An advantage to UCLA is that it is in LA, so there are more opportunities for internships and networking. Syracuse is a well known school, but it is in the middle of nowhere.  

Are you from the east or west coast? Since I'm from the west, I would prefere to go east for a new and different experience but if I had a choice between Syracuse and UCLA, I would pick UCLA. Ideally you want a school with a good rep and location, and I feel that UCLA has both.

Also, I've heard UCLA is more theory based, but I'm not sure about this.

Just my thoughts =]

Many of the goofball ranking lists are based on feedback from practitioners.  UCLA's program is relatively small compared to Berkeley and SCI-Arc, and has both less alumni to report favorably on the program, and less folks who have experience with their graduates.

Here is Los Angeles, I think there is consensus that recent UCLA grads are on average higher quality than those from SCI-Arc.  But that's just in my peer group, and the older Sci-Arc grads (pre-EOM dynasty) are maybe better... if they are still in architecture.

To make it more complicated: Make sure that you visit UCLA and talk to recent grads.  It's not cheap if you are out of state, and over the last few years the program has suffered quite a bit from cuts to higher ed.  Many of the good, younger studio professors have fled elsewhere...

And because reputations are regional, it's worth thinking about where you want to work afterwards.  Syracuse has little name recognition on the west coast, but is well regarded in NYC.

Also, I am choosing between Syracuse University M. Arch 1 program and UCLA AUD. Anyone can help me with this decision?

Some would say this is one of those questions that answers itself, in this case, a third option: choose neither. To not already know how fundamentally different these two schools are is to not be ready for graduate school. Perhaps you can defer enrollment at both, take a year to do the do the research, and decide then. 

Juma N.

I don't agree on this with you. Maybe he/she already had the answer him/herself, but still want to collect more insight information and advices from people who went to these schools or know more about the locations. It is what this forum is made for. We don't know then we ask. For international students like me, all the info I can get is through google and schools' website. And sure they can't tell everything, that's when I need this forum.

Besides, deferring is easier said than done. He/she may has other personal constraints that won't allow it (family, age, funds, jobs...)

Lastly, I believe choosing a school is not a completely rational decision. Hesitations is understandable. And when I hesitate, it's natural to ask for some outside opinions. And it is not very constructive an answer like the one you made.

I got the same question wondering why. And I am choosing between UCLA and WUSTL. I love UCLA and the city but WUSTL is ranked 4 and 9 in graduate program these two years. 

It's very difficult for me to make a decision.

Can any one give me some advises?

Rankings are meaningless. Your best bet is to literally go down the faculty list, Google their names, and look at their websites. Are they doing actual work or are they just talking about it? Are they contributing to Scholarly publications such as Log? Go where your heroes are. Be careful though...make sure you single out core faculty, not visiting professors from 10 years ago.

I had to make the same decision between UCLA AUD and SSOA (and other schools) a couple years ago. Not even close! UCLA in a heartbeat. Syracuse was so depressing...the city and the student's work.

Can't beat Greg Lynn, Thom Mayne, Neil Denari, Hitoshi Abe, Jason Payne, Heather Roberge, Georgina Huljich, Sylvia Lavin, Dana Cuff...I could go on. I'm loving my UCLA education.

@jjanke

  Are you taking part in the new IDEAS program? If not, were you able to register into studio time under Mayne?

Nope. I'm in my third year, about to graduate. The IDEAS program is just now being implemented and doesn't start until next fall when I'm gone. I am currently in Thom Mayne's yearlong Haiti NOW studio.

That still sounds amazing. Do you plan on working in LA after you graduate?

Yeah I like it a lot. It's a really tough studio...not a sexy topic but I've learned a ton. Thom and Eui-Sung Yi (another Morphosis principal) are great teachers. With this studio and the rest of my UCLA education, I feel totally prepared to go out and dominate the professional world. And I am planning on working in LA. Job searching now actually.

In general, how do you feel the job prospects are for you and your fellow MArch I graduates? Are most people staying in LA? What sort of jobs are people you know from school getting?

In general, there's a lot of opportunity in LA. There are tons of firms. I'm not worried about getting hired; the question is what type of work and what size firm? I don't know what everyone's specific situation is, mostly because we've had no time to talk about it. This is because the quarter system adds an extra layer of brutal on top of what architecture school already is. Some people already have jobs working part-time. Other people are gunning for super corporate/ max money positions to pay off student loans (although I would say UCLA AUD is anti-corporate). Some are trying to get positions at international design firms or with faculty.

There are a couple recent grads that ended up at UNStudio. At least 1 person ended up at Morphosis. There are also some that are kicking ass at Gensler. I think UCLA prepares you to go wherever you want, do whatever you want...if you take the grad experience seriously.

And I just want to mention one more thing about the quarter system because I think its important. At UCLA, there are 3 studios per year, 10 weeks each. If you compare a UCLA project to a SCI-Arc, USC, etc. of the same studio level, I think you will find that UCLA is highly competitive if not better (depending on your own subjective metric). UCLA does 16 week quality in 10 weeks. UCLA teaches you to do more with less time and with less revision. This has been very valuable to me and is one more reason why I am not worried about landing a job. Its just one more skill that gives me at an advantage over USC and SCI-Arc grads.

Does UCLA offer advanced placement into their 3 year program? I've been offered admission but I have taken most of the first year classes in my undergraduate degree already.

You have to talk to admissions about that one. They might if you're a special case. But you can waive most of the first year classes anyways...all you need is some proof that what you took in undergrad is comparable. But there a a couple first year classes you don't want to miss, such as Sylvia Lavin's Theories of Architecture. Amazing class. Maybe the best teacher I've ever had, period.

Was anyone on here able to attend their open house this weekend? How was it?