Two schools that are likely to be generous with merit aid, have low sticker prices to begin with, and have NAAB-accredited M.Arch programs are U. of Louisiana - Lafayette and U. of Louisiana - Monroe. ULL has a secondary admission process after the first(?) year, and I’m not sure about ULM. I think that students who choose to continue on for the M. Arch at those institutions require about 18 more months of study, or they can apply for M. Arch programs elsewhere. Lafayette is a small city (125k-ish) while Monroe is a town of about 50k.
My understanding is that many M. Arch programs will grant students some credit for their undergraduate work, if it meets the school’s standards. So those students doing a Bachelor’s in Arch (BA or BS) may only have 2 years of grad school vs. 3+ for those with no related degree.
I don’t get the impression that BArch programs are trying to weed out enrolled students. It seems to me that schools of architecture (and the national architecture board) are doing just the opposite: trying to figure out how to get current students to stick with the BArch program through graduation.
As discussed because the reasons for the high drop out rate are multiple and complex, the potential remedies are also multiple and complex.
I’m not an architect and my son chose not to do a BArch so I can’t speak from experience, but from afar it seems to me that BArch curriculums are demanding too much and delivering too little. And in the process losing the interest of an unsustainable percentage of their students.
I don’t think schools are intentionally trying to “weed out” students. The fact is the major is a VERY time intensive one, and many students find that it is not for them. Not everyone is cut out for all nighters in the studios working on design projects. That was the case 30 years ago when I was going through it, and I think it is still true today.
Thank you to you and momrath. I recognize that the reason students change major is complex, but losing half of the starting class seems high to someone just learning about this field. A million years ago, when I went to undergrad for something entirely different, the professors talked a lot about “weeding out” classes, so perhaps this was bringing up those uncomfortable moments!!
The programs want to give a good idea early on what it’s going to be like moving forward. They don’t want students to find out in 4th year “oh, this might not be for me”. S23 highlighted several times in his Freshman year that while he was in the studio nights/weekends his friends from other programs had the time for extra-curriculars, parties, etc.
Maybe not the case in all school systems but I feel like our high school system generally doesn’t do a very good job suggesting to a potential student what a career in Architecture is about. S23 took Arch1 and Arch2 in high school and it was more about using software and CAD than it was about any kind of art/design. Not sure he picked up a sketch pencil once. So a student thinking that’s what an Arch degree program is going to be like is in for a shock.
It’s often suggested that 30-40% of students change their majors in college. The 50% rate is certainly high for Arch but not that much higher than the broader student body.
The 50% is also related to those students that go into 1st year studio and graduate with a BArch. There are other degrees within most Architecture programs (real estate, interior design, sustainability, historic preservation, etc) that someone going in as BArch could easily shift into.
Again, super helpful, thanks! I appreciate that programs would wish students to have a rigorous start and understand early on if the program is for them. My son has only recently fully devoted himself to this major and career path, so he will not have taken the one class offered through his high school, which I believe is more CAD based as well. His one instructor also supports him and discusses career paths with him, which is helpful, but our guidance counselors don’t have many details (not like you all), so we are trying to help set him on a possibly good path.
Very true! It’s helpful to hear about related majors, and it makes sense that many starting BArch students may switch into one of these. I’m having my son explore these as well, as I don’t know that he’s even aware some of these field (historic preservation, for example), exist!
There is no intentional elimination of students, but this “survivor” studio culture has been around for a while (probably goes back to Ecole des Beaux-Arts) and most schools are not making it easier. The toughest part of this education is the ability to fully grasp arch. design as a concept - it takes 5 years and then some more. Some amazing artists and 3D modeling geniuses have dropped out of these programs, because skill or talent alone is not enough. Getting an A in a BArch. design studio is quite an accomplishment. It requires persistence, hard work, ability to balance and understand abstract concepts and utilize manual and digital skills.
It certainly sounds like it requires a really mature student, who is able to juggle complex time management, while also having both the artistic and technical abilities. For my son, I’m not going to dissuade him from applying to BArch programs where he has a realistic chance of acceptance, BUT i will ensure he reads every word of these kind and thoughtful comments, and I am going to insist he apply to several BS/BA programs that have a broader focus and look into related majors. Just curious if you have insight into the students themselves, although it may depend on the school and the culture there? Are they supportive of each other, like “we’re all in this together,” or is it highly competitive? Thank you again!!
