I graduated a few years ago from OSU. It has a solid program. Very heavy on theory and LOTs of fabrication / installation opportunity and requirments. The building is really great. It really make you feel connected. The spaces also lend itself to lots of exhibition / installation opportunity.

Don't know much about Michigan, but sounds like OSU is a good fit for your interest.

Another OSU grad here... I would second all of CrazyHouseCat's points above: the fabrication shop at OSU is brand new and fantastic.

I'll also mention that when I attended, many of my classmates who entered the program without grad asistant or TA positions were awarded them starting in the 2nd year of the program. So in addition to the significantly lower in-state vs out of state tuition, you may (if you play your cards right) find yourself with a full or partial tuition waiver + stipend for the 2nd year.

Bottom line: It's not like you are deciding between the GSD and OSU. I don't think the differences between OSU and Michigan are significant enough to justify the debt burden. Just my two cents....

so I shouldn't really pay much attention to the number 1 ranking that Michigan has over GSD?

While that ranking is a little suspect (from out of the top 20 to #1 in one year?), Michigan does have a substantially stronger reputation than OSU.

And from Michigan's website, they appear to have a pretty killer digital fabrication lab. All things being equal (and they may not be, depending on your funding situation), I would definitely pick Michigan.

i'm having the same issue...except I am deciding between OSU, Cincinnati, and Michigan.

I spoke with a professor at Michigan this morning, and asked him to explain the Michigan Ranking mystery (going from unranked to #1 in a year). He said that three years ago, the school began investing a lot into research, digital fabrication, and marketing (in a sense that they were trying harder to "publicize" the successes of their program). It is just last year and this year that Michigan's research is being published and acknowledged, because of course stuff like that takes time. He told me that he with their continued investment in design research, they feel they will continue to be a strong program. But I have also been advised by many others not to let ranking sway my decision.

After hearing this information, and having a good discussion with him about the program, I feel like I am now strongly leaning towards Michigan. I will also be visiting their Open House this weekend so we'll see if their rather expensive program is worth the $$$!

Also, I have heard nothing but extremely positive comments from Michigan MArch graduates, which to me says a lot about a school's ability to make their graduates feel well prepared for the working world.

MICHIGAN!!!!!

Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and best
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
the champions of the West!

Haaaaaaang on sloopy, sloopy hang on!

Sloopy lives in a very bad part of town
Everybody else, tries to put my sloopy down
Sloopy I don't care, what your daddy do
Cuz you know sloopy, girl, I'm in love with you

And so I say now

Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on
Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on
(yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)

Wo, uh, wo, uh, wo, uh, wo, uh

Sloopy let your hair down, girl
Let it hang down on me
Sloopy let your hair down, girl
Let it hang down on me

Come on sloopy (come on, come on)
Come on sloopy (come on, come on
So come on sloopy (come on, come on)
Come on sloopy (come on, come on)

Well it feels so good (come on, come on)
You know it feels so good (come on, come on)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it sloopy (come on, come on)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it yeah, yeah, yeah (come on, come on)

Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on
(yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)
Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on
(yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)
Hang on sloopy, sloopy hang on
(yeah) (yeah) (yeah) (yeah)

michigan has a great fabrication lab/setup

Michigan all... day... long. It's a great program, with great facilities, faculty, students, and atmosphere. I did my undergrad and could not have been happier anywhere else. The building is lacking a bit, but the studio space is amazing.

They have a TON of new toys since I've been there - water jets, laser cutters galore, the 7-axis robot is ridiculous, more CNC routers than i would know what to do with, nearly as many starch printers as laser cutters... i could go on. The wood shop is well-equipped, as well as the welding center/metals lab.

I can't attest to the #1 ranking... take it with a grain of salt. But there is no denying they have a stunning program.

OP - post your portfolio pls

I’m sure you’ve heard this before… a school/education is only as good as you make it. The instructors will provide you with the basic guidance, you need to decide what to do after that.

I would not let a shop full of high tech and glamorous tools sway your decision. Personally, I feel that a well hand crafted model produce with traditional methods would stand well above any model produced by the means of digital fabrication when it comes down to review time. To be honest, most firms do not have the financial means to own these expensive tools, if they build models, they are typically produced by hand.

Personally, I would look at the faculty as my main deciding factor. In the end it’s your money, spend it as you choose.

@ op+imis+ic,

digital fabrication isn't used to make models you could craft from hand. It's an extension of research through making that frankly isn't possible with strathmore and an x-acto.

It's an architecture all it's own, not a supplement or a simple tool (even though it CAN be used that way).

@ PaulLLL,

But I agree with ^'s point that digifab shouldn't be the only deciding factor - if you're not interested in that type of exploration, don't pursue it, and reduce one edge of the factoring scales by one, perhaps to be replaced by op+imis+ic's opinion on faculty, which is definitely a legitimate concern.

the faculty at michigan is fantastic, as is the shop. they have a solid staff of regular professors and a stellar staff of visiting professors.

@ le bossman,

glad to hear that. I heard there was a major shift a year or so after the dean search. I left in 09, when I did, the professors were brilliant, also enjoyed the fellows. Hope the overhaul hasn't changed TOO much of the general pedagogy

there have been a lot of shifts since i was last there 6 years ago. but i know enough of the staff and faculty who are still around, and am generally enough up on the news of things, to say that most of the educators there are good.

i'm surprised that you are not really considering kentucky. michael speaks was the best professor i had in grad school (while at michigan!). i have no doubt he has assembled a great faculty of up and comers at uk. it lacks the resources of michigan and is much smaller, but if i had to do grad school over again i would give it a close look (even over michigan).

@won and done

-I know after talking to a classmate he suggested I go and visit Kentucky since it might be a good in-between choice between UM and OSU

anyways I visited UM yesterday and thought it was great as far as the program direction and facilities

the faculty members that presented also seemed really excited about their work

I'm a bit intimidated by the work that is produced at UM and am worried I will go there and be overwhelmed. It could be my general attitude of always selling myself short when it comes to my work.

here is my portfolio

http://issuu.com/padair/docs/paul_adair_portfolio

This decision is extremely difficult and Mich. is super expensive for me. I love Columbus and OSU's building and the fact that it is a lot cheaper.

I really need to get to Kentucky.