I'm a graduate of the UB MArch program and will and try to answer some of your questions. I think that you should look at the graduate research groups on the schools website to see if any of those are interesting to you. Not that you can't do something outside of those, but it gives you an idea where at least some of the faculty's interest is. You'll probably spend at least 2 semesters in a research group studio.

      I would say that you probably can't transfer from any UB grad school to another. There are some classes that overlap between architecture and planning, so I suppose you could start in one and then apply to the other program and use those credits, but if you are interested in the dual degree,I'd just apply to that program to begin with. It adds one year on the MArch to get the MUP as well.

     The facilities are pretty good, great shop and digital fabrication lab, which makes it a good place to be if you like to build things.

     The cost of living in Buffalo is fairly low as well and combined with the state school tuition could save you a lot of money. If you can get a TA position, you also get health insurance and a stipend.

Thanks guys.

sjniles 

Yes, I've seen those research groups and seem very interesting. The Martial Culture especially. also Urban Planning has very good lectures and themes to study, so Dual Program would be a good chose for me. It's relatively cheaper then Columbia or Pratt as well.

I would like to ask you a couple of question if don't mind; 

What's your experience  in Architecture school at Buffalo? 

What do you think about it?  Does it worth go there?

Will I be able to work for big companies (SOM, OMA, HOK ned etc ) with Buffalo degree? 

The reason I am asking such a weird question is that I am currently working at the company where all the architects went to Columbia, pratt or Princeton... but me, as being from Europe (Corsica) and knowing not much about USA schools, they keep telling me that all state Universities are bad and no one looks at their Diplomas. So in order to be "respected" and have "good circle" I have to go to Columbia or MIT (and some really worldwide known school).... so I am kinda confused ... but the fact is that I do not have that amount of money to pay for such schools. (and they still pay for their loans actually)

Tadao Ando and wright never went to any school, and still did good (in terms of architecture) 

Thank you in advance,

Max 

I think you meant Material Culture, just so no one thinks there is actually a Martial Culture research group.

Are you looking at the 2 year or 3.5 year MArch? Do you have a arch degree from a school in europe? There often seems to be no logic in how they place some students, especially ones with non-US degrees into one of those programs. If you have an arch degree and are working in an office now, I would push pretty hard for the two year program. Plus the year the MUP adds on of course.

I had a good experience there and I graduated w/ no debt. I think for me it is worth going there for that reason combined with the fact that there are really great faculty with wide ranging interests. It is graduate school, you can make it what you want. What do you want to get out of it?

    It sounds like you are already working at a firm where you are surrounded by Columbia, Princeton ect. grads, yet they hired you anyway. Maybe because you have a great portfolio, good experience, or are really good looking. Who knows, but it wasn't for your ivy league degree. Why would it be any different if you had an MArch? But then again I don't know anyone that works for a starchitect.

I also like HCMY's advice above. "do the research, make up your mind and then live by it. Yo!"

sjniles

Yes I meant Material culture research group, but also liked Inclusive Design. 

I am looking for 2 year MArch + MUP, which in total is 3-3.5 Years. I have BArch degree from  Europe but having that degree doesn't allows me to get licensed here in USA unless I take some additional tests and exams which I don't want to do.

Yeas, I already work (since 2009)  for a large company in NYC  but the one thing I can say for sure is that I have lack of theoretical knowledge in Architecture... I am pretty good with technical staff, especially with BIM and Revit (that's reason they gave me a job, because they have no clue in BIM modeling) so I just want get my knowledge wide... I read a lot about architecture, philosophy, history and art but I don't know how to put this everything into the right  channel... I guess you know what I mean... 

so that's why I am looking for the masters program...

p.s. U got lucky since you don't need to pay the loan back...        

If you are interested in the Inclusive Design research group check out the IDEA Center http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/. It is pretty well funded and I'm pretty sure they have graduate assistantships that cover tuition plus you get paid, might be tough to get but worth looking into. 

Thank you sjniles