Well friends, we’re working on a list of both BArch and preprofessional BS/BA schools and had a productive conversation, so a win! Since you’ve all had such great suggestions, any other schools in the entire US that might fit him/his stats, since I initially asked for Eastern half of the US?? Thanks again!
These range from solidly good to excellent programs. Kansas & Arizona are probably less selective. Oregon, Washington & WUSTL more selective.
BArch
U of Oregon portfolio required
U of Arizona, no portfolio, automatic admission with 3.5 GPA
BA/BS+MArch
U of Washington 2 undergraduate paths. See website for details
WUSTL portfolio optional (but there better be a reason if one isn’t submitted)
“Undergrad or baccalaureate” 5 year MArch
Kansas State I think no portfolio. You’ll need to double check.
U of Kansas, no portfolio, Your son may qualify for automatic admission. See website
There are quite a few good to excellent programs in California and Texas, both public and private. But I’m less familiar with their entrance requirements and selectivity — especially for out of state applicants.
Thank you so much! We’re working our way across the country in looking into programs, and Kansas State certainly caught our interest as they publish on the website that they have higher retention and graduation rates for the program than most. They don’t require a portfolio for admission, but they do a portfolio review at the end of the second year, from what we see. It looks like University of Arizona also does a portfolio review after the first year to proceed for advancement. That has been interesting to discover and makes sense. I think another hurdle makes S26 nervous, but I’ve tried to emphasize to him that the other program are evaluating throughout, it’s just not a single portfolio review. We’ll take a good look at the others you suggested. Any thoughts on Arizona State, which offers a BS preprofessional and MArch? Thanks for your ongoing assistance!
Don’t know if it would be on your radar or not but Auburn University’s B-Arch is sort of similar. You’re semi-enrolled into it at admission time but in order to get to second year you need specific grades in some of the first year coursework that’s somewhat competitive. I recall asking specific questions during the tour and didn’t get real specific answers.
Thank you! Yes, Auburn for us is difficult to get to: fly into Atlanta or Birmingham and then drive several hours, which is why it’s never risen to a higher interest. They also specifically state students should take Calculus on their website. Although now that I consider it, Kansas State may be similar as far as planes, trains and automobiles!
If you like the exploratory aspect of the Boulder ENVD program, you might also want to look at Iowa State. This school is widely known for highly-respected programs that are nonetheless not prohibitively difficult to get into. And their College of Design - the smallest college within this large university - offers an accredited 5-year BArch, but students enter this program through the same exploratory year as those entering the other 9 majors in the College. (Here’s a link to the catalog; however, the College of Design website - to which it refers for admissions info - seems to be down at the moment. Architecture | Iowa State University Catalog) Could be best-of-both-worlds between exploratory and professional, as he could do the exploratory year and then enter the four-year professional program, but he could also take that first year to consider all of the other major pathways within the College before making the BArch commitment.
Yes, thank you for validating what we were picking up from their website and info! I think Iowa State is solidly on his list to apply, and a nice college town in addition, from my recall of long ago.
Just pointing out UoA is one of the ones where there is a “pre architecture” year (not sure if that’s their exact terminology) following which you apply to the major.
Just wanted to add a couple of things here from our research (C26 applying too) and anecdotes from one college:
Intensity of BArch - one reason why not so keen on this pathway for C26 (ADHD). Interesting that Cal Poly SLO encourages students to take APs that they can use for required cdedit (calculus, physics, English) to give students more time to handle the volume of work - some indication of how intense the course is.
On selection - so this clearly will vary by college, especially those which require portfolio vs those which don’t. The portfolios presumably are assessed by the arch department. C26 just did the 4-week summer program at SLO, where they were clear the department has no say over who is admitted - that’s purely an adcom decision and “we just get the students they select”.
The great thing about Iowa State is that he can apply online in July. As long as he meets the RAI requirement, he will get an immediate acceptance and get his official acceptance within a couple of weeks. One great program in the bag before he even stats his senior year.