| questions I would ask...
*ask to see student's work! the first time you see it, it may not mean much to you, but after you've seen several examples from different schools, some conclusions may be drawn even by somebody not educated in architecture.
*ask what kinds of facilities they have. Does every student get dedicated, 24-hour studio space? That's an important one, people I know who've gone through programs where they didn't have their own space got very frustrated with it, while having studio space helps build community and is obvious a great convenience. What sort of library, woodshop, and digital facilities do they have? If they've mentioned building new facilities, ask what the setup will be in the interim. I've had friends get shuffled into some really bad studio space while new buildings (that wouldn't be completed until after they graduated) got built.
*Ask how many people graduate in five years. Heck, ask how many people graduate. Don't be automatically scared by a high attrition rate (normal for architecture), but if one school jumps out beyond the rest, that may say something.
*usually this is already published, but take a good hard look at the specific curriculum of each school. How rigid or flexible is it? Is it heavy on technical classes, or heavy on theory, or balanced? Which of these approaches does your son think would suit him best? Are there enough electives in there to satisfy?
*ask about abroad programs. A good one can make the difference between an ok curriculum and a fantastic one. |