So far I’ve been accepted to:
RISD
Pratt
USC
Syracuse
Cal Poly SLO
Virginia Tech
Where should I go?
Please give reasons why or why not.
Thank you!
Home state? Are all the choices affordable?
I am a resident of California. Money is of no issue.
I’d go with Cal Poly. They have an excellent program, and you can’t beat the instate tuition. Congrats on your acceptances!
These are all excellent choices. You’ll get a great education and a head start on a career in architecture. The factors that you should consider are more personal than general. There’s no best choice; just what’s best for you.
!. Culture
You have two of each on your list: art schools, tech schools and “all-purpose” universities. The the foundation of the BArch curriculum will be much the same at each, but the pervasive focus and environment will be somewhat different. Art schools and tech schools are on opposite ends of the design-structure continuum. Which way do you lean? At art and tech schools your classmates will be studying a narrower range of disciplines than they will at a university with several schools and multiple majors.
- Location You have east coast, west coast and neither one. These are all highly ranked schools with high name recognition, but location will still impact where your visiting professors and critics are based and where you are likely to find internships. Think about where you are likely to end up after graduation.
- Back up plan What if it turns out that architecture isn't for you? (BArch programs have high drop out rates.) Look into what other options you would have. Would you have to transfer schools?
- Other things to consider Study abroad opportunities, participation in Integrated Path Initiative (fast track to licensing), thesis requirement