<p>Right now i'm trying to make a decision between the two... I live in San Francisco so I would prefer to stay in California, but Tulane has offered about 20k in merit aid. I'm not familiar with either program- which one is more prestigious and more preparatory in general?</p>
<p>i don't know much about tulane but USC does seem to have a good program. It also has a high price tag too so if money is an issue, tulane might be a better place to be. USC is located in LA so that is also very advantageous, since many architects reside in that area</p>
<p>Both are good choices. Lots of Tulane grads end up working and teaching in California for some reason.</p>
<p>New Orleans is probably the more interesting city--especially at the minute. Living in architecturally interesting cities makes a difference in your education.</p>
<p>USC has produced better innovators--Gehry--the top innovator of our time--and Mayne--have you seen his tower for Paris? Way cool. Funny that the Unviersity of Spoiled Children would produce so many innovators, but there it is. It is a proven fact.</p>
<p>Faculty list is probably better at USC--they have more money and a 'sexier' location for architecture professors. Compare the two faculty lists for top degrees and diversity.</p>
<p>You cannot go wrong--although if you plan to return to California to work, the USC alum connection in California is unbeatable. I'd recommend you join a fraternity too--to develop future client connections. </p>
<p>Do you have to take on debt to go to USC?</p>
<p>"Funny that the Unviersity of Spoiled Children would produce so many innovators, but there it is"</p>
<p>Actually, while that reputation remains among those not associated with the school, USC has come a long way from that. The standards of admission have raised so much... I doubt if I could get in to the program with my former stats if I applied now, and heard the same from older alumni when I was in school. And the architecture department always has a lot of kids on scholarship, I know the vast majority of my class were struggling to make it through there financially.</p>
<p>Have you gotten your USC financial aid package yet? If not, I would wait for that before making a decision, as they will sometimes suprise you with some serious money.</p>
<p>larationalist, we agree. However, from the CC threads alone, I can tell you that the Spoiled Children tag is very much alive.</p>
<p>Just ask TheDad--whose wife works at UCLA.</p>
<p>Still, try to name another architecture school that has 2 Pritzker prize winners--both of whom attended USC during it's heyday of Spoiled Children reputation.</p>
<p>aw, anyone associated with UCLA is going to say as much. That's a given!</p>
<p>I've always preferred "the University of Special Connections". ; )</p>
<p>Hey--what did you end up with LA? Did you get your first choices?</p>
<p>still waiting.... art schools are sloooow to notify. I'm hoping for lots of fat envelopes in the mail this week. But I got offered a pretty good deal from UW that'll be hard to beat.</p>
<p>I haven't received my financial aid package yet, but i'm expecting to not get much. I will be in some minor debt, but my parents are going to assist me throughout the process. I'm thinking of working in San Francisco and living in my parent's house when I graduate (I know two architects with large firms in the Bay Area) in order to pay off my debt.</p>
<p>My sister and college counselor think Tulane would be a better choice because of Katrina, yet I somehow think in the long run USC's alumni connections will serve me better.</p>
<p>Katrina? Helps how?</p>
<p>What kind of debt are you talking about? It better be under $30K. You will NOT want to live with your folks when you are 22, Mister. also, you should try to get to a top office in New York or London when you graduate so that you can polish your skills as an apprentice. SF uses out of town architects for it's best buildings. (I like Pelli's building for JP Morgan). That should tell you something.</p>
<p>You won't need your USC connections until you open up your own office.</p>
<p>Call USC and see if they will match Tulane's offer.</p>
<p>Katrina = rebuilding = more building projects = more architects needed</p>
<p>I'm not sure how much debt, but it could range anywhere from 5k-40k. Yeah I just talked it over with them, and it seems like if I got to USC, I have to be getting very high grades or they'll transfer me out pronto.</p>
<p>I was thinking about calling USC and telling them about Tulane's offer, but then again they could literally just say "screw you" and I would be in an awkward position.</p>
<p>"I have to be getting very high grades or they'll transfer me out pronto"</p>
<p>Who'll transfer you out? The school? Your parents? You should know something- USC School of Architecture refuses to participate in grade inflation. They consistantly graduate the fewest number of students with latin honors of any school at USC, every single year. It takes an amazing effort and not needing to work part time to achieve. This usually doesn't hamper people much, because M.Arch programs understand this about USC Arch, so you're judged by what you did in that program. Students who apply (not many, as most are content with their B.Arch) still regularly get into Harvard GSD, Penn, etc. for grad school despite this. So you may have to work at getting your parents to adjust their grade expectations.</p>
<p>5k-40k total is worth it. 40k per year is not. I'm not sure which you mean. I wouldn't call USC to try and bargain until you get your financial aid package and know what you're comparing.</p>
<p>There are some high profile projects in NO that could be great to get involved in if the opportunity presents itself. There are also consistantly good internship opportunities offered to USC students in LA.</p>
<p>My parents- I think their expectations are high B's/A's if I got to USC. I'll tell them about the grade inflation bit- my HS is really big on deflating grades as well, so they should understand. </p>
<p>I thought with a B.Arch, going to grad school isn't a requirement to be an accredited architect? </p>
<p>For the debt, I meant a total of 40k-50k after five years. I'm thinking about taking out a 10k-15k subsidized loan, if I don't get the aid package i'm looking for.</p>
<p>USC is not going to say: "Screw you." They might not meet Tulane's offer but you won't know that until you ask. You should tell them that if they match Tulane's offer you will attend.</p>
<p>Even if they do say "Screw you", that's a phrase you'd better get used to because you're going to hear it from construtction workers, engineers and clients. Architecture is a high conflict business. If you cannot get up enough courage to call the nice people in the fin aid office to persuade them to give you a little more money, how are you going to persuade a couple of hundred burly men who like to use the 'f word'? Man up, buddy, man up.</p>
<p>btw...your mom and sister are incorrect. Only a few Tulane grads stay in New Orleans to work. There is more construction $$$ happening in LA, SF and Silicon Valley than Louisiana.</p>
<p>The B.Arch is sufficient, but some people find after a few years of practice that they would like to go back for grad school, either to immerse themselves in research, refocus their career (maybe go back for a program that focuses on sustainability like UO or UW, or a design/build like Auburn), to gain additional contacts if they want to go out on their own (that's where the GSD comes in), or they realize they want to teach at the university level which gives preferrence to those with a masters degree. USC B.Arch + Harvard GSD M.Arch is the combination that both Frank Gehry and Thom Mayne have, which gives them the best possible connections a person could ask for.</p>
<p>Many people who go to USC shoulder a similar debt and manage to pay it off, but hopefully they can come through with something that keeps you from having to take out quite that much because it's unfortunate to have to start out your career with that hanging over your head.</p>
<p>A B+ average is totally doable at USC, but there's a considerable jump in effort and talent to get from the B+ range to the A- to A range.</p>
<p>Something to know about the Tulane program is that fourth and fifth years are designing and building houses in NOLA as group projects right now. The arch school is doing a good job getting out front and center to lead rebuilding efforts. I don't know about post-graduation employment, but studying architecture in New Orleans is presenting a unique opportunity at the moment.</p>
<p>Well looks like USC decided to give me absolutely no financial aid, and only 3.5k a year in a subsidized Stafford Loan.... time to appeal and if that doesn't work looks like Tulane is where i'm going.</p>
<p>Good effort, Sean. New Orleans is a great town and Tulane is a great school.</p>