Going solely off of "community development", I'd instantly say UW. The program has some great community design and design build studios and a strong focus on cultural aspects as they relate to LA. Only real con I can think of is that it's on a quarter system vs. semester, and so you're really whizzing through courses. UW also has some great facilities and the opportunity to take Urban Planning and Arch courses.

I know less about UT's school, seeing as I've never physically visited it before. The studios themselves sound a bit...dull, though the student work I've seen are rather thought provoking. They seem to interact quite a bit with the Arch department.

I got accepted at U of T as well, but know little about it. I might visit during their Final Review sessions next week, but I'm not quite sure how the school is structured.

Any Canadians in this Forum?

I got accepted for M.Arch btw, not MLA

I used to live in the Seattle area and it sucked, not because of the rain, but because the place is just too tiny so there's not much going on. I've heard a lot about their design build studios, but only from their architecture department. I'm not sure how a design build studio would help in landscape design, though. See, in architecture, it helps in future construction drawing if you've seen what you're drawing(e.g. how studs are connected to one another). But in landscape, the parts that you're drawing, you can easily see them in everyday life.

UW is good if you're planning to work in the Seattle area, they have a pretty good connection with the local design community seeing as they are the only major architecture school in the area that's producing design focused architects (WSU is more technical). I'm not sure how a UW degree would help you outside Seattle, though.  Design wise, they seem to focus more on suburban/rural kind of design.

UT on the other hand, seems to be mostly focused on theory and the urban area in general. So, you'll probably get more exposure to how community development works in big cities. Their alumni seems more scattered across the globe. A lot of influences from the GSD. Not a lot of technical stuff.

Overall, I think it would help you more in the long run if you research what the faculties are researching, whether they're practicing architects or not, where you want to live(rural/suburban/urban), job prospects/internship(how many landscape firm in seattle/toronto), different climate means different plants... okay, I'm going to stop rambling...

UW

@ byen01 
Thank you for your insights. The reason I am attracted to UW is, as you mentioned, because of the community design aspect. I know that they have a strong focus on creating place-based community. But, as a Canadian, the downside of the program is the expensive tuition.

@ march12012
I am going to one of the review sessions as well next week! I would like to help you on directions and all, but unfortunately, I am from out of town as well so I would not be any help for you... Sorry~ But I hope to see you there!

@ qtip
Thank you so much for the info.
When you say that UT is more focused on theory and less technical, would that be a disadvantage on field works or practical settings such as design firms and such?

I am glad to hear that UT alumni are scattered across the globe. I know that Charles Waldheim once was the dean of MLA program of UT (I think he is the director of GSD at this point, correct me if I am wrong), so UT will very likely be focus on teaching landscape urbanism, I guess. 
 

Yes Waldheim has been at the GSD for some 3 years now, and he poached Belanger from UT as well. In some regards, schools like UT are set up to teach students how to become great thinkers and designers, and expect students to learn the technical aspects during the summer interning at a firm. It's really up to what type of learning environment you're looking for - UW and UT are polar opposites in terms of approach. UW alums dominate the pac northwest/west coast and have good connections with Asia.

@qtip, d/b studios are as helpful for arch students as they are for LA students - LA CDs don't just consist of topsoil and some drainage fabric. Also, quite a few of UT's past LA studios/seminars have focused on the ex-urban/rural divide.

@byen01
Since I am a non-major student, my technical skills related to LA is virtually non-existant.
What sort of programs or skills would be helpful for me to learn before I enter the program of UT? (Autocad, Sketchup, 3Ds Max, Rhino, Photoshop ??)

Also, would UT type of education give me a better chance in the futurewhen it comes to a path to academia? (professor, instructor etc.)
And what is your opinion on maybe pursuing Phd right after MLA degree without practical experiences? Would this option (lack of practical experience) hurt me in the process of becoming an instructor or a professor later on?

the landscape program at U of T is pretty well known and strongly connected (at least from the academic point of view). I studied M.arch there and always made fun of U of T, I just went there because as an Ontario resident my tuition was around 1500$ a year. But I was surprised how many international applicants there were for the MLA program. Also I liked the landscape students they were waaaaaaaaay nicer the the M.Arch students.

Anyways many say it is on par with the GSD, including a friend who later got a full ride at the GSD for post-professional MLA.....but super heavy into the Landscape urbanism- so be sure you're into that.

Just visit the school and try to talk to some of the prof's there to get a feel for it. Oh and remember as an Ontario resident they'll cut your tuition down to 1500$ or something like that.

Isn't Toronto located north of arctic circle? Their LA program better be heavy on theory, because in practice nothing really grows there.

