I’m looking for advice on which college to choose, UVa or ND. I’m planning to major in architecture. I’ve visited both schools and love both. Notre Dame is closer to home (4 hours away), and UVa is further away (about 14 hours from home), but the distance doesn’t really matter to me. The costs are about the same too, so I’m not deciding on that factor. Does anyone have any advice in general about which school to choose, or (even better) advice in particular about the differences between the two architecture programs. Notre Dame is a 5 year B.Arch program where the architecture students spend their entire 3rd year in Rome. It’s a classical architecture program with emphasis on hand drafting and watercolors. UVa is a 4 year pre-professional degree, after which I would do a 2 year Masters somewhere. I’m ok with either option. I’m not Catholic, but that doesn’t matter to me much. I love the sense of community at both schools. I’m also a musician and plan to play in the marching band and sing. The football traditions at ND are stronger, but the band at both schools have great traditions and spirit. Whatever anyone is able to tell me about the architecture programs, the band, or the culture in general at either school would be appreciated. Thanks.
@architectureguy, Two good choices!
When comparing costs be sure to to include the cost of getting your MArch if you choose UVA. The MArch at UVA will be 2.0 years; at another architecture school it would be 2.0 3.0 years and either way costly.
The BArch at ND will be narrower and more strictly architecture focused than the BS at UVA. The BS will allow you more room to experiment in other disciplines, but in order to be licensed in most states you would need to get an MArch. I understand that UVA offers a pretty much automatic admissions to its own MArch program.
I think the major point of differentiation is Notre Dame’s classical focus: this is either a plus or a minus depending on your perspective on contemporary architecture. UVA has an especially notable landscape architecture program.
UVA also manages several study abroad opportunities, but probably not as established as ND’s Rome program. Overall both are excellent universities, with a lot of overlap in campus culture, although UVA is considerably larger. In the event that architecture doesn’t work out for you, you’d be well placed at either one.
I’d lean towards UVA, assuming cost is not a factor for either school. Notre Dame’s “classical” architecture program is just that - classical. There’s no computer use until 3rd or 4th year, which, I’m sorry to say to ND, is just too little, too late. Any kid coming out of an architecture program, either BArch or BA/BS needs to have a solid understanding of CAD design, Rhino, BIM, etc to be competitive in today’s architectural industry. D2, who graduated last year from Penn State, where computer use starts in 1st year, wishes she still had had more hands-on experience, even though she’s more digitally knowledgeably than any of the other architects who graduated more than 2 years previously. Hand sketching is a valuable tool, but in today’s multi-site, multinational client base, electronic imaging is vital.
By the way, Penn State and Notre Dame (and Purdue) share the same studio in Rome. D2 was not impressed by the caliber of work the ND kids were putting out. She noted that the ND program was rather constrained with a great deal of scheduled activity. She said that the Penn Stater’s saw and experienced more of Italy and Europe in one semester than ND kids saw in a year. And of course that the PSU projects were much more intense (I’d take that biased observation with a grain of salt 
) YMMV
Financially, ND may be a better option because you will receive aid for 5 vs. 4 years at UVA (assuming you will be getting aid). Also, it is very difficult to graduate in 4 years at UVA due to overcrowding and not enough classes (that’s common at state universities). UVA even says it is difficult to graduate in 4 years due to space. That would be a huge expense if you couldn’t graduate in 4 years. At ND you have the option of becoming a licensed Architect after 5 years and do not have to attend grad school. On the other hand, at UVA you will have to get a Masters in order to become a licensed Architect which is another huge added expense. The aid could be harder to get too. Also, if you aren’t receiving aid, I would never pay OOS rates for UVA. That’s crazy! I think the private value is much better than a state university for many reasons. Also, it would rub me really wrong to pay tuition/fees of $59K OOS while @95% of the class is paying $29K instate. This doesn’t even include room and board. However, if you were instate - that’s a good price. https://sfs.virginia.edu/cost/15-16
As far as academics, yes, ND is classical architecture which is neat and it isn’t available at many colleges so that’s an advantage in my opinion. I would think as an Architect it is beneficial to learn many different types of designs (modern, traditional, classical, etc.). They are both nuts and bolts Architecture schools which both will give you a solid education in Architecture. ND BArch has to follow NAAB strict guidelines in order to be accredited in Architecture so their course structure is pretty much the same as other BArch universities. Also, at UVA be aware that you will be taking large classes outside of Architecture which could have high weed outs which again is common at state universities. It may even possible their Architecture studios have weed outs too. You won’t find that at ND which is a huge benefit.
As far as computers are concerned, I don’t see an issue with ND implementing that in their 3rd/4th year. As long as you get from point A to B. You will learn it eventually. My D is at WashU and they alternate between semesters on hand drawing vs. computers. So she is taking computer designed studio for 4 semesters and 4 hand drawing studios. So ND is 4+ years of hand drawing and 4+ years of computers. You’ll end up at the same place. I also think hand drawing studio is equally important. Also, I heard that classical architecture cannot be easily done on computers because it is too intricate/detailed oriented.
Good luck deciding. Its a nice problem to have. 
Overall UVa has the same 4 year graduation rate as Yale and U. Penn. Students at UVa may have difficulty getting their preferred non-intro classes their first year, but it is very rare for a UVa student to not be able to graduate within 4 years unless they keep changing their major.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/highest-grad-rate/page+2