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DILLEMA: M.Arch1 this year at my no.2 choice VS working and applying again to my no.1
Hi Archinect!
I'm facing a dillema. I've been admitted at my no.2 choice for M.Arch1 (Cornell) and rejected from my no.1 (GSD). I am about to start a new job in NYC at an architecture firm of international renown with a decent salary.
I graduated two years ago from a B.Sc Arch program and moved to Europe to work. I did a 1 year internship and then took time off to apply to graduate school.
I will be 24 in September.
At this point of my curriculum, I'm really wondering whether I should rush to get a professional degree and 'finish my studies' or take more time to gain experience and try to get into my dream school again (knowing that they might reject me another time).
I like Cornell a lot because it is one an extremely comprehensive program. Reason I'm hesitant is that the program is so recent, and because I don't really like the current dean. I really appreciate the dean of graduate studies though.
I'm also unsure because Cornell also does offer the same variety of elective classes. It does not have the same richness of knowledge as Harvard GSD. I wonder to which degree this limits possibilities of exploration.
I'm also afraid of being surrounded by only children. Most people go to Cornell for the B.Arch. The good side of this is that there are teaching opportunities.
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Any thoughts, comments, advice appreciated!
@Pillow
I was also accepted to Cornell, rejected from Harvard. I wouldn't say you should rush into getting the advanced degree, especially if you know you have a job for the next year.. that being said, if it is a firm you could work at consecutive summers while getting the degree, you might thank yourself later when you don't have to go back to 2-3 years of school after working. If theory is what you are interested in (which it sounds like) I might try for the GSD. However, I now kind of view the GSD as a 'machine' and a more intimate program might be interesting. Cornell seemed to have a good grounding in theory, and the student convivium is interesting.
Can I ask why you don't like the dean at Cornell? I wouldn't worry about being surrounded by children, at the open house it seems like Cornell tried to show that the grad students were separated except in the big lectures like the history courses which you might be able to wave?
Making decisions like this is tough, I keep flipping back and forth between Cornell for its comprehensiveness and reputation as you said, and UMich for the forward-looking faculty and seemingly more opportunities for research. Have you decided yet?
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