<p>I've just received the M.arch 1 admission from GSAPP and Umich, and Umich offers me 10000/yr scholarship.</p>
<p>Here comes the problem: which one should I choose?</p>
<p>I've talked to people in Umich and GSAPP, but the decision only seems to getting harder.</p>
<p>GSAPP has its reputation and after I talked to their student , I have no doubt about the diversity of their program, which I thought was too digital at first.The city is of course great; the resources and excitement and the cultural excitement might be found nowhere else,yet in the other hand, have to pay the price for the greatness.</p>
<p>Umich does well in this years, and there seems to be no bad things said about Umich in the discussion. Their studios are big and facilities are very good.Also I've heard a lot of how good the Dean is, and she is leading the school to a right direction.I really like Umich.In fact, I was searching for the house near the campus before I got the admission of GSAPP......</p>
<p>I don't know if it is worthy to pay more for the ivy and the NYC.And I have no idea how to compare this two nice program, if you can help me with the question below, it would be helpful!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Which program seems to be a better choice with better quality and the level of graduate on average?</p></li>
<li><p>Does ivy or NYC really provide such a good connection and environment that is worthy to pay more? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>3.When it comes to jobs finding, does ivy really helps?</p>
<p>If you have any thoughts or comment with the two school, please please let me know!</p>
<p>OK, I’m doubly biased here; I went to Ohio State for undergraduate, and Columbia for grad school. So let me address your questions;</p>
<ol>
<li>Which program seems to be a better choice with better quality and the level of graduate on average?</li>
</ol>
<p>Michigan has a nice program, but Columbia is there with Harvard, Yale, and Princeton as the top programs in the country. Do not underestimate the value of studying architecture in what has the be the best architectural laboratory in the country NYC. You have the ability to draw major architects for juries and even afternoon crit sessions. The best architecture shows are there, there is a prominent architect lecturing almost every night of the week. It is really a life changing experience.</p>
<ol>
<li>Does ivy or NYC really provide such a good connection and environment that is worthy to pay more? </li>
</ol>
<p>It certainly was for me. I worked for one professor (Robert Stern) while I was in school, and went to work for another Bill Pedersen at KPF) after graduation. I also had interviews with several prominent architects who had been on my juries.</p>
<p>3.When it comes to jobs finding, does ivy really helps?</p>
<p>When you have an Ivy league degree you get the benefit of the doubt. People will talk to you because of your degree. This effect is certainly more pronounced in the early years of your career when you don’t have a lot of work history. Of course once you get a job you can forget where your degree came from, it is all about how productive you are.</p>
<p>Having said this, I will also say that debt is a killer and will greatly reduce your options. You are going to have to examine your personal circumstances, but I would think really hard before I took on more than say $50,000 in total debt for my education, and half of that would be a lot better.</p>
<p>I’ll re-post my response from your other thread and add a bit:</p>
<p>How much financial is Columbia offering you? If zero, then, if money is an issue for you as it is for most aspiring architects, I would think long and hard before turning down Michigan. Bear in mind that in addition to tuition etc., the cost of living will be higher in New York too.</p>
<p>The other factor that I would consider is where you plan to live and work as an architect. Both programs have excellent national (even international) reputations, but I’d give Columbia the edge if you’re thinking east coast and Michigan if you plan to stay in the Midwest. </p>
<p>My son is in an M.Arch program at Cornell. He strongly considered Michigan (which is my alma mater) but since the money was about equal went with the Ivy League choice. Tough decision, but even with grants and scholarships, he and his classmates will graduate with a mountain of debt.</p>
<p>The total cost of a 3 to 3.5 year M.Arch is edging toward $200K. My understanding is that unless you have something that the school really wants, grants of $10 to $15K per year are pretty much the norm at the famous name schools. So keeping within Rick’s rule of thumb of $50K maximum debt is not so easy these days. I agree that Columbia is overwhelmingly appealing, but if it means more debt, I’d take Michigan and the money.</p>
<p>You could always go back to Columbia and tell them what you need.</p>