<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I have just been accepted to both UT Austin and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, both 5 year BArch programs. I am an Asian female that lives in NY, who came to the U.S. five years ago, so factors such as diversity, as well as job outlook after graduation are very important to me. Well here's the situation as of now:</p>
<p>UT Austin
-OOS tuition of 50K at least for the first year
-possibility of going in-state on second year
-the consistent top 10 ranking in undergraduate architecture
-plane tickets twice a yr to fly back during holidays to see my family in NY
-I don't know how I will fare with the enormous student size
-exciting city of Austin
-hot weather + possibility of cockroaches/ants in dorms </p>
<p>RPI
-Scholarship of 30K per yr, so I will pay 33K per yr for 5 yrs
-lack of diversity as it is 70% white
-four hour drive from home
-the top 20 ranking in undergraduate architecture
-the rather high pay scale ranking RPI has
-the cold, quiet town of Troy
-I visited the architecture school and it makes me feel like I'm in an attic</p>
<p>I haven't visited UT yet so I may be biased as of what I think of UT. The only thing I have seen of UT is the architecture school's video on youtube and the photos of the battle hall. I honestly don't know which one to pick, and the most important factor is that it will land me a job in architecture upon graduation. I do believe I have potential, but the unemployment rate in architecture is still scaring me a little. Please give me your opinions from both sides as to which school I should go with. Thanks!</p>
<p>IF i were you, i would go for RPI</p>
<p>I usually don’t go for anything quite so puerile in advising college choices, but seriously: Austin vs. Troy? Is their even a question here? (and yes, I’ve actually lived in both).</p>
<p>Of course, the money matters so that is often the deciding factor, but then again, surely there is even a cheaper option at your own state’s flagship university, no?</p>
<p>No doubt, either program will turn you into a fine drafter, that is, if you are so inclined.</p>
<p>As to the college experience, U of Tex-Austin is truly first rate. Now that I am old, and have worked on numerous campuses around the country (and attended a few as a student), I contend that everyone ought to experience a really big, over-the-top school spirit energized mega college for at least some part of their education (and usually, grad students are too busy to real get caught up in the energy of a true university town experience). </p>
<p>50k a year, on a five year program does add up fast, though. Did you apply to the program at SUNY Buffalo? It’d cost half of RPI even with the scholarship (and, as hard as this is to believe, Buffalo is a better town than Troy-though, I am partial to the wings at The Ruck in Downtown Troy).</p>
<p>You can’t worry about the ‘soft’ market for Architects either. No one has a crystal ball and no one can really say what careers will be the most fiscally advantageous 5-10-20 years down the road (if they could, there would be a lot more millionaires with bachelor’s degrees). Study Architecture because you have a passion for it and that’s what you want to do with your professional life.</p>