Hi there @sims1216!

First off, congratulations on all your acceptances! I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I'm having a hard time making a decision between UCLA's SupraStudio and UMich's M.Arch II. May I ask if you have made a decision? All your points on UMich's program seem true and I can validate your assumptions with my superior who is a direct product of the program as an example. His success and thought process / design method both provide me enough reason to pursue the M.Arch II program at Michigan. Although the cost of attendance in UMich nearly doubles that of UCLA's, I'm caught in between a rock and a hard place since I can not have a purely theoretical program which will be difficult for me to apply in my country. Have you spoke to anyone or have come across anyone that is a direct product of the SupraStudio program? Im curious to see if there are any alumni out there who can give us insight into the program's effectiveness and application of the studio's experience in the work place. Thank you in advance! 

Doni

@doni111

Hi @doni111,

thank you for your comments! I'm really glad to hear from someone who can understand my headache haha. I haven't decided yet and it makes me really nervous since the decision deadline is coming! those are totally different programs and each one's pros & cons seems quite obvious. Can I ask you about which Suprastudio you're in? (I'm accepted to Hodgett's studio.) It's really hard to find someone who directly experienced the Suprastudio program and who can tell pros & cons of this program. I have no doubt on the quality and prestiges of UCLA's graduate program. And I also admire the city itself in terms of the range of opportunities. However, my gut feeling is heading to UMich since it seems less experimental and more rigorous program to me. (I'm far from parametric design. I just liked the topic of Hodgett's Suprastudio.)

Anyway, I'm happy to hear from you. We can keep talking on this til we make the final decision at the end of this week!

Cheers,

Sims

My friend Craig Melde is a graduate of the Texas program and has a very successful firm based in Dallas called "ArchiTexas". Historical preservation is one of his major concerns.He "talks the talk, and walks the walk", when it comes to preservation, urban planning, and intelligent forward thinking, he's ahead of the curve. Austin is a great place to live. Vibrant music scene, super restaurants, excellent outdoor sports activity. Cost of living would be lower than CA or MI too.

@sims1216

Yes, a headache indeed! haha. The thing is, my admission to UCLA came later than I expected and by that time it did, I had already paid my deposit to UMich! I'm actually just second guessing my decision to attend UMich. I was accepted into the Mayne Studio and though I am truly flattered to be part of it, I feel that his tutelage isn't a hundred percent compatible to how I want to practice architecture in the future. I admit though, being under a great architect like Thom would bring my design knowledge to a whole different level and that's why I'm second guessing my decision to attend UMich! (I'm hoping that former students of the UCLA SupraStudio program would chime in any time now cause I really need help in deciding! haha.) What I think attracts me towards UMich are both points you've just stated and the fact that we have more time to develop instead of compressing everything in a year. Plus, from what I heard, the program is broad enough that we could actually be very experimental if we choose to do so via electives courses and/or research topics! Anyway, I seem to be rambling on not knowing what the pros and cons of both schools are anymore due to the stress. Haha. For now, I think that i'll be committing to UMich unless something drastic happens. If you do decide to attend UMich let me know! Hopefully we can exchange a few emails prior to the start of classes and at least have someone to talk to on the first day! Good luck to you and your decision!

Doni

@doni111 you probably got my spot for the mayne studio! I told them last week that I decline their offer. Too urban design for my architectural interests. Although mayne is a huge name out there

I don't know about the Michigan program, but I feel that the Suprastudio is amazing if you really like the topic of the studio you're admitted into. I also think that the whole industry collaboration and live projects module they follow is relevant to work after and it helps a great deal, especially if you feel like you're done with the theory bit in your undergraduation. The infrastructure of the Suprastudio seems to be stellar too and from what I've heard in the virtual open house, it's a good bet. I have to choose between Suprastudio and the M.S.AAD program. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

I've got accepted to Suprastudio too, Although I don't know much about UMich and UTA, UCLA seems very good option I mean look at the professors they have. 

http://www.aud.ucla.edu/faculty/index.html

The cons of Suprastudio is that it's just one year program. Every year students interchange completely so that you may not have connections with people graduating ahead of you and it's kinda important for getting job information etc.

If I have options you have I would go UCLA for sure tho

Hello Everyone,

I know this is an old post but I'm currently in the same situation between UCLA ( M.Arch II ) and U.Mich ( M.S ) both have amazing fabrication and technology based programs but I wanted to know what have you guys decided on and why ?