As the former associate dean at IIT, do not worry about the "Mies" emphasis. IIT has an excellent program and is in a great city. Many of the graduates do stay in the Chicago region because you are able to work and attend school at the same time.

Where do you wish to start your professional career after school; you have an east coast, west coast and midwest school in your choices.

Best

Dr. Architecture
http://archcareers.blogspot.com/

since it seems you're looking at art schools with architecture programs (RISD, CCA) why not check out SAIC (School of the Art Institute Chicago)

I visited CCA and IIT, but not RISD.

I went to visit IIT last December. Crown Hall was a really great space to study. But, it is a very different direction to CCA or RISD. I ended up not applying the school. I didn't see myself fitting in school.

I liked what I saw in CCA. Lot of interactions are between different design disciplines. I am choosing between CCA and Pratt right now. But I am leaning on CCA since they provide substantial fund.

I think it cam down to where you want to live after the school and what setting do you like.

The thing is that I don't know where I am going to live after school and want to have the flexibility to decide after I graduate. Does where I get my degree make a difference for where I want to start my career? I can see how it would be easier to make connections in school and that helps for getting a job, but that can't be the ultimate deciding factor.

I have lived in the Midwest my whole life, and I will probably end up in the Midwest when I want to start a career. But I do want to see a different part of the country for a little bit and see going to grad school as an opportunity to get a new perspective.

I guess, overall, I'm wondering what are the most important factors to consider when deciding. I feel like I could see myself at any of these schools, but still need to find a deciding factor to just choose one.

eam, you are the only one who can answer the questions. For me, I prefer art school setting. I need to be in the city (RISD is out for me). So my choices were CCA, Pratt, and SAIC. Then, the next big decision was how much debt I want to get into. Lot of people on the board are talking about debt. If you don't need to worry about debt, that's a different story.

I mean even doctors have a hard time to pay their student loan. My partner is a doctor so I kind of know that.

Are you in M. Arch 3 years or 2 years program if you don't mind to share?

At CCA, I was placed in the 2 year program. At IIT and RISD I'm in a 3 year program.

so KTLRPP...which school did you choose? (i ask as another person accepted to SIAC, CCA & Pratt).

SAIC

Most likely CCA. CCA will cover more than 50% of tuition for 3 years. Pratt only gave me a very small non-renewable scholarship for first year. I will have 60K less in debt after school. I think debt mobility after school is important to me. Besides, I love SF in general (no freezing cold weather).

How about you? little.orange.strip what school are you planning to go?