Architecture BS/BA/BArch for B+ student interested in traditional architecture?

[AustenNut]

@SJ2727

I cannot remember which cc parent it is or where the student (I think it was a daughter) went, but someone here did post that their D got offered admission for a 2 year MArch at some schools and a 3 year at another based on their undergrad.

I think this may have been @bgbg4us.

@momrath

With a BA or BS in architecture or architectural studies from a university that has a school of architecture, the MArch is generally a continuum of 2 years, possibly 1 or 1-1/2 if summers are included. Enrollment in the same school’s MArch is generally, but not always, guaranteed.

This is the situation at some of the in-state publics in Louisiana, like U. of Louisiana - Lafayette and Louisiana Tech. I believe both of those have an 18-month program for their architecture undergrads who go on to continue their study at the same university. I suspect that undergrads who switch to a different university would probably receive offers of 2-years, at best, at other M. Arch programs.

[SJ2727]

Thanks, yes, this is the poster I was thinking of. Her daughter did her MArch at RISD from a Midwest college according to this. I imagine RISD is pretty difficult to get into, but definitely can see that there and most others she was offered a 2 year MArch. I think she may have named the one that offered 3 years in another post.

@bgbg4us

my kid is an architect now. she went to midwest state school (no portfolio required) with full tuition offered for undergrad (BS arch design); then got her M.Arch (2 years) at RISD.

…….

It was a long process; pros and cons to it all. One pro with this route was learning from two different schools and view points. She was admitted to all but one M.Arch programs with advanced standing (2yrs). So, yep, you dont know how the M.Arch will go! No way would she have done 3 yrs for her M.Arch.

[gcmom1]

Thank you all so much! The admissions representative giving the presentation said that one must stay with the same school quite declaratively, so much so that my son and I both made note of it, but it makes sense that this is school dependent, certainly related to the undergraduate courses and how well they align with the MArch program, and may have been for Syracuse only. They also were using it as a rationale for why one would choose the BArch over another path. I appreciate all of your ongoing clarification! It helps! I can appreciate that the process may be more streamlined at one school for both BS and March vs. the opportunity to learn at another institution with different perspectives (and a possibly longer path to degree). Also, very interesting about the AP courses being counted for undergraduate but not necessarily the graduate program!!

[Mashinations]

@gcmom1

The admissions representative giving the presentation said that one must stay with the same school quite declaratively, so much so that my son and I both made note of it, but it makes sense that this is school dependent, certainly related to the undergraduate courses and how well they align with the MArch program, and may have been for Syracuse only.

MArch

Nowhere on the Syracuse MArch admissions page does it state that they only admit those students coming out of a Syracuse program. I’m not doubting what you heard but it wouldn’t be the first time someone giving an information session declared something false. Trust but verify.

EDIT: Thinking about this more it’s possible they meant that when you’re admitted to the School of Architecture you don’t have the ability to easily transfer to - say - the School of Journalism. Syracuse, and many other schools, admits the student to the School within the broader University and it can be challenging if not impossible to transfer out of that specific School. When it comes to BArch programs most schools will tell you “Don’t try to get admitted to a program with a higher admit rate and then think you can transfer into BArch because you won’t be able to”.

[gcmom1]

Totally possible we misheard or misunderstood, so I appreciate the help through this forum. We also didn’t see anything on their website that indicated this. The admissions rep did speak separately about the second point, i.e. apply to BArch if that’s your intended major.

[SJ2727]

@gcmom1

They also were using it as a rationale for why one would choose the BArch over another path. I appreciate all of your ongoing clarification! It helps! I can appreciate that the process may be more streamlined at one school for both BS and March vs. the opportunity to learn at another institution with different perspectives (and a possibly longer path to degree)

I think for us personally, yes if you were planning to stay at one school it makes more sense just to do BArch. Also depends on the focus. At this point my kid, for example, likes the Boulder program because of its breadth within environmental design (they really enjoyed the urban design project they did at their summer workshop), but other kids may prefer to be more focused on just architecture. Or they may prefer schools with a 4-year arch major but more gen ed requirements to get a broader general education (this is not my kid and one school has been crossed off the list for this). I’m inclined to think it makes sense to apply across a range of options and narrow in when one has decision options.

[gcmom1]

Yes, certainly agree with applying to a range of options. My hope in doing the background research and reading is to avoid any major missteps due to lack of understanding. I think for S26, he may really enjoy and require a wider focus to provide him with clarity on his path forward. D22 applied to too many schools, in hindsight, so trying to be more strategic this time around, and include more likely schools.