cincy gal

DS will graduate in June, 2008 with a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. He has had 3 great co-op quarters so far (with one more this winter). At the encouragement of the architects he has worked for at his co-op jobs, he plans to work for a year or two after graduation before going back to school for his MArch. He truly loves the study and work of architecture, but wants to gain additional experience before grad school. He is not looking to "just get grad school over with", like some of his classmates.

While he is working, he will be looking into MArch programs. He is more interested in a theoretical program and possibly a combination architecture/urban planning program. Any school suggestions from this board?

sashimi46

cornell has a great m.arch program. it's new but it shares a lot of the resources from cornell's renown undergrad program. cornell tends to lean more on the theoretical side...I feel like cornell tries to graduate students who are beyond simply productive workers but independent thinkers. its arch department is also within the same college as the urban planning department so he can take many urban planning courses as well

momrath

cincy, my son is in a similar position. He graduated last June (with an art and art history BA) and is working for an architecture firm preparing marketing materials. It's been a great exposure to the daily routine and challenges and because it's a medium sized firm he has a lot of interaction with the partners. Most likely he'll apply to a MArch program next year.

I'd suggest that your son take a look at Columbia and MIT for his areas of interest.

I'd also like to mention that many MArch programs have information days for prospective students. My son has attended three and has gained a lot of insight into the personality of the schools.

What's your son's opinion of Cincinnati's MArch program? I've been trying to convince my son to get out there and have a look.

cincy gal

He has loved his years at UC, and their co-op structure is tops. I think if he hadn't done his undergrad at UC, he would be going there for his MArch. Even though the undergrad and grad faculty is completely different, he has been hearing from his contacts from his co-op jobs is to get his Master's from a different institution. I'll check with S for more input.

UC has done tremendous things to improve their campus in recent years, with a focus on the campus architecture. See: Power of Place, University of Cincinnati Magazine, November 2007

S has mentioned Columbia, and I'll pass along MIT and Cornell. Thanks.

rick12

Once you have a solid undergrad degree like your son, graduate school becomes more about developing a higher level of thinking and getting exposed to the best practicioners and peers. It is hard to beat the Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton axis. They are near the major metropolitan areas and generally share the best professors and practicioners in the country. I would start with those four and go from there.

rick