seriously, where are all the people from the Pacific NW?

I'd actually try to get in contact with some Seattle- and Vancouver-based firms to try to get any insight on practicing and housing market conditions in the respective cities.

Also, to play devil's advocate, what if Canada's housing market bubble pops? Then what?

@byen01

I appreciate so much for your help and thoughts.

This comes a bit from my background as an trader/investor and personal experience in Singapore.

With the on-going crisis in Europe and a painful recovery in U.S., there are actually less attractive places to invest in, either stock markets or properties. At the same time, the wealth among the new rich, in particular, the Chinese, has grown exponentially.  'Hot money' are finding their way out of China into some niche cities. Among them, Shanghai, Singapore, Vancouver, to name a few, has either seen a sharp rebound or even growth during the recent recession.

Property markets go through cycles just as stock markets and the economy. But I believe Vancouver is a city that will remain attractive through these cycles, just like Apple in the stock market.

Well, tuition is very reasonable at UBC. So you could grab a book and go to beach at least . You don't need to worry about phone call from debt collectors for your student loan.

What if the sky is falling the day after tomorrow? Then what? Just kidding. @byen01.

@Christian Lam  If you're from Singapore, you may prefer Vancouver life style. Did you talk to someone from UBC? As far as I know, UBC is trying to get new facilities. Some of their equipment could be just a bit behind UW.  But I'm think UBC will be exciting place.

@Tee, that's why you always carry an umbrella, smart ass ;)

UBC. though VAN is sitting on a massive bubble.

@holz.box

Thanks for the shout.

the money I saved from going to UBC will go to rental rather than buying one immediately, I will be watching the property market like a hawk. Always have option to go back to Singapore.

i didn't really expand on reasoning - but my take is that UBC is in process of becoming prefab/timber/high performance hub and is leaving UW in the dust. add in the lower cost, a great city and it's kind of a no-brainer.

i didn't mean bubble in terms of buying a house during school - but rather VAN could pop in the next few years and employment opportunities would become severely limited - though the school seems to have great connections, globally. probably the best thing going for UW is the scandinavian connection.

What holz.box said is true. UBC is gradually transforming to become top notch place at pacific region. Budget issues is putting huge restrain on U.S universities for a while now. It is kind of sick to say that. I'm pretty sure UBC could even better than UW for next decade.

Though UBC's Arch program has had to make budget cuts as well, and UW seemed to be weathering funding issues far better (again, this info was from about 2 years ago)

@holz.box

thanks again for expanding your reason.

I also did get your point about employment opportunities, thus going back to the East is always an option. I've already made up my mind about going to UBC, thanks again guys for sharing your views!

Hi Christian,

Sorry I can't add to any insights on UWA v UBC but I'd really like to hear more from your experience applying as a career-changer. I'm also from Singapore and have been wrestling with whether I want to ditch my job for architecture school. My email is monosierra@gmail.com. Tks!

@christian

@monosierra

I also am in the same situation as the both of you. I wonder if either of you would be willing to discuss to gain insight on the decision to change careers. my email is dixon@daydrift.net many thanks

having been through the M.Arch program at the UW, I must say that I would not have made the same choice given a chance to do it over.  I think the program would have been awesome 25 years ago.   I even heard some of the professors complain about how other schools in the region a far ahead of them in technology (UBC for instance).  

@reimp

thanks for your sharing, may I ask when did you graduate and what made you said so?

behind in technology in terms of software or techniques?

@re|mp

could you please elaborate on why you feel that way towards UW?  I have been accepted to the program and am extremely interested in any and all perspectives on the CBE

I am also been accepted by uw and would like to hear more about the program.

speaking from my experience when I was there

There was no emphasis to relevant technology and software.   There was very little emphasis on the basic fundamentals of architecture at the early stages of program.  (eg, as found in precedents of architecture).  Need to know the rules to break them in logically.  The most frustrating part of the program was the studio assignments.  I felt they more of a task that required nothing but a lot of labor and not intellectually demanding.  Some of the studios had identical assignments within the same year.  

My opinion - I think if someone just wants to fulfill the NCARB education requirements, it will do that.  But if someone is looking for an creative environment where imagination is just as important as pragmatic solutions - there are better programs out there as seen with Samuel Mockbee and Rural Studio.    

recent downturn??? Amazon is hiring 1000 people a week

Seattle's economy is strong

Seattle is 3 hrs from Vancouver and 3 hrs from Portland

Vancouver is 3 hrs from Seattle and 3 hrs from nowhere

@mdler I'm sorry but to put out a statement like 'Vancouver is 3hrs from nowhere' completely discounts the fact that it is one of the most livable cities in the world and whistler is less than 2hrs away.

@Christian Lam - mdler doesn't know what he is talking about.

@Christian I hope you chose UBC! I'll be there in the fall and it would be great to meet you!

Hi Ekaterina, I am here right now in Vancouver for the Open house tomorrow!

Flew in last night from Singapore and loving it here so far.

The lack of a formal open house program from UBC was kinda bummer (didn't know where to meet until I called). Hope it doesn't disappoint cos I have turned down the rest, just holding on to Columbia GSAPP as a backup.

Hi Christian- I'm in a very similar situation: international applicant (for 2013 start) and finance background.

I'll be visiting UBC in mid-May. Let me know if you're interested in catching up.

Steve, steve345124@gmail.com

@steve32 I'm back in Singapore already Was really a short and exhausting visit But glad I made the trip.