living in gin, i can`t help you with information about the schools, but i suggest you run an archinect search in the discusson board about these schools. there were lots and lots of discussions in the past about each one of them. good luck and remember age is never a factor in our profession.

given your situation, you may simply want to stay at UIC for your MArch and start putting down roots now in chi-town.

Oy... I've been trying for years to get away from UIC! I decided to go back only because I determined that sticking it out and finishing my BA degree there would be less hassle than trying to transfer elsewhere. (Previous schools I've transferred or almost transferred to at one point or another: IIT, BAC, Drexel, University of Oregon.)

I originally picked UIC for all the wrong reasons and started there in 1995, right when the program was wallowing in the mess that Tigerman left behind... Talk about bad timing and bad decision-making on my part. Admittedly the school now seems to be back on the upswing and I'm willing to give it a second chance with an open mind, but there's still a few too many ghosts on that campus for me to want to spend any more time there than I have to.

Besides, I'd really like something different for grad school, rather than more of the same. I don't know of anybody who has gotten their undergrad and graduate degree at the same place.

...the grad school has a lot of (collaborative) opportunity,

and the job market in Florida is as good as it gets...

(Orlando, Tampa, Miami, FtLauderdale, Jacksonville etc)

...the grad school has a lot of (collaborative) opportunity,

and the job market in Florida is as good as it gets...

(Orlando, Tampa, Miami, FtLauderdale, Jacksonville etc)

...the grad school has a lot of (collaborative) opportunity,

and the job market in Florida is as good as it gets...

(Orlando, Tampa, Miami, FtLauderdale, Jacksonville etc)

oops, the last one works, I thought I was previewing...

but j seriously, probably umich is the best school in the world

I considered UF for undergrad and even visited the campus a couple times (I went to high school in Jacksonville), but now I'd much rather stay up north.

Another question:

I know Cornell has a very good reputation for their undergrad program, but I notice they now have a new M.Arch. program that's currently a candidate for NAAB accredidation. Anybody know about this program? Is it something I should look into, or would I be better off sticking to something that is already accredited and more established?

yeah somebody say something about the graduate program in cornell please. how long would it take to become an accredidated one?

what about the people who`ve already doing the M-arch in a non-accredidated program and how woud their licensing happen?

i read in one of the old threads it takes about 5 years to make it a naab accred.. so what do these guys do till then?

umich is a very good school and i am somebody who stayed put for both undergrad and grad school... things have changed a bit since i was there but one of the wonderful teachers/mentors i recommend taking a studio or course with is jason young, that's if you do end up there...

look at princeton

I've got an Arch. Studies degree and am in the M.Arch program at IIT right now. I've bashed it alot on here, but they are doing alot to make the program the best it can be. If you are a good student, they will totally allow you freedom to pursue your interests. Most of the students are pretty pragmatic, and if you want to learn structures and technical stuff there are plenty of profs to teach that. If you want to get into it, there is plenty of theory stuff going on as well but it's up to you how much. Basically all they want is for you to think for yourself and come up with your own ideas - what you base those on is up to you. Most of the students in the grad program are really cool and (most of them) are very talented as well. The best thing is they aren't archi-elitists or anything, which is definitely a plus. There isn't much of a community among grad students at the moment, but there are a few of us who are trying to change that. Really the only way you're going to know what is right for you is to visit the schools - so if you want to stop by this fall, I'd be happy to show you around.

I've got an Arch. Studies degree and am in the M.Arch program at IIT right now. I've bashed it alot on here, but they are doing alot to make the program the best it can be. If you are a good student, they will totally allow you freedom to pursue your interests. Most of the students are pretty pragmatic, and if you want to learn structures and technical stuff there are plenty of profs to teach that. If you want to get into it, there is plenty of theory stuff going on as well but it's up to you how much. Basically all they want is for you to think for yourself and come up with your own ideas - what you base those on is up to you. Most of the students in the grad program are really cool and (most of them) are very talented as well. The best thing is they aren't archi-elitists or anything, which is definitely a plus. There isn't much of a community among grad students at the moment, but there are a few of us who are trying to change that. Really the only way you're going to know what is right for you is to visit the schools - so if you want to stop by this fall, I'd be happy to show you around.

Thanks for the info about IIT, as well as the invite. I'll keep that in mind.

Is there any truth to the rumor that the grad students are no longer in Crown Hall? And if so, is that just a temporary arrangement while the building is being restored?

YES it's true!!! They will be moving even more students out of the building this year to make more room for the undergraduates. The top floor will be only 1st, 2nd and some 1st year grad studios. They will have a few third years in the basement and everyone else will be in two other buildings around crown.

