a 4.0, though it’s high, it appears an more outstanding academic record will be necessary for admission to the NCSU School of Design.</p>
<p>NC State is obviously the older school, but the UNCC School of Architecture has the higher standards when it comes to SAT scores (2000+), GPA(4.0 or higher), and the interview process. This past year, there were actually about 300 applications, and apparently this year, they’re ahead of last year. 56 are admitted. Most students who are admitted to both UNCC and State choose to go to UNCC, not because the campus life is better (it’s not) but because of the reputation of the school, the quality of its facilities, and the caliber of its professors.</p>
<p>My D was accepted to uncc recently. When the architecture application arrived with her acceptance letter she changed her mind and switched her major. The essay questions they were requiring appeared very difficult and as uncc is not high on her list of schools she didn’t want to put the effort into the continuing process of getting into the sch of architecture.</p>
<p>I have had the unique experience of attending both uncc and ncsu for architecture. I would say that although they are both good schools they are also vastly different in that uncc allows for more design/research exploration while ncsu has the tradition and is much more technical in their approach. For example, uncc requires graduate students to complete a thesis project before graduation, ncsu openly discourages it and only allows a very select number of students to pursue the thesis out of fear that they will embarrass the school… For me the primary drawback for uncc is that it’s in Charlotte, sort of at least, it’s actually in the middle of absolute nowhere and, as a city, Raleigh is a much much better place to live. That being said, if i had to choose between the two with all things being equal, and not considering the cities themselves, i would choose uncc hands down. I believe in exploration in education, especially in the case of graduate studies and ncsu too many times has almost gone out of their way to prevent that. However, if i was an in coming undergraduate, who planned on getting my M.Arc afterward, i would chose ncsu for the intense technical training/history/theory and attend a more exploratory school, such as uncc, for my graduate studies. It is much more difficult and less beneficial to go the other way around. I hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for this insightful answer. I’ve been accepted to UNCC, NC State, and UT Knoxville and am presently trying to decide between UNCC and UT. I had already come to basically the conclusion you outline about the UNCC/NC State comparison, but it helps to read it from someone who has been to both schools. Do you know anything about UT in terms of a comparison to UNCC?</p>
<p>I’m curious whether you chose UNCC or UT Knoxville, and why?</p>
<p>I concur with your conclusions about NCSU and UNCC - I think there is greater room for learning on your own terms at UNCC, from what I’ve heard from students there.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions (IComeCorrect). I have been accepted to both UNCC and NCSU for architecture grad school, but have had a very difficult time deciding on which to attend. UNCC has, hands down, far better facilities than NCSU. The opportunities at UNCC to explore your own ideas in more depth seem endless, as there is much more freedom to decide your direction in the grad program. My undergrad experience at NCSU was great with regard to projects and concepts, but there were quite a few administration issues and recent changes that threw everyone in my class into confusion. However, NCSU seems to have better connections to local architects (even though I have never personally utilized said connections). Also, at NCSU, they seem to be more focused on conceptual development through a structured studio system (in the grad program). But, would anyone, by chance, happen to know how larger firms/businesses look upon UNCC versus NCSU with regards to the level of education/quality?</p>
<p>Not an expert but am a UNCC alum living in the Charlotte area. My husband and son are NCSU grads (not architecture). I would guess that the UNCC degree would be very good if planning to locate in/around Charlotte and the western part of NC. Otherwise, NCSU is a much bigger “name” that’s known farther afield. Even though the UNCC program might be a better in many aspects, the name recognition doesn’t go very far. NCSU is known nationwide while UNCC is still considered a “branch” university…just my opinion.</p>
<p>I am a first year architecture student at UNC Charlotte. After never taking an art or architecture class before, I made it to the Dean’s List in the fall and the Chancellor’s List in the spring semester. I learned so much, and slept so little, but it was definitely worth it. I have heard first hand from Dean Ken Lambla of the UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture that the School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte is the toughest program (of any major) to get accepted into in the entire UNC system (statewide). The first-year program is one of the top programs in the nation. Other colleges are modeling their program after UNC Charlotte, such as Washington University at St. Louis and Clemson University. UNC Charlotte only accepts the best, as they desire to greatly impact those who will naturally succeed. I have heard from those that applied to NC State for architecture that the first year is so generic, and that they would not recommend it. NC State is a larger school, but UNC Charlotte is a community of architecture students striving for the best. Go 49ers!</p>
<p>Does anyone know which of the two schools (NC State or UNCC) is more Art focused or less computer focused? </p>
<p>Is there a weed out program for either Architecture program? </p>
<p>When you apply to the colleges do you gain automatic admittance to NC State or UNCC’s Architecture program? </p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>newjersey17, </p>
<p>I can’t speak much to question #1, since I know very little of UNCC’s program. But, I will comment that all College of Design Freshman take their Studio classes together. The Arch students out number the other majors, but they get to rub shoulders in Studio with the Art+Design, Graphic and Industrial Design students. I’m sure my “artsy” D rubbed off on a few Arch students her first year. Regarding #2 and #3…</p>
<p>My D is in the College of Design (not Arch, but Art + Design) and she says that 2nd year Studio is the weed out class. Architecture students pretty much get no sleep, and have very little life outside of Studio if they plan to continue in Arch. Those who do not have the dedication, don’t make it. She knows 1 or 2 who have switched majors after 2nd year Studio did them in. (it goes without saying of course that math reqs can also be an obstacle to some). I know what she has gone through in the Studios for her major, and if Arch is even tougher (she says it is), you’re in for a real treat :-)</p>
<p>Regarding acceptance: When you apply to NCSU, and mark Arch as your first choice of major, you are applying for acceptance into the Arch program. If you get accepted into the Arch program you have all the acceptance you need…your IN! If you don’t make the cut, you could still be admitted to the Univ., but in your 2nd choice of major outside of the College of Design. </p>
<p>Hope that helps…good luck!</p>
<p>At NC State you will select your major when you apply to the school, unlike at UNCC where you apply to Architecture school after you are a student.</p>