Oh by the way, 

Who's going to ucla and cornell's open house??

UCLA FOR SURE.

CORNELL's M.ARCH isnt well developed like UCLA. YOU HAVE PROFESSORS LIKE GREG LYNN, THOM MAYNE, NEIL DENARI, SYLVIA LAVIN, DANA CUFF, ETC TEACHING AT UCLA. THEY'RE ALL PROGRESSIVE PROFESSORS TRYING TO EXPAND THEIR EXPERTISE. 

AND LOCATION MATTERS.

LOS ANGELES IS A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY ARCHITECTURE. GREAT TRENDY PLACE. 

BEING COMPUTER HEAVY IS A GOOD THING. YOU WANT TO BE IN THE TREND THAN NOT. 

I was also accepted at UCLA, and at Michigan. Still waiting for Columbia too. Also interested in and accepted at Tulane and Oregon, even though they are not as prestigious. I wonder how much weight that holds when looking for work after graduation.

I feel similarly to you regarding UCLA and its focus on digital. Of course, computers are great and important and you will learn the programs in any M.Arch program. But not all of us are interested in pushing digital boundaries. My interests lie more in pushing social boundaries, for example. Also, given the financial crunch the UCs have been in, I'd be considered with if their digital fabrication equipment is up to date. I have heard great things about the equipment at Michigan, btw. I also don't believe that Starchitects always make the best studio professors.

LA is certainly an interesting place to live (I spent 1.5 years there). Lots of stuff to do, some interesting architecture happening. It can also be a difficult place to live in terms of connecting to people and you have to love driving. This will be somewhat counteracted by living near campus and being part of a closeknit M.Arch program. Westwood is a very nice, safe neighborhood.

I have friends who went to Cornell and advised me not to apply. Although, apparently there were changes in the dept. while they were there and other years felt more positively about their experience there. I imagine they have excellent equipment since Cornell has money to throw around.

My apologies for these two pieces of slightly negative information. It's what I have to offer. Congrats on the fellowship; that's awesome! Will you be at the UCLA Open House?

@batman

Hey thanks! what do you mean by M.Arch ucla isn't as developed like UCLA? you mean the program?

Aren't some of the big names also visiting prof. in Cornell?

@iematraveler

Hi! congraz on your admission as well! wow michigan hasn't sent me anything, might be a bad sign..

But anyway negative comments are good comments too! that could be some question to be raised when I do the campus visiting! 

Some ppl say that its important where you want to work in the future - say if you want to work on east coast - i.e. nyc, it might be better to be in cornell. and likewise if west coast is the preference then maybe ucla is a good choice. I know this is not definite, cuz people can travel around if they determined to do so. But i have done quite a lot of travels and hopefully can start at some place and not moving too much in the future… 

I've only be in LA for like a few days, but live in nyc for 1.5 year. I like nyc but sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed. quite like the LA being spread out

Oh I am going to cornell open house for sure, but  90% going to ucla. (cus i have to fly there and bak again and flight to LA again for another travel. That's why i'd like to post something here to get some more ideas!  You going right?

Yeah, I'll be there. (I'm in SF so it's not too hard.)

It's true that we should be prepared to stick around an area after graduation, since that's where we'll be making connections. That said, in California, it does feel like there's a Norcal and Socal architectural divide. At UCLA you're likely to make good Socal connections, but not so much Bay Area connections (GO BEARS!)

LA will DEFINITELY feel different than NYC. You should definitely visit. It's actually a really fun place to visit. Downtown is really happening. Venice is great (I lived there). There are lots of museums and events and great cheap food. It's 75 degrees in SF right now, so it's probably in the 80s in LA! As long as you can learn to love driving and traffic and figuring out how to get home from a bar late at night.

if youre not into digital then why are you applying to columbia?

@iematraveler 

Always thought California as a state and haven't really thinking about the Norcal and Socal issue! 

Ok i've made my mind going to the ucla open house! :)  See you there! 

ucla haven't release the timetable i guess, should be soon. 

Cornell > UCLA