<p>Hi, I'm new here, and I have a problem with picking which school to go for undergraduate in architecture. </p>
<p>I've narrowed down the choices to U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Syracuse U (while I'm waiting for response from U of Michigan). My parents favor the public one, but I get a feeling that Syracuse has a better program in architecture, even though it doesn't have a bigger name than U of Illinois. Can anyone give me some suggestions? I really need some feedback. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you believe in DesignIntelligence Magazine (the rank is based on the review of employers), you’ll choose Syracuse, for it’s B.Arch program has been in the top 10 for years (N0.4 2009). What’s more, from the students’ review, 91% think of the program as ‘excellent’, the rest ‘above average’…</p>
<p>For UIUC, I was thinking that it deals more with engineering stuff.</p>
<p>i would agree with lyx. syracuse has a much higher ranked program and is much more prestigious. syracuse has a beautiful campus with really nice architecture staff and a brand new building (slocum hall - renovated last year). if you visit syracuse and talk with the architecture staff, i think it will seal the deal.</p>
<p>Daughter is just graduating from UIUC. The program is more construction/engineering/structural, so if this is your area of interest, you’ll be at a good place. Some faculty are terrific but too many others are at the opposite end of the bell curve. Lots of TA’s also have mixed reviews. The jewel in the UIUC program is the Study Abroad in Versailles opportunity. It’s fabulous. The school is trying to make improvements, but not nearly enough. Anecdotal info only: Many of her classmates will not pursue architecture as a career and very few applied to UIUC for grad school.</p>
<p>After visiting Michigan on a grad school visit, she said it was all that she had hoped Illinois could have been for her B.S. It seemed to be an amazing undergrad experience. The head of the Arch program at Tulane (4 years ago when she was looking at undergrad programs) told us that Michigan is the place that does everything right. She has no experience with Syracuse, but the program is highly respected and you couldn’t go wrong. Good luck!</p>
<p>The other thing to keep in mind: UIUC is 4+2. With Syracuse, after 5 years you will have a BArch. After 4 years, at UIUC you will have a BS in Architecture Studies which will require you to go for a MArch to become licensed. Illinois allows you to get licensed with a BS in Architecture Studies. But as of Jan 1, 2014, that changes–Illinois will then require a BArch and won’t accept the BS to get licensed. </p>
<p>My son’s choice is down to USC and Syracuse (leaning toward USC). He wasn’t interested in a 4+2 program. If you need financial aid, there is the possibility you will get more at Syracuse. Even though we live in Illinois, I don’t think he would have gotten much financial aid. We end up paying the same at USC or Syracuse as we would at UIUC (due to the extra year). My son never applied to UIUC.</p>
<p>So if I’m in the class of 2013 for UIUC, do I still get a license when I get BS in architecture studies?</p>
<p>My understanding is you still could get a license. It applies only to the state of Illinois.</p>
<p>Beginning in 2014, you will need a BArch or MArch rather than a B.S. to apply for licensing in Illinois.</p>
<p>Here’s some info on becoming licensed in Illinois.</p>
<p><a href=“http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/idp.htm[/url]”>http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/idp.htm</a></p>