Architectrure Cornell versus RPI

italianalps
Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:27:15 +0000

Would any professional architects care to comment?
We are down to the last two schools before deciding where D will attend.
RPI architecture offered a nice $22.000 merit-based scholarship for 5 years as well as a fully loaded laptop . Cornell Financial Aid is 0 with just a few thousand dollars in loans.
Do the prestige of a Cornell BA degree, the contacts and Cornell alumni relationships in the architecture field outweigh the $110,000 we would be saving in a smaller, less prestigous but also highly respected RPI program? We have heard different opinions from professionals in the field. Some say that the contacts you make at Cornell and the rigor of it’s architecture program virtually guarantee you to be among the most sought after students when you graduate. Some say, go to RPI , work hard put together a great portfolio and and save the money for a graduate degree, a downpayment on an apartment, a trip around the world or put it in the bank and use it to subsidize what is initially going to be a very lowly salary as a beginning architect. What is your opinion as someone currently working as an architect? D is a very dedicated and talented student who will do her best wherever she goes. Will the cachet of a Cornell degree and a great portfolio as opposed to a RPI degree with a great portfolio make a big difference once you have landed your first job? We have heard that in architecture it is more " show me your portfolio and what you can do" as opposed to " where did you graduate from?"
Any thoughts and opinions are appreciated