Simularily, I expect UW's program to heavily concentrate on aquatic sea weeds.

Hah, I'm pretty sure LA students being nicer than M.Arch students is a blanket statement.

@Young, you should ask both U of T and UW how they sequence software integration into the cirriculum, but in general knowing Photoshop and AutoCAD (if only to get a feel of the interface) is helpful. Honestly, the technical bits will fall into place where ever you're at. I don't have any opinions on the whole teaching/PhD track, but it depends on what you want to focus in terms of research.

@Rusty, UW concentrates on growing coffee beans in tidal pools.

@archinet

Are you sure they cut the fee down to $1500? I mean, that is like NOTHING compare to other schools. I am a Canadian citizen and I got into most of the schools I've applied, including GSD and U of T. If the fee is 1500, than there is a humungous difference b/w US schools and Canadian schools.. are you sure its not 15000 ? Forgetting a zero there?

No matter what, U of T seems like a decent place. I just wished they sent the letters a bit earlier so that I could have considered U of T as one of my early options. US schools are really on top of this and they really try to grab the accepted students as much / fast as they can.

Maybe I'll see some of you guys at the Final Review sessions, altho we won't know who's who ;p

UofT tuition for canadien residents is 8.8k.

@Young86

Search this forum, I think you'd find a thread about a UT student who was having a hard time finding a job. But, he/she was not a landscape designer. I might be wrong, but UT seems like the only school that offers landscape in the Toronto area, so less competition for you.

Regarding academia, you just answered your own question.

Waldheim: UT(back then)------>GSD(now)

Obviously, UT would offer opportunities for academia jobs(professors, instructors)

The strength of design build studios would be when you're applying for jobs, you could proudly tell them that you have experience in construction document. This is important because you'll not going to be doing a lot of designing when you're just starting up aka you're going to be in the production team. Your theory knowledge don't matter unless you get to be part of the design team.

@byen01 I know that LA CDs don't just have top soil and drainage fabric. I was just comparing them to a building CDs. I'm sorry if it's misunderstood.

qtip, the University of Guelph has a very good MLA program as well, they're just about an hour from U of T.

@ qtip
Thank you so much for all the help! I really appriciate it.

@ march12012
I guess $1500 came from the tuition minus OSAP loan.

@ BenC
I actually got an offer from U of G as well. But, for some reason, I am not that attracted to the program. I guess I want to go for a bigger schools like U of W or U of T.

 

@ qtip
Thank you so much for all the help! I really appriciate it.

@ march12012
I guess $1500 came from the tuition minus OSAP loan.

@ BenC
I actually got an offer from U of G as well. But, for some reason, I am not that attracted to the program. I guess I want to go for a bigger schools like U of W or U of T.

 

hey 

 Young86 - if you are an Ontario resident and get full OSAP, the University of Toronto will reduce your tuition to around 1500.00$. The grant from the university of Toronto applies to ALL OSAP recepients. Talk to the administration at U of T when you visit they can tell you about UTAPS. Also if you get full OSAP, (12k a year), you only have to pay back 7.5k of that (its called the Ontario opportunity grant which applies to everyone). So the best option is to get full OSAP....and T.A. or work-study

Honestly if I were in your shoes and if I were really into landscape urbanism, I would only look at U of T (because its cheap and a pretty good school for Landscape) or GSD. GSD only because of the connections and nothing else. Its basically the same as U of T.  If GSD gives you a pretty good financial deal (like half off or something) - which is possible then go there. But if they barely help you out financially then go to U of T.

Another thing about University of Toronto- because it is a "public" institution its not hard to get in. Therefore there is a wide range of students. From really crappy and hopeless to excellent. But the top there is the same as anywhere else. So when you visit to see the reviews you'll probably see a wide range of crappy work to great work. Make sure to talk to the profs when you are there to get a feel for where the school is going. If you do decide on U of T- just be strategic to make sure you are around the profs that have a-lot of pull, and get them to be your thesis advisor.

Oh yeah Guelph is not that bad either...one of the profs at U of T went to Guelph and is now a project manager at WEST 8 working on the waterfront in T.

Seems like Harvard can't be ignored in any discussions lol.. That's the happy (or sad) fact. I guess the name plays a big role at the end - reality check √

@ archinet
Your comment really made me want to go to U of T.
I will definitely go for the full OSAP. And gotta dig deeper nad know better about landscape urbanism until I get into the program...so excited.
Thank you so much! And, of course, I should work hard enough to be one of the top ones next year.

@march12012
Yeah... Harvard is well... Harvard!! lol
I am just happy that I can get similar experience from U of T.