<p>How is it? I hear its not accredited. How is that a disadvantage for the student? What is the quality of teaching? How does it compare to Cornell, which is supposed to be the best university for undergrad architecture? Finally, is it worth it if you’re not gonna ask for financial aid?</p>
<p>I think this link might answer some of your questions: <a href=“http://cee.stanford.edu/programs/archdesign/pdfs/FAQs.pdf[/url]”>http://cee.stanford.edu/programs/archdesign/pdfs/FAQs.pdf</a></p>
<p>While it’s probably not the same caliber in architecture specifically as Cornell, one benefit of coming here would be that you get access to Stanford’s entire top-rate engineering department, so the program here would probably give you the option of pursuing a broader background in not just architecture but also mechanical engineering, civil engineering, etc. This is the reason that Stanford chooses not to accredit some of their departments; they like giving their students the freedom to pick courses outside of a rigid curriculum. For example, Stanford’s famed CS department is actually not accredited by ABET, though because of its reputation I can pretty much guarantee you employers don’t care at all about that.</p>
<p>Also one major you might be interested in is Product Design – it’s in the MechE department and emphasizes how to build practical mechanical systems. See [Stanford</a> Design Program](<a href=“http://design.stanford.edu/PD/]Stanford”>Stanford Design Program)</p>
<p>On aid, Stanford is more generous than Cornell, so Stanford wins here.</p>
<p>Most undergrad arch programs aren’t ABET-accredited, and such is considered to be “unprestigious” by most top schools; they instead give you the first four years of study, which prepares you very well for a master’s program. For the same reason, schools like Stanford, Harvard, etc. do not offer undergrad business degrees: it’s too professional and is considered to be the sort of thing that only lower-ranked schools offer. (MIT’s emphasis on professional preparation explains why it offers undergrad business.)</p>
<p>Another reason is that it’s just not practical to fit the undergrad requirements + undergrad arch studies + accreditation courses all into four years. Typically a master’s arch program is up to 3 years, in addition to a few years in an internship, and requires passing an exam. It’s structurally very similar to medicine and law, which of course don’t have undergrad degrees either. Instead you major in something like biology or English, which prepares you well for those studies.</p>
<p>^^^ Thats interesting. I always wondered why Stanford didn’t have an undergraduate business program, especially since their graduate program is ranked #1. So in the case of business, what undergraduate major should one pursue at Stanford, in order to be well prepared for an MBA? (ei. biology for medical school, english for law school)</p>
<p>As at other universities, economics is one of the most popular majors, and I think a fair bit of them are business types. The other popular choice is management science & engineering (MS&E), which similar programs elsewhere, like the Fisher M&T program at UPenn (Wharton), have attempted to replicate. It’s the major of choice for the entrepreneurial-type student at Stanford.</p>
<p>Depending on what kind of business you want to do, I’ve also heard of people majoring in CS but doing kind of a computational finance thing as the CS major makes you VERY good at algorithms. Though MS&E and econ are definitely the two top majors for business.</p>