<p>My son has been accepted for BArch at OSU, SCAD, Pratt, Syracuse, Temple, LSU. His choice was between Pratt & Syracuse. How do u rate the programs? He prefers Syracuse as it gives a campus feel as against a city based institute like Pratt. He is an international student. Have a week to go...........</p>
<p>bonedoc:</p>
<p>Both Syracuse and Pratt have excellent BArch programs…so congratulations to your son on his acceptances. Syracuse is ranked slightly higher, but I think the choice depends more on what your son wants from his education. Pratt has an urban campus; Syracuse a traditional campus. Syracuse’s architecture program is within a large university, while Pratt is primarily a design school, so Syracuse may have better opportunities for non-architecture electives in other disciplines…also clubs and other extra-curriculars. And your son is more likely to meet and socialize with non-architecture students at Syracuse.</p>
<p>Pratt has the advantages of being in New York City, which is a boon to a design education, and New York City has a slightly less brutal climate. And if your son will be working during the school year, Pratt has more opportunities. However, Syracuse is better known nationally and internationally, while Pratt has more of a local reputation. If you son intends to stay in the U.S. Northeast during summers and after graduation, then this doesn’t make a difference. If he doesn’t, then this might be a significant factor.</p>
<p>I don’t know any specifics about the two programs. What I can tell you is that, as the partner of an architectural practice, I have had terrific experiences with almost all of our Syracuse-educated employees. The graduates of Syracuse seem to come out of school with open minds, flexibility, creativity and a desire to work hard and keep learning. Also, we really, just by chance, seem to have these Syracuse graduates via word-of-mouth recommendations and informal & formal networking amongst themselves. We’ve been very lucky! Good luck to your son.</p>
<p>You say he would prefer a campus feel rather than urban… Syracuse may have a more traditional campus, but the architecture students are bused to a building downtown where all their studios are. Pratt may be in Brooklyn, but it has a very pretty, traditional looking campus.</p>
<p>If you can’t visit, at least get a good sense online of how the school experience would actually be at either place.</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s a gr8 help, he is a bit of a non-conformist as well, interested in extra-curriculars, photography, trekking & community service.</p>
<p>greenwitch:</p>
<p>The architecture program at Syracuse is no longer downtown. Beginning in the fall of 2008, it returned to campus in a beautifully-renovated Slocum Hall right off the main Quad. The renovation won several prestigious design awards. The facilities are excellent, and right in the center of campus. Great photos on the Syracuse Architecture School’s website.</p>
<p>thanks archmom, explicit analysis, he does like to mix around wiht mixed crowd & makes friends easily; also wants to do a minor or elective in photography, is creative & loves community service; though we live in the middle east (av temps of 96F), he can adjust to the harsh winters of upstate NY; guess this will sway his decision towards Syracuse</p>
<p>Although the Architecture School at Syracuse has relocated to the renovated Slocum Hall on campus the SoA still has a presence in the “Warehouse” in Armory Square, sharing space with the School of Visual and Performing Arts. For more…</p>
<p>[Syracuse</a> SOA](<a href=“http://soa.syr.edu/index.php]Syracuse”>Syracuse Architecture)</p>
<p>These schools are comparable in their Architecture programs, (we’ve had many successful Pratt grads in our firm), however, the real difference between them is the campus “vibe”. They are very different types of schools, and though as an architecture student he will be spending most of his waking hours with other architecture students, there are other things going on around the campus, and each of these campus’ is attractive to a different mix of students.</p>
<p>For instance, Syracuse is a big D-1 sports school, and a lot of school spirit revolves around the Orangemen. Pratt has virtually no sports culture, so this community may be more attractive to some students.</p>
<p>They are such different environments only your son can judge which would be the right vibe for him.</p>
<p>Thanks guys,</p>
<p>After a session of OPV (other people’s views in the words of Edward de Bono), my son has decided on Syracuse - does not mind the cold, wants a campus feel, safety is an issue (apprehensive abt Brooklyn) and wants extra-curricular activities…well from a sheet of the hot brown & white sands of Oman to the sheet / layers of the cold white stuff…thanks again</p>