I agree with the others about umich. Personally, I like
ESTAB (Barcelona) and ESTAM (Madrid) as well. Obviously, that
would involve a slight change in thinking...

cal

Chameieon: a new accreditation usually takes 5 years, but the previous two graduating classes' degrees are usually retroactively accredited. Most schools that are starting an accredited M.Arch program take only first-years the first year the program runs, so nobody graduates until the end of the 3rd year of the program's existence. People who graduate in that 3rd and 4th year are basically going on faith that the program will receive full accreditation and their degrees will therefore be accredited.

This isn't too much of a risk - almost all new programs are accredited in their 5th year. Cornell has less to worry about than some schools because they're already running an accredited B.Arch, which means there's no chance they'll be faulted for not having enough architecture books in the library, or not having a big enough auditorium or something facilities-related like that. So as long as the curriculum is up to snuff they'll pass.

There's no real problem with the temporarily-unaccredited degrees of the 1st two graduating classes since these people will still be in their internships at that point and having an NAAB degree would typically not be an issue until the point at which they want to start taking the ARE and pursuing registration.

That's a bummer about IIT... All that tuition money and the grad students can't even use Crown Hall. Do their studios at least have views of Crown Hall? :)

Granted, the building doesn't make or break an architecture program (otherwise UIC would be royally screwed), but it's Crown friggin' Hall!

Last year the 1st and 2nd year Grad studios were upstairs in Crown... the rest of the grad studios were spread around, some in the basement and some in the building next door. There was a huge jump in enrollment after the new buildings were built on campus and there are just too many students to have us all in Crown Hall - last year everyone was crammed in there pretty tight and this year I hear the incoming class is even bigger. I must say that I loved working in there and it's really going to suck not having a desk in Crown next year if what threads is saying is true. Apparently Crown Hall is such a draw for incoming students, they feel like if they don't let them work in there in the first year, they'll feel ripped off. Oh well, we'll see what happens!

bloopox- i was under the impression the first 2 batches of students won`t get their accredidated degree from naab until the school completes 5 yrs, but the third and the following batches of students would get an accredidated degree (since the program would have become accredidated by the time they complete their masters in 2.5 or 3 yrs?).
i guess i was wrong. i know nothing about the program and was gathering information if i should apply to the school next year (probably i wud be holding an accredidated degree by the time i finish, right?)

though i`ve heard much about the bachelors at cornell, my doubts are more geared towards the orientation of the program and sorts.
anyway, thanks bloopox and letme know if you can feed me with more info.

and
living in gin- about the tangents i`d been posting, hope its okay with you.

chameleon: I think we're saying the same thing, but not sure...
Here's how I understand it (and have experienced this with other new programs):
The first year that the program exists they only take first year students. These people don't graduate until the third year. They receive an unaccredited degree at that point. In the program's 5th year it gets its accreditation. The people who graduated in the program's 3rd and 4th years (who are the first two classes, since nobody graduated in years 1 and 2) get their degrees retroactively accredited in this 5th year. Everybody who graduates from the 5th year onward will get an accredited degree the normal way.
The only risk is if the program somehow manages to not get accredited on time. But: the accreditation team makes multiple visits during the first five years of a new program and so the school has plenty of warning of any deficiencies it needs to correct.

Check out Iowa State University if your'e looking at the midwest.

graduate schools,

as a 2003 b arch graduate from UIC (currently attending Penn) I would say you are correct about UIC they have a much improved reputation Daniel Friedman has done a good job turning that place around, especially for undergrad,

Graduate Programs,
Be aware that a B Arch degree from UIC does not get advanced placement at many graduate schools, though this is changing and may not be the case in a few years. I would suggest finding this out before you apply to any schools it might narrow down your choices.

So....U Penn of course.

uic doesn't have a BArch.

oh -- THAT Dan Friedman

I was thinking THIS one:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0300058489/qid=1126039884/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-4133190-6906209?v=glance&s=books

which would've been way cooler.

nonetheless, UIC seems to be getting its game on (go, hey)

Ku is re-establishing the curriculum for the MA accredited degree; if your interested in practical experience in design-build.

L.I.G. - If it's building you want, try OSU's Knowlton School of Architecture.

Thanks for all the responses...

Although I still have plenty of time to worry about it and change my mind, I'd say my top three picks would probably be:

1) University of Oregon (most likely the Portland program, although I wouldn't rule out Eugene).
2) IIT - Chicago
3) UPenn - Philly

I'll admit that my choices have as much to do with where I'd like to sink some roots and build my career as the particular merits of the actual schools. In that regard, Portland has been looking very good lately.

don't underestimate the importance of roots. Many programs, regardless of their national reputation or lack thereof have excellent local connections that can be very helpful, and this should certainly be a factor in your decision.

Best of luck wherever you land.