| Last fall at an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) seminar at USC the five or six educational pathways to becoming a licensed architect in the USA were explained and discussed at length by several of the lecturers. The upshot seemed to be that the differing pathways fit different people and produced different architects, and after all, you wouldn't want all the schools exactly the same, producing carbon copies...
Another point made was the NAAB accredits a school's program as only meeting the minimum standards, above and beyond that each school varies. Rankings were also mentioned and we were told to look closely at who was doing the ranking and who they were asking what questions.
So, it seems to me it should be all about finding a program that is the best "fit" for the student. For many it may well be a school that is tops on some ranking. The original intent of this thread was me trying to dig up some info that my son can run down in his search for the "best" place for him.
Recently my son told me of a question he asked every architect student he spoke with on his tour of colleges. He asked them not only why they choose the school they attended, but also why they declined the schools that they were accepted to. Got some interesting responses.
Thanks |