Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Pratt Institute
University of Southern California (USC)
Tulane University
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Temple University
University of Oregon
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Kansas State University
Comparing Summer Programs (SCI-Arc, Harvard Career Discovery & UCLA Jumpstart)
Hey guys,
I am an undergrad freshman who is getting a BA in architectural studies but would still like to go to an architecture grad school. I want to attend a summer program that would help me build a strong architecture portfolio (my school offers very limited architecture opportunities) and am considering the three following programs:
SCI-Arc's Making and Meaning: http://www.sciarc.edu/portal/programs/making_meaning/index.html
Harvard Graduate School of Design's Career Discovery: http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/professional/career_discovery/program.html
UCLA's Jumpstart Program: http://www.summer.ucla.edu/institutes/Architecture/overview.htm
I was wondering if anyone knows which program will be most helpful in terms of getting to know your professors well (for networking/recommendation) as well as portfolio-building. Does anyone know which of the three programs is the most intensive in terms of workload?
Thanks!
Kevin
This is your lucky day. I did jumpstart in 2008 and Career disco in 2009.
Although there were more projects at Harvard than at UCLA, the work load and intensity were about the same. Jumpstart is is more course like, i go to a UC and i got grades and credits.
UCLA 2008
- smaller over all class size but same group size
- the projects were a bit abstract
- dedicated instruction time for hand drawing, rhino, and architectural history.
- Two main projects.
- weekly lectures form practicing professionals.
-24 hour studio
- Field trips !
HARVARD 2009
-Large overall class size
- 4 projects; the beginning two were abstract and the last two were much more real-world oriented, as in building with specific requirements and realistic design parameters.
- use of design programs or even even adobe programs was non-existant. -Everything was hand drawn.
-also had architectural history, and drawing workshops.
- Because of the number of projects and the way presentation were organized , project feedback was much more in-depth than at ucla.
- studio closes at midnight.
-Weekly lectures from design professionals, and architectural history.
I personally enjoyed both programes very much, and both experiences were unique and valuable. If you dont have the luxury of time as i did, and can only attend one programe, i would recommend Harvard. The projects are more fun and the feedback is great.
Hope this helps.
Thanks so much for the response. I have one more question regarding to Career Discovery program - how much work did you guys do on the last week of the program? Due to some time conflicts I may have to miss the last week of the Career Discovery and I am wondering how much I will miss out on.
Missing a week, any week, at any of these programes, would be too much. Final week is the culmination of the whole programe. You would be working on the most intensive project, they invite guest jury, the presentations are longer, and you receive some intense feedback. You also get a certificate for finishing the programe, without completing the final project you wouldn't officially complete the programe.
I came across your post about Jumpstart at UCLA. Do you know if that's offered during the year or only the Summer? Unfortunately it has already begun so I've missed the Summer date and don't want to wait a year to prepare myself for M Arch I grad school. The programs at Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, SciArch, and Berkeley have also started. Do you have any advice for me? I have no architectural background.
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