Umm. Any particular reason that you are going to grad school? They are very different places - if you are interested in something particular maybe we can be more helpful.

you would turn down AA?

As an AA graduate, I can say that their admissions policy requires that students demonstrate either exceptional talent or exceptional wealth. My impression of Sciarc is that it operates under a similar model. So I wouldn't raise an eyebrow simply because someone was admitted and elected not to go - it's more a matter of what one want to do while they are there, and if it is going to be worth all the tuition and other opportunities you won't be able to pursue.

If you have an undergrad, which you should, since you have been accepted to the m.arch 2, then, the m.arch degree is the one you should really look at, the diploma lies in a no man's land in the american educational system,,, also, academically, the diploma offers a (to an extent) wide variety of different approaches and subjects, because it operates under the unit system, which is substantially different than the cirriculum at sci arc (or almost all american universities)

why did you apply for the diploma and not any of the graduate programmes?

the biggest advantages of the AADip are:

1. 1 year = 1 project
2. a very, very high degree of individual tutoring and mentoring
3. the possibility of a scholarship or a bursary (if thats of a concern to you)

don't know about the M.Arch at SCI-ARC, but the graduate programmes at the AA surely don't have those advantages.

couldnt you go to sciarc, and attend AA meetings on the side? I dont think they take all that long really, plus they got some of the strongest coffee I've ever tasted.

Well I SCi-arc is offering money, I am about to negotiate with the AA. Also I am transfering from another north american professional masters course, therefore i applied to the diploma because i wanted to finish an accredited degree. Honestly I find the AA post-graduate courses trying to be like American Masters courses, i.e. DRL. i visited both schools and saw both the work. I find SCI-arc to be more daring, and the AA more timid. Although I saw the AA work last year. I am planning to visit again tomorrow to get a better sense of where they are at this time around.

i am leaving my masters course for a couple of reasons. One of them being that they do not open to formal explorations. Another being that they're approach to architecture is far to rationalist for my liking. Finally they seem to promote ivy league grads over their own.

I am interested in digital fabrication and formal explorations. However i would like to be in an environment that has different perspectives to continually challenge my own.

I have a suspicion that the emperor has no clothes when it comes to the AA and that it has become a brand name. Where as Sci-arc is what the AA used to be, but maybe i am wrong. That being said at the end of the day the name of the school does matter.

So i don't know....maybe i'll just base it on which one ends up being cheaper.

might be good to consider cost of living London vs LA...and they are very different cities. I think both schools have strengths and weaknesses...both related to curriculum and facilities...

maybe it should come down to do you wish to work in europe or the states when you're done? march2 will be worth more in both places...the diploma is kind of equivalent to a barch...

they will not convert easily usa to europe for licenscing. just a thought.

Chances are this same lame question has been asked before. Can I suggest conducting a thread search? If that doesn't prove fruitful, I suggest visiting both schools. If, for some reason, you still can't decide, then I suggest forgoing graduate school all-together. It's obvious you don't know much beyond the differences between your ass and your elbow and thus not a lot to offer either school or your future peers.

whoa get a life, sorry i don't sit on archinect all day reading everyone's posts. I already visited both schools. Just wanted to see if anybody from those schools would give like to comment.