@brobes

go where the money is! According to my opinion it is you who make the difference not the uni!

Ha! Thank you and I agree (assuming you mean scholarship monies)... I'm just a bit worried about UM's 'New Urbanist' dogma. Also really thinking about FIU cause their program is way cheaper than UM and more modern! Tough choices! Anyone know anything about FIU? It's a new school I know. 

Agree. Get out without loans and w a solid degree leading to a job. Have employers heard of the school outside of the region? Check! Good facility? Check! Cheap? Check!

No one has ever asked me what flavor of theory I studied . But what I've done after I graduated has mattered.

Ps: you can apply classical theory to any type of arch

FIU is fine

Thanks again for the advice. Hypothetically, if money weren't an option would SCI-Arc offer more opportunity/employability options? There is a way to not use loans, but then I'd have less money to work with after graduation. Also, UM just offered me more scholarship money yesterday as they seem to really want me. Not sure if SCI-Arc really cares lol. Just wanna make the right decision here and not miss California but I suppose there are more important things. 

bump

very interested in applying to sci-arc,,, is there a way you can show us your acceptance portfolio

Sci Arc is a great school, with that being said, I can highly recommend to take UMiami especially if they're offering close to a free ride.  The comment made above about "going where the money is" is very true.  It also seems that the school really has an interest in you if they're increasing your scholarship.  When you graduate, it will be one less thing to worry about.

My experience with UM is that it was once deeply entrenched in new urbanism, but as of recent, the school has gone through a swift, and much welcome, change of pace.  More computer software is being implemented and younger faculty are teaching.  The tacky drawings that once were abundant in that school are coming to an end, and that's partly thanks to the program director you mentioned.  Although I am not a UM alumni, I kind of wish I had gone there. 

I am from western florida, and chose to go to FIU because it was "more modern" (i got into UM with the same amount of money), but several friends of mine went to UM to study architecture and other things.  I fell into the trap here on archinect of everyone talking about UM being so classical and "new urban" that I was turned off and that I went with FIU.  HUGE MISTAKE.  What you'll find at FIU is a lot of columbia rejects, faculty in fighting, pretentious hipster kids, and a very chip-on-the-shoulder attitude.  There are some good professors, but definitely hard to find.  2-3 sci arc grads are teaching there, but they are really out of touch with reality.  I made my own path there, and owe nothing, but I chose the wrong school.  I've been practicing for awhile and am going to be looking for a masters program soon, and although I'm looking to leave florida, I would consider Miami because of the changes they have made.  They have a neat design build program which I was interested in. I think its built into the curriculum.

If you need help, I'm friends with a lot of their alumni and can have them give you personal recommendations.

Regardless, no school is perfect, and i'm sure neither Sci-Arc nor UM are either.  Both excel at certain things, but don't believe the hype on here until you talk to people that attend the school or graduate from it.  

Coursera is where its at.

@ brobes I did my undergrad at FIU and graduated last year from Sci arc with my masters. It all depends on where and what you want to be doing in the future. I chose Sci arc because I'm very interested in the design genre that its faculty leans towards. If you are the same, then it's Sciarc all the way. But if either way works and the objective is to simply be employed then you're better off going to the U. I'm in NYC now working at an office that hired me based on the technical skills and sensibilities that only Sciarc can sharpen. So for me it was the right fit. But again, it all depends on where you project yourself to be in the future. Cheers!

@arquitektonix @fernando herrera - I decided to accept UM b/c I spoke to the aforementioned Graduate Director (Jean-Francois Lejeune) expressing my concerns and he put them to rest by telling things like the fact that they are shifting towards conceptual design and integrating parametric design and most or all of the comp programs sci-arc uses. Of course it won't be the same as Sci-Arc b/c of the faculty, but I hear good things about the faculty in Miami. Also he said that the 'New Urbanism' dogma is ending but that they have an inclination towards 'urbanism' and the good of the city. I am fine with this and he also said that most of the students these days have a non-classical portfolio and whatever direction the student chooses is encouraged. So for me with more connections on the east coast for work, this makes sense especially considering the scholarship. But oh I will miss LA for sure. hmmmmm life ain't fair I suppose. Seems to be a good combination of conceptual as well as classical design. 

@YVVNG My portfolio was very interesting. I am 30 now and constructed my portfolio out of hand drawings and paintings I made when I was 16. I also showed them some web design collaboration (which I did not create myself but rather directed) and a guitar I am building. My GRE scores sucked, but my letter of intent kicked ass. Also, it probably didn't hurt that I met the associate admissions director in person twice and expressed my interest in attending SCI-ARc. Good Luck!!