I'm in the exact same postion(comming from canada) I am planning on applying to Sci Arc, risd and Parsons for my B.arch next year but now i'm debating whether or not to because of how bloody expesnive it is. It would cost about 45 to 50 thousand a year canadian for tuition and room and board in either new york or Los angeles. I can't even get my head around how much money that is. In canada tuition for one semester is a little over $2,000 and in the states it's like $14,000. it's nut's..how do you americans afford it? $14,000 american comes out to $17,518 canadian the exchange rate I guess is what makes it so bad.

I know Sci Arc offers scholarships once your in the school based on how much your contributing to the school,high academic achievements etc..but these seem very competitive and so if you didn't get one your pretty much screwed. I've heard if Harvard and Princeton see you as an asset to the school they will pay your way pretty much.

I am debating getting a Loan from a bank but at the amount i would have to borrow I would be paying it back for the rest of my life and would have to live with my parents till I am 45 (i'm 19 now)

Well I'm in a similar position as well, being an international student. I have got into some good schools (for grad) like U Michigan, UIC etc, am still wondering if its worth taking a loan for such a bloody high sum of money.
cheers

Hey Canadians,

Why are you guys coming here? I imagine McGill has a good architecture school? Are there other Canadian schools with great architectur programs?

:)

fair point shellaby; mcgill school is good, but its post-grad program is all about murky theory and p-gomez groupies... as for other schools, there are good ones, but not one has an exceptional post-grad course.

one learns most when confronted and enriched by a new environment, new ideas and new challenges... why not US!?

I'm not complaining... just being intrigued by how others dealt with this tricky money issue.

rotwang--the canadian dollar is very strong against the USD right now, no? you should just be thankful you're not facing this at the currency trading levels of five or ten years ago.

rotwang: Parsons doesn't have a B.Arch program. The undergrad architecture major is a 4-year program leading to a BFA.

just a thought, but if you have the connections (and time) can try for monbukagakusho scholarship to study in japan. full scholarship and living expenses of about $1800/mo; more than enough for a single person to live on in tokyo.

I mention the connections thing cuz getting the scholarship swings round getting a signature from a prof in Japan. It is also a bit lengthy, taking about a year to apply, go to interviews and so on. But if you have the grades and can stand the process, it is a good deal (application is in march or april i think), especially if you can get into university of tokyo. That is where the big boys lecture and teach so opportunities for after graduating as well.

i did MArch at UManitoba. Don't regret staying in Canada and have used the degree to work as architect in London and Tokyo, so it certainly hasn't held me back (and I have no student loans to worry about ). The big distinction about the ivy league and cool design places like sci-arc or AA is the connections, and exposure to lots of very bright minds. Not a small thing by any means but not all of the smart people go to such places. If you are ambitious then most any school can, and will, do.

Good points, sini and jump. I am also currently facing the same questions about the best educational experience for my architecture degree (professional M.Arch) while trying to find something affordable...or at least not ludicrously expensive.

GSD has far more limited resources for international students. You can't get a gov't subsidized loan (no interest til you graduate) and there are a number of scholarships & grants you don't qualify for. (not all ivies are like that)

i suggest you call the school's finan aid offices and ask upfront for finan info for intl. students.

i cant tell you how many times i look at tuition of certain overseas schools and sigh...

debt - it's the american way :)

yup, us American's are taught taht spending 90% of your check on loans is 'normal'. Stupid, but that's how it goes.

when gsd says 'no fin aid for intl students', they actually mean it. i can't believe that they actually expect anyone to borrow 160k to go to their school.

princeton is the only ivy that pays for master's. state schools are also something to keep in mind. it's only half the price, and they do tuition cuts and waivers, especially if you get a TA'ship.

So what are the super great state schools you would consider? UMich, I understand, is good. UVa... What else?

Keep in mind that the first year at a state school may be almost as expensive as a private school, until you get residency status.

And then are there schools known for being generous, besides of course Princeton?

it is a misconception that all princeton students get a full ride. they are certainly the most generous of the schools though. my friend who got in last year got 75% tuition. she said most MArch I students get 75%, a few get 50% and a few get full tuition. some even get full tuition +stipend! but some MArch 1-AP and MArch II students get little or even no $. and it also varies from year to year, etc.

i meant they are the most generous of the ivies

So what are the State Schools?