If you're into Rural Studio and places like UVA, don't even think about Princeton. They're ideological opposites. Architecture school, unlike something like medical school, differs greatly in attitudes towards design. It's simply a very subjective field. Princeton is great because it's very cheap, very small, and very theoretical, but you have to be into that stuff. If you're more about social design you'll be fighting the tide if you're there. Stick with state schools if you want value and add UCLA (more theoretical) and UC Berkeley (more environmental design) to your list of places to look at. U of Michigan is also a very good school to take a look at.

Last time I checked, Rural Studio is only for undergrads. Maybe they've expanded it to grad students as well, but I'd check first.

The University of Cincinnati has the Community Design Center, which sounds a bit like Rural Studio except that it's in an urban setting.

I think Parsons is probably one of the most expensive schools around, unless they're giving you a huge scholarship. Their tuition is almost as much as Columbia, and that's on top of the obscene cost of living in NYC.

LiG, you are correct; RS is not a graduate program, they have an outreach program but that's it outside of the undergrad program...unless Auburn has changed from a 5 year program to a 4+2 while I wasn't looking.

CMU... Central Michigan University or Carnegie Mellon? I don't know anything about Central Michigan, but Carnegie Mellon doesn't offer M.ARCH.

Use the following two websites to research the about 75 programs for someone with your background --

www.naab.org

www.archschools.org

Do you mean U Washington or Washington University in St. Louis?

Check out School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Mass College of Art -- both have current candidate NAAB programs.

Thanks for the responses--its exactly what I need, I'm still a newb to working the arch. school system.

LiG and Fulcrum, you're right Carnegie Mellon and Auburn are B.ARCH programs. I kept them on my list because both were intriguing and it seems like there is no barrier to going back to a bachelor level study (except the fact that you might be in school forever).

And csantos18 thanks for your words on Princeton vs UVA. As far as understanding the philosophy of a school, is there anyway of really pinning that down besides looking at what the students are producing, and the "school mission statement" that is occasionally posted on the website?

See, I've always been attracted to theory, (I down-right love art theory) but I want to go to a program where, when I get out, I can do some good with my degree. I have more of a non-profit/social-benefit/political-awareness bent.

emorgan - Knowing what you want to get out of the MArch is the most important thing in knowing where to apply. Your list at the top is about as broad as it can get, from an almost pure theory school (princeton) to places that have more of a social agenda (oregon). Take the time to go to each school and read deans' statements, look at the curriculum and see which aligns the best with your interests.

the best way to pin down a schools pedagogical philosophy and theoretical position is to do some research about the faculty. Google all the faculty, search for posts about them here on archinect, or get their books out of the library. Try to read the books, and maybe start a discussion or two on here.

In terms of Princeton, doing the research is pretty easy because the faculty is relatively small and has published a ton. Look at Beatriz Colomina's books, the magazine Log put out by cynthia davidson and sarah whiting, reiser+umemoto, and whoever else they have banging around these days.

You should probably try to read some of those books anyway, I particularly recommend the journal Log, which should be useful to any student of architecture.

I had a BFA too and am going to M.Arch this fall, so good luck, just make your portfolio as good as possible.

i agree with 10 on how to best understand the philosophy of each school. google the profs and see what they're about and what they've made. pay particular attention to the chairs/deans of each program because they tend to set the tone. good luck!

You mentioned the possibility of BArch at a couple places. Don't do it. You have a BFA, and it's perfectly reasonable to enter MArch with that. If a school doesn't have MArch, I'd cross it off the list.