<p>I've picked my first 2 choices ( Penn State & UT )</p>
<p>I'm also interested in these universities:</p>
<p>Virginia Tech
USC
UMich
KSU
UWash</p>
<p>Which offers the best program(regardless of 5-year/2+4)</p>
<p>Do you have any specific interests?</p>
<p>I have a son in VT’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Great program with a lot of tremendous professors. We have been amazed that even with Tech’s large student body, there is a great deal of individualized attention. The school is very proud of that program and they put a lot of emphasis on it, including maintaining its terrific facilities. My guy can’t say enough good things about his first two years there. </p>
<p>Don’t know much about the other schools on your list, except for KSU, which I have read good things about, also. They offer a 5 yr. Master’s of Architecture, which may be something you would be interested in. Best wishes to you!</p>
<p>We visited UWash. Amazing program but very competitive to get into, even if you are already studying-- you have to complete two years of coursework and do very well, and submit a portfolio before you are accepted into the major.</p>
<p>I also looked into UWash for my son and emailed someone who had completed the program. He said that alot depends on how well you do in the 2 drawing classes that are part of the 5 required classes to be completed prior to applying. He knew people with a 3.8 gpa that did not do as well in the drawing classes and did not get it.</p>
<p>Lakemom. that concerned by DS, too, and so even though he loved everything about the school-- campus, location, depth of program-- he did not apply because he didn’t want to take that risk. We sat in on a grad seminar and there were people in it who were in essence repeating a year still trying to get into the program-- taking courses and working harder on their portfolio.</p>
<p>acme, I have been researching a lot of schools and that is why I posted the other thread
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/858854-why-4-yr-bs-programs-so-competitive.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/858854-why-4-yr-bs-programs-so-competitive.html</a> It’s seems crazy to have to work so hard to get into a 4 yr program and still not be done with your schooling to be an Architect. </p>
<p>With out of state fees, loosing a year is pretty expensive. I think the UWash program would probably be a better choice to apply for their M.Arch if you are doing a 4 + 2.</p>
<p>USC has a very strong program (I’m choosing it over Syracuse, since I want to go out of state for a while… though I will have to see what RISD offers me for FA) with some pretty famous Alumni (Gehry, Koenig). Arch. Record ranked it 10th in the nation</p>
<p>VTech and KSU also have very good programs. Don’t know much about the rest though.</p>
<p>Arctic92, I am sure you will have fun in USC - good luck. My D chose Syr over USC also because she wants to go out of state … lol. She loves SYR’s program minus the weather. You will love the all year sunshine and all the social activities at USC.</p>
<p>Among the schools I am familiar with I would rank UT above KSU, though both are solid programs. I have seen the admissions statistics at Ut and it is a very selective program.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Rick12, do you know if arch students graduating from UT are getting jobs right now? Also if you could go to UT or UVA would you choose one over the other? Would the job market suggest “hedging” and going to a 4 year program where it is easier to opt out of arch if need be?</p>
<p>Jazer, we have not been out to UT yet for spring recruiting. Yes, I think some UT students are getting jobs, but I have no idea what the percentage would be. The Texas economy has done better than almost any state I can think of during this recession, but it is still very tough in the construction industry down here.</p>
<p>UT vs. UVA. I think the world of the UT program, but UVA is a really wonderful place to go to school. My wife has her architecture degree from UVA, and my daughter had it picked over architecture programs at Cornell, Rice, and Wash U.</p>
<p>4 year vs. 5 year? The challenge for me of a 4 year program is to graduate from four very expensive years of college needing another 2 years of college (and possibly another $100K) to practice in your field. You may be able to find a job after four years but you will quickly hit a dead end in your career without registration. A four year degree does offer more flexibility to switch majors, but you really are going to have to decide how badly you want to be an architect and in what shape do you think the economy will be four or five years from now?</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Thx for all the information guys!</p>
<p>btw I’m going to a community college first. Is it easier to transfer to the 3rd year of a 4-year program than a 5-year program?Well I know it’s hard though lol</p>
<p>…can’t tell you about 4-yr programs, but you may have trouble transferring into the 3rd year of a BARCH as a junior. My daughter is in the program at Penn State and she has a friend that transferred in as a sophomore, but he had to start as a first year student. She also has friends that were PSU students, but were admitted to the architecture program in sophomore or junior year and had to start as first year students (so 6 or 7 years at PSU to get the BARCH degree). There are 10 studio classes that must be taken sequentially, so that’s 10 semesters. You should contact the schools you’re interested in to see what their policy is for transfer students. It could end up taking you 6 or 7 years to complete the degree (and more in tuition). Good luck.</p>
<p>Why is KSU as a university is rated 127 on US News ranking and the Arch program is rated so high? How to explain such a big gap? Is social or general aspects of the environment at KSU not as good?</p>
<p>
K-State has a very good architecture department. I’d actually argue that it has lots of good departments and is underrated by USNews.</p>
<p>The US News ranking is based on a whole bunch of criteria that have very little to do with the quality of an architecture school. The DI rankings are based on the quality of the architectural graduates. In this part of the country there are several schools that fit the same profile as K State; Kansas, Oklahoma State, and UT Arlington each have architecture schools whose quality and reputation far exceed that of the university.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Here’s another vote for KSU, which is where I will be headed in the fall! Before the downturn in the economy they had what I believe was a 97 or a 98% job placement rate within 6 months which I am very impressed with, and by the time you or I get out of school things will have picked back up! Also moving beyond the program and straight up academics their facility at Seaton Hall is absolutely amazing! On a personal tour last month I was given a walk through and compared to the agronomy building (which is very white sterile and depressing) it is such a happy and vibrant place and you get to work with people who are as focused and interested as you are. The only real downside is that the college doesn’t give out tons of merit based aid which would have been nice, haha. Also beware there are 3 “admissions” if you will. One when you first apply which is around 30% acceptance, the second after you finish your first year when you apply for your degree path, and the third after you finish your third year and you apply for, the graduate portion of the program. Either way you go I’m sure that you’ll have a wonderful time because architecture truly is a joy in life. </p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Spencer</p>
<p>Many thanks, Folks! </p>
<p>Another question: I just saw that in its 2011 ranking list for “graduate” schools, KSU-Arch school (which offers now a M.Arch. program only) doesn’t figure at all! It figured in top 10 last year under “undergrad” school list. I guess…its M.Arch. (after the transition from undergrad to graduate only school) will have to work really hard to get into top 10 - where right now many top schools list!! Do you think KSU’s M.Arch. will be able to break into the top 10 graduate program list? Welcome your thoughts. Thanks again.</p>
<p>I might be slightly biased but in my opinion it think that it is entirely possible for KSU’s program to break the top ten. I believe (correct me if i’m wrong) that KSU’s grad. program is ranked 16th. They have an amazing passion for what they do there and they seem to be striving for excellence, and the projects that they do are simply incredible. I really think they will become a top contender in the field of architecture, just like they are in agriculture.</p>
<p>Cheers, and if you decide to go to KSU hit me up,</p>
<p>Spencer</p>