Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Pratt Institute
University of Southern California (USC)
Tulane University
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Temple University
University of Oregon
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Kansas State University
GSAPP MSAAD Vs. Cooper Union M. Arch II
Here are some opinions and thoughts I have gathered from the alumni and current students of both programs:
GSAPP:
pros--
Incredible faculty(diversity of subject matter). Maximum exposure(electives). Huge network. Internationally recognizable name. Great place to learn and apply digital design methodologies(my obvious weakness).
cons-- Lots of ($$$) I do not have for tuition. Fear of getting in groupie mode instead of discovering oneself as a designer(hipsterchitecture). Lack of rigor. Limited facilities. Program focused more on M. Arch I students. Huge class, making it difficult to establish meaningful relationships with faculty and/or land TA positions. Wigley--NOT Tschumi.
Cooper Union:
pros-- NO TUITION, more of an artist-in-residence program. Lots of research leading up to a thesis project(self-discovery). Very rigorous. Great accessible facilities. Intimate setting, chance to establish one on one relationships with faculty due to small class--6-7 students.
cons-- Faculty obviously not as strong as GSAPP. Limited options for studio. Maybe too theoretical(writing and diagramming focused). Very new program, still ironing out the kinks. Smaller network. Exposed to parametricism, but it is not implemented in studio. Very small class(6-7 students).
Do you guys have any additional thoughts?
Cooper is a great school and is small so you won't get lost in the cracks. Don't underestimate the long term financial benefit that a free tuition will assure.
I agree with InTheRunning, free tuition is better than getting into debt or spending most of your savings... Plus it seems that CU has a lot more of pros than the GSAPP...
Yes, go to Cooper. The experience of being one of very few accepted to such a new program guarantees the individualized attention and student-teacher relationship you may be looking for.
I agree. Cooper.
Hello! Abyssinian!
Pretty surprise that we face the same difficult choice!!!!!!
I also have to make a decision between GSAPP and Cooper Union.
At a very beginning, I think Cooper is better. However, one of my friends who graduated from Cooper March2 said that the program is not ready yet. She suggested me to think more clearly. Not only for tuition waive.
I am very confusing.
Every school has their weakness. > <
hi Abyssinian and bigwhitelili
i'm going to cooper for MArch II this year (background: cambridge (undergrad) and AA (diploma))
my thoughts (money aside):
new programme = opportunity to shape it
"programme not ready yet" = contrast to programme being prescriptive. in my mind, the question is: are the students ready yet?
artist/research in residence = amazing if you know what you want to do. not good if you don't.
parametricism = up to you how far you take or implement it (all you'd ever want to know about this is online anyway)
small class size = so valuable
I hope to see you there!
LL
question to ask - who runs the CU MArch II program, and what is their outlook for it? maybe you will have freedom, or maybe you'll be tied to the perspective of the program leader.
Either way, great position to be in, congrats and best of luck!
WOW! Lmingll!
Your background is really strong! What you say above is really meaningful to me. I agree that the key is what I want to do in the future. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint!
please go to cooper, there are too many Columbia grads out there.
lmingll and bigwhitelili
I'll see you at Cooper.
Thanks for all the insight.
what is the class size at columbia msaad?
what is the difference? do you have money to waist?
I think you're asking if I have money to waste. I do not and money is irrelevant to the question I'm asking.
@raf43 I believe the class size for MSAAD is somewhere between 70-100 students. But each studio actually averages around 10 students.
I have made up my mind to go to cooper union. I already sent the confirm letter!!
See you in NYC!!
two words:
Diana.
Agrest.
bigwhitelili, abyssinian, lmingll - would you please provide me with your emails ids? I have a few questions regarding the m.arch II program @ CU.
thanks,
sidjadhav@gmail.com
The other thing you get from Columbia, with its more established program, is the alumni base... which reads like a who's-who of NY corporate architecture. From a career perspective, this has incredible value. Obviously, you'll get hired on your own merits, but these days it's a challenge just getting your portfolio glanced-through. Having the alumni link is very important in tough times like these. I don't know whether Cooper can offer the same.
Hi everyone,
I don't think you should be comparing schools, each one has it's positive and negative things, depending on the way you look at it. People who can afford Columbia should definitely go to GSAPP, it is internationally recognized, as well as its faculty members.
Columbia's GSAPP obviously has way more academic experience than any other architecture school in New York. If your situation is financial, well then you have no choice rather than Cooper Union (If you get accepted.)
Another great school is Pratt, in Brooklyn, which in fact I would choose if my other option was CU.
I start MSAAD at GSAPP this summer, starting May 30.
Keep in touch and good luck, César Langa.
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