<p>Does anyone know anything about Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's B. Arch program(i.e. quality, rigor, difficulty of admission)? I haven't been able to find much information about it, save the fact that they seem to have nice facilities. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Well I applied and got in, but never did that much research into their program. I think they have some interesting thing you can study in architecture, I remember something about acoustics and lighting labs. umm, I think it is pretty easy to get into it. I know two people that go there, that are now going to be sophomores. I haven't really had any in depth conversations about RPI with them, but I think they enjoyed it decently by the end of the year. Tyguy700, I believe his CC name is, is going there next year, so maybe see if he could help you out because I don't think many people on here know that much about RPI arch.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks! :)</p>
<p>I'd be curious to know more about RPI's Barch, too. Interestingly, RPI reps attended a college fair held at Cornell this summer, but the arch summer kids couldn't go because they were in class . . . surprise, surprise. Ironically, I think, RPI touts itself as the nation's most "plugged in" high-tech campus, but it's website is soooo confusing, you can't get past one portfolio pix on its student work link, and, to top it off, they're the only school on my son's list that doesn't accept SAT scores online, but only by snail mail. Ha. </p>
<p>But, I am trying to get more info on RPI, too, especially vs. Penn State Barch. I know rankings are just rankings, but both schools are similarly ranked overall US NEWS-wise and unranked on DIs Barch short-list. I've read a little positive about RPI on here and a little more only negative about Penn State on here (mostly about long wait lists and notoriously bad FA offers). Can anyone out there offer anything more substantial on either of these?</p>
<p>On DI's list, Penn State is ranked 9th. We visited colleges last week--U of Cincinnati, Penn State, Syracuse. My son was impressed (as was my wife and I) with Penn State and with Penn State's architecture program. Looking at the curriculum that was handed out, Penn State, Syracuse, and USC are very similar. Penn State's architecture building was very nice. Penn State, though, is a huge campus. In order of preference, my son's list is: USC, Penn State, Syracuse, U of Cincinnati, U of Kansas, U of Illinois (we live in Chicago area). The last two are more or less last resort or safety schools on his list.</p>
<p>Thanks. Good to hear good news about Penn State. I bet my list is old. Do you have a link to or would you mind posting that version of the DI ranking? I'm sure what I got was from here at some point because it's a situation where you have to subscribe or something. Anyway, not too crucial. Did you get to see the renovated Slocum Hall at Syracuse. You didn't want to head over to Troy for RPI while up that way? We'll be visiting both in the Fall. Thanks again.</p>
<p>apr:</p>
<p>Work was still being done on Slocum Hall. They said it will be ready when classes start in the Fall. So you may get to see it. They did show us picture of how it will look and pictures of the work being done. </p>
<p>My son is not interested in RPI. We did a brief drive around Cornell but my son is also not interested in Cornell. He doesn't want anything related to the Ivy League schools. He wants a bigger school. Syracuse is the smallest of his choices. He also wants a 5-year program. The only reason U of Cincinnati is on the list is its coop program. After visiting the school, he will definitely keep it on his list and will apply. The DI ranking is from 2008. We purchased the electronic copy rather than a paper copy.</p>
<p>i'm going to rpi next year.</p>
<p>some things i like:
- accredited 5 yr program
- great facilities/ building
- very friendly and helpful professors
- they are flexible and work with student-athletes and their schedules
- about 60 in the freshman class
- really high tech wood shop with a bunch of new tools [said to be the best in probably the east]
- partnership with Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill.. get to intern in NYC for a top firm.. it's the only arch school in the nation to have a partnership like this with a company
- very design oriented school; a lot of room for creativity
- learn state-of-the-art computer programs that employers won't even know yet
- great study abroad programs in italy, china, and india along with smaller spring break trips to places like portugal..
- focus on parametric design
- sustainability is integrated in the entire program.. not just one course labeled "sustainable architecture"
- emphasis on architecture as an agent of social change
- encourages collaborations between architecture majors and other majors on campus
- 100% of grads get a job
- those who choose to go to grad school get into top schools like columbia, yale, harvard
- the first semester of 5th yr is spent working on a professional international design competition</p>
<p>that's about it.</p>
<p>i don't know why it's never ranked.. maybe 'cause it's small</p>
<p>I am currently a sophmore at rpi studying architecture. It is a great program. In response to the comment about PENN STATE; Penn State is a better school if you want to go into Urban planning versus broad architecture. There program is set up similar to Drexel's. RPI's architecture program is set up very similar to Syracuse in the terms of first yr first semester being more creative andnot really focusing on building but more so how to create space and make use of thing out of the norm.</p>
<p>What does RPI look for in the applicant's portfolio?</p>
<p>I'm trying to find my chances of getting into a good architecture program (PSU or Syracuse). I have good gpa at a 3.7 with an upward trend of about .2 each year after freshman year. I take AP and honors courses. I have taken 4 years of art and my teacher tells me im in the top 5 students based on talent he has seen. I have a strong background in these places, however my sats weren't so hot. I got a 500 on critical reading and 630 on math. I hope schools look past my CR score because I am applying to a more math related field. I know Syracuse requires a portfolio and PSU doesn't. I am an instate student for PSU. Is there any other good programs that have more art-based requirements for admission? and does anyone know what kind of chances I have?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.arch.rpi.edu/assets/portfolio.pdf[/url]”>http://www.arch.rpi.edu/assets/portfolio.pdf</a></p>
<p>This shows what RPI looks for in portfolios.
If you can’t read PDF files, go to the website of the School of Architecture from RPI’s home page…and you can see if they have another format of it there.</p>
<p>Hey, for what it is worth, back in the 60’s RPI was in the top three - Illinois Institute of Technology, RPI, and the University of PA, which then also had an undergrad program.
I found it vigorous and demanding, with a heavy dose of doing things that actually worked.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I sort of chuckle at people with 3.7’s and 500 on their SAT. I had about a 2.7 in high school with a 751 on the math SAT - RPI averaged 690-715 on that test. Grade inflation is absurd. I had a guy in my physics lass in HS who got a C+ in special physics and was kicked out of the National Honor Society. He became president of his class at Johns Hopkins and the youngest trustee there ever.
He was a brainiac but just above average in advanced physics. Today’s ego-boosting grades remind me of Lake Wobegone where every child is above average.</p>
<p>Hello, I’m a first year undergraduate student at RPI and made this account to help those who are looking into what college to attend.</p>
<p>Architecture at RPI is extremely rigorous the first year and second year mostly because of the enormous amounts of time you spend a day in studio. You also are locked in to 4 classes your first year unless you test out. These classes are biology( which is really hard because you don’t have time to study, and they do teach evolution so if your school hasn’t taught it due to religious purposes then you should start studying,) math 1500 (easy if you know your calc but a wast of time, BTA (an architecture lecture class with an extremely awesome professor where you learn a whole lot and are entertained at the same time, however homework is assigned every week and takes a whole lot of time to complete,) and architecture studio (your main class where you make models, abstract, give presentations, ect.) Doing architecture at RPI takes real commitment however it has been an enriching process for me thus far.</p>
<p>P.S. RPI is an awesome school and the people who say otherwise are completely out of their minds. Do not listen to the negative things about RPI because when you get here you won’t really notice them unless you are already thinking negative.</p>