Personally I don't see why you are freaking out so much! First off, take a breather and congratulate yourself on admissions. Your question has been asked/answered enough times to outweigh Zaha. Do some looking around the threads. I need to know a little more about your goals and particular plans you may have. For instance, are you planning to work here in the U.S. or abroad?

Anyways, I'm going to answer your question in the most general sense. If you are set on architecture and don't have any immediate special plans to maybe work in a more specialized area, I'd go to USC. Decent Name. Less Time. Save Money. If your immediate plan is to just land a job after graduating, I would go as far as to say whether you went to Sci-Arc or USC would not matter, you'll all end up in the same position. Of course there are few exceptions, but again I am talking in the most general sense here. And finally, all I have to say about Sci-Arc is that if you applied knowing you really wanted to go, wanted to get involved with their work (heavy on digital + design), you wouldn't really debate your decision; you would know if you wanted to go. Seeing that you are second guessing, I say go to USC.

Thank you for your response. It's really helpful. I want to work in US after my graduation, and this is why I have hesitation in my choice. I've heard that Sci-arc would be better for working in US. Anyway thank you so much.

No problem, my pleasure..this why the forum is here. Did you switch usernames? I have my own loyalties to different schools but I do feel that both Sci-Arc and USC are developing with Sci-Arc gaining more reputation/exposure and USC heading in a new direction with their new Chinese Mafia Dean. Honestly for your situation, either school is a good choice. Anyways, may I wish you the best of luck and success on your journey and do keep us posted which school you decide.

Lida joon do not freak out my dear friend:D.....

Anyway USC seems a better choice...save your time and money....Tell USC to answer my application too....:D

Narddog, yes, I've switched my username. thank you again for assisting me.

Navaz??? Are you Navaz Ebrahim? What are you doing here??? I'm so surprised! Navaz? Do you really think USC is a better choice? It's a bad situation. I've surfed on the internet a lot. Sciarc's students' projects are amazing, while USC even doesn't have any architectural page in FB representing the projects! I'm so confused, and the worst things are the extra large money and time should be alloted to sci-arc. What do you think? Is really sicarc worth it???

What are you going to do? Have you applied for USC too?

USC

Visited both schools. Sciarc for sure.

megamanmilk this is the exactly problem! I'm an international student and don't have the chance to visit the schools :(

Usc master program is pretty new while sciarc has been around for awhile. Sciarc repuation is definitely stronger than usc and last time i checked sciarc was ranked and usc wasn't

Yeah. I accidentally found you here. Ardavan told me to join this group, because I have a similar problem. I think you should really follow your interests. See which one matches them. But the money and time are both serous matters to think about. I have heard both universities are great. But no one can comment unless he visits both. I guess you should see what you exactly want from these universities, write them here...maybe someone knows what are these universities' approaches in architecture........Yeah i applied to USC and Urbana Champeign, but none of them has answered me yet.

I myself wrote my similar problem in a forum here.....please tell me what you think about?

i agree with narddog up there. i think, having visited sci-arc before, is that sci-arc is a school that you like, or you hate. the environment is completely different from other schools, but it may not necessarily be one you'd enjoy. the USC vs SCI-Arc debate has been ongoing. i've read most of the threads here and i'll summarize what USC is to everyone: a safer choice because USC has been around for quite a while. you'll do architecture that will guarantee you a job (i use the word lightly, but i really mean your architectural designs will probably be more 'accepted) in the corporate world. SCI-Arc's reputation is cutting-edge but may not be necessarily what you will practice. so i guess it's up to you what kind of architecture you want to do, and where your career path is headed. since you can't visit the school, why not contact some students/alumni. there are a few on this forum.

if it sounds like i'm being biased, i'm not. i'm merely presenting two sides and it's ultimately up to you what you like. a big school with more diversity, or a smaller one with focus. if tuition is a big thing to settle, i'd advise to go with the one that gives you more money because you don't want to be buried in debt upon graduation. not to mention the unemployment rate in the US for architects is high (from what i've read recently). 

USC - Big Alumni base for industry connections, its an international brand, you'll save money.

The Federal Stafford loan rate is set to double starting July 1st going from 3.4% to 6.8% check out the numbers at this website:

http://www.finaid.org/calculators/scripts/loanpayments.cgi

Loan Balance $80,000.00

Loan interst Rate: 6,8%

Loan Term: 30 years

Monthly payment: $521.54

Number of payments: 360

Cumulative payments: $187,754.58

Total interest paid: $107,7554.58

----------

Loan Balance: $80,000.00

Loan interest rate: 6.80%

Loan term: 10 years

Monthly Payment: $920.64

Number of payments: 120

Cumulative Payments: $110,477.25

Total interest Paid: $30,477.25

Thanksssssssssssss everybody! Thank you ryoisa and Buff03! I'm really appreciated for your advice.

Lida .. You are really gonna enjoy studying at SCI Arc but I am afraid the enjoyment will end with college ... When you go to SCI arc you see the students there invariably trying to copy the techniques of the professors they emulate ... To some extent thats the case with every school but the faculty at SCIarc I think is over influential when it comes to design philosophy .. a philosophy which is not accepted outside the beautiful pink bubble that is SCIArc and unless you like being radical more than practical and have the will and energy to ride on your convictions for the next 40 years of your life, you will be more succesful at USC than sciarc ... Someone on this thread very truely said .. If you are even a little bit cinfused between SCIArc and some other school ...you should go to the other school ... And the thing about SCIArc being BETTER for a job in US is absolutely untrue .. USC has an amazing reputation among firms in the area .. As much as SCIArc if not more ..

Aman! It was a sharp but really helpful comment! I'm appreciatd you said these things leading me to be determined in my decision to attend USC. You've written to the point. Thank you so much

You are most welcome Lida ... SCIArc is just not the right pedagogy for the economy US is in right now .. It's really bad in US and there is no demand for architects .. forget about the ones who want experiment and make the sustainable models that the world uses obsolete .. America is not the promise land it was anymore ..

Lida, i guess it ultimately depends on where you want to practice. if you're not planning to work in america when you graduate, you could probably go with sci-arc. imo, i think sci-arc produces amazing work. i mean, if you're going to go to a grad school, why not go to one that helps you push your boundaries and makes you challenge yourself. have you attended a less design-oriented school before? and did you get a bachelor's in architecture? that's something that would help us before giving out more advise. but since you mention cost and that's important to you, that may be your most important deciding factor. i wish you well on your endeavours. 

Ryoisa I have bachelor of architecture from a less design-oriented university! Actually, I haven't any financial problem; nevertheless, it is important to know whether this additional cost and time for SCI-Arc really worth in comparing two scools in quality and degree value or not!

"In 1972, Mayne collaborated with five other students and educators whom he met at while at USC, to create the Southern California Institute of Architecture, or SCI-Arc"

Think about the above statement for a second. Should be pretty clear as to where you should go. 

UCLA?

Ovalle, you perfectly gave your message across! I've never thought in this way!! Thanks!

I am too very interested on this topic. One day I wish to attend one of these schools. But I was wondering about Uc Berkeley, which is better between the three. I would like to add, when I visited my cousins firm with him I asked were they would recommend to get their masters, and specifically a USC graduate there told me that she recommended Sci-arc over Usc.   

Sci Arc was founded by Ray Kappe, Glen Small, Ahde Lahti, Thom Mayne and Bill Simonian all of whom were teaching in Cal Poly Pomona and 50-60 students (including Michael Rotondi) who followed them risking an accredited degree. School got its accreditation in one year later in a lightening speed. Two years later faculty were joined by others including Eric Owen Moss.