Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Pratt Institute
University of Southern California (USC)
Tulane University
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Temple University
University of Oregon
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Kansas State University
University of Cinn. vs. University of Texas at Austin
My daughter also has a difficult decision to make and we don't know where to look for the information to help her with it. She has been accepted to the University of Cincinnati and the University of Texas at Austin for her March degree, she is graduating with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical engineering. We are residents of the state of Ohio. She has received no tuition assistance from either school, but she was also accepted to Ohio State University with a full university fellowship (tuition and stipend for the first year and if she does OK, then tuition for the next 2 years). She is concerned about which school will provide her with the best portfolio development and which school will provide her with the best job opportunities when she graduates. She has visited the schools and liked them both. She felt that at Cincinnati you were more on your own as far as your portfolio development, but you had an advantage with the co-op program because you had to participate, whereas in Texas they only take the best students in the Professional Residency Program. Reading through the curriculum, Texas has these Design, Media, Theory etc. sequences that look very interesting and the course descriptions sound wonderful. Cincinnati has three levels of design studios, structures, theory, history, environmental technology, then 2 semesters devoted to a thesis. No thesis at Texas. How important is that? Is the time spent on a thesis better spent in advanced studios? She has almost eliminated Ohio State because it does not have as good a reputation as the other schools, but I'm not sure. Does it really matter where she attends? Will it help her get a job? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Go Bearcats!
is there any reason that she isnt the one asking this question?
cincinnati
No reason, she probably hasn't found this web site yet. She likes to figure things out on her own.
I would suggest cincinnati. The co-op program is nice
I wouldn't write of Ohio State so quickly if they are offering so much financial aid. Its got a huge passionate alumni base and the chance to graduate with a M Arch degree with little to no debt is not something I would not take lightly. I'm not sure what her financial situation would be but I would ask the question is it really worth it to have a student loan payment anywhere between 400-800 a month for the next 10-30 years of her life? Especially since she will only be starting out making about 40-45k a year?
You really cannot beat a full ride (or potential) full ride offering. All of those schools are going to provide the same, accredited, level of instruction. I received my undergraduate degree from DAAP and found the college as a whole to be and excellent place to learn design.
With that said, the COOP program is really fantastic. It really does help you get into paid positions, and it really does prepare you for professional practice. I guess the real question you/she should ask yourself is would you rather have her have an easier time finding a job while in school (and when she graduates) or would you rather have cheap (or free) tuition.
Her portfolio will be fantastic if she puts in the effort and really honestly develops her design work and design thinking skills. Design school is not like engineering school. I would be hard pressed to find professors in ANY design school that would hold your hand throughout the entire process of developing a portfolio. Its the student that matters in the portfolio, not the instructors or curriculum. They only influence.
i wouldn't put much importance on the presence of a thesis project, or not. it's really just a long, drawn out studio where you do a lot of research on your topic.
I did my undergrad at UC, and have lots of classmates in the MArch program. The co-op aspect is hugely beneficial to some people, as they end up working for firms they interned at (me, for instance). Unless you secure internships at more artistic firms and studios, though, the co-ops will not enhance your design skills as much as a studio back at school.
I don't know alot about UT Austin, but a friend of mine is planning on attending there (and prefers it over UC, where he also did his undergrad). From what I gather it is a smaller program where you can spend more personal time with instructors. I do know that some students at UC feel a bit restless and ambivalent about their education. I think there are some real dud professors in that program (and some gems, too). If you go to UC you definitely want to be intentional about which studios you're in.
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