Yes, I am indigenous and it’s in most of my architecture essays (tied in well of course). I will definitely put Cornell on my list.
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If the high SAI is a one year blip, what will your aid eligibility look like for the following year? Would you consider doing a funded gap year program, like one of the Americorps programs (City Year, etc.), and start college a year later when the aid scenario improves? (There are locations in blue states/cities.) You could still apply this year, and try a financial aid appeal, but if the money doesn’t add up, you could defer a year - having a gap year plan in place could be smart.
If you decide to consider 4-year BAA programs, U of New Mexico is in a blue city in a blue state, and is quite generous with OOS merit.
If you’re considering Houston, Rice is a generous full-need-met reach school with a fantastic architecture program.
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I had some indigenous students who were able to secure full tuition scholarships. Here is some information: Scholarships | American Indian College Fund… You’ll find more opportunities by doing a google search.
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I agree that Rice does have a fantastic program, but just an FYI that their MArch degree is a 6 year program.
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You may want to investigate the following to see if valid - from a year old article.
All Massachusetts public colleges and universities accept the Native American Tuition Credit, which is a tuition waiver available through the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs.
Michigan offers a Native American tuition waiver for all public universities and colleges through the state’s Department of Civil Rights.
The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarshipcovers the full cost of tuition for qualifying New Mexico residents who attend a public university or college in NM.
The scholarship also qualifies Native American students from tribes that are located even partially in New Mexico, even if the student lives in the bordering state.
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But note that the MA, MI, NM tuition waivers for Native American students are for in-state students only. The same goes for a similar program at UCs in California.
University of Minnesota Morris does not have that limitation on its American Indian Tuition Waiver, but also does not have an architecture major.
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Yes, six years - but year 5 is a paid practicum year - it isn’t six years of tuition.
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OP, I think something is going to work out for you. I think you will have some good options.
I do agree with checking out Cooper Union. They are a top architecture program, and do have scholarships beyond just half.
I would also expand my search beyond schools that have architecture majors. For example, I have a friend who was just an art history major, but also took physics, calculus and art classes. She had no trouble getting into masters of architecture programs. You could also launch into architecture from something technical such as engineering.
Here is a list of the schools that give big merit for NMSF/NMF. These schools can act as financial safeties for you while you apply to reaches that may hit budget.Big merit NMF/NMSF schools and their specialties
Best wishes!!!
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Unfortunately, with the loss of virtually half your parents income, it’s possible that you might not have a choice but to go in-state. My suggestion would be to apply for as many scholarships as you can. Just in case the worst happens, you have guaranteed money in writing. I would recommend against going out of state solely on your parents’ income. If the money dries up, you’ll be forced to transfer back. You’ll also find that in college, people are adults and they won’t care if you’re queer anyway.
Certainly something for them to explore but with the understanding that going to an M.Arch without a BA Arch usually becomes 3 year Masters program. With Masters programs being even less prone to meeting financial need.
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I had a friend at Syracuse. Her parents sold their home and moved into a trailer to send her there.
Two years later - what you said - graduated from the home school - u of Montana. They ran out of money to fund Syracuse.
I should note that while I flamed out in the chosen industry in a year, she’s still in it 35 years later.
This student has options tho in places they’d like via NMF but maybe programs they don’t love.
I agree with you on the queer aspect. My kids have both said as such at both Alabama and Charleston. But other parents here feel otherwise.
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“You’ll also find that in college, people are adults and they won’t care if you’re queer anyway.”
Admissions may not care about the queer part, but they definitely care about the indigenous part, and that totally changes things. Adcoms in places in like NY and CA will want to help someone like the OP out.
OP, a 35 Indigenous student is pretty rare, and I don’t want to set unrealistic expectations, but you should aim higher, like colleges in blue states like UChicago, Northwestern, Stanford or Columbia, they would love to have a student like you.
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I agree with your sentiments, but Northwestern and UChicago don’t offer Architecture majors(both have minors in some form of architectural studies). But absolutely to Stanford, Columbia and Cornell(already previously mentioned here).
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