help， help

UMN = University of Minnesota ?

ISU = Iowa State University ?

UTK = University of Tennessee Knoxville ?

Yes. 

UMN = University of Minnesota 

ISU = Iowa State University 

UTK = University of Tennessee Knoxville

Could anyone share more information?

Thanks

While I can't speak to the other programs, I know that the MArch program at UTK is in the middle of a "rebirth" period, with Dr. George Dodds serving at the helm.  They have some high-caliber professors teaching the studios, and have begun to offer increased funding/opportunities for the grad students.  The College of Architecture is still very much dominated by the BArch program, though, both in terms of quantity of students and quality of experience.

Thank you A.R.Ch for this important information. It is very useful to me.

On the official websites of these universities, it is incredible that the total cost for a year in ISU and UTK is higher than UMN. It really shocked me. I never realized that ISU and UTK is so expensive.

Hey Alex,

I went to UMN for my undergrad, and they're grad program has really been receiving a lot of praise for mid-range schools since 2008.  In 2008 they won a most innovative grad curriculum award or something and they have been acquiring a lot of pretty decent young instructors.  this last week actually they are hosting a conference with a lot of really great speakers as well: http://digiprovsymposium.wordpress.com/

they've also hosted Acadia 2008 and AIAS Forum in 2009.

The facilities are great, the architecture building was designed by Stephen Holl, they have a Gehry art museum on campus, and there are a ton of great buildings in Minneapolis by César Pelli, Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson, Jean Nouvel, and Herzog de Meuron and more. They have a ton of architecture study abroad opportunities (when I was there they had 15 I think)

As for Minneapolis, I really love it.  I am from there, and have lived in Mexico, China, and traveled to over 20 countries since graduation, and Minneapolis is still one of my favorite cities to be in.  

I have several old classmates who went there and they enjoy it as well.  There's a lot of Teaching Assistant opportunities to help cover the cost of tuition.

The one downside to UMN is the program is so long, even if you have an undergrad in architecture.  I think it is set up that if you dont have an undergrad degree its 3.5 years and if you do have an arch degree its only 3 years or something, not sure so best to check their website.