Chance Me/Match Me: Senior needing realistic advice [GA resident, 4.469 W, 1280 SAT, B.Arch major]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I need realistic advice on whether my college list is “enough” and whether I should apply to other schools. I am interested in pursuing a B.Arch in college and would like a school that would offer me opportunities to explore sustainability and urban design in my undergrad—study abroad programs, co-ops, internships, and research are things that interest me.

Demographics

  • US domestic
  • State/Location of residency: Georgia
  • Type of high school: Public
  • Other special factors: N/A

Cost Constraints / Budget
I would say family contribution is low. We are a one-income household, and we already have one student in college.

Intended Major(s)
B.Arch

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0/4.0
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.469 (+1 for AP/DE, +.5 for Honors)
  • Class Rank: 10/371
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1280 (Waiting on Sept SAT Score)

HS coursework

  • English: Honors 9th Lit & Comp, Honors World Lit & Comp, Honors American Lit & Comp, DE English 1101, DE English 1102, DE Human Communication
  • Math: Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, DE Precalculus
  • Science: Honors Physical Science, Honors Biology, AP Environmental, AP Biology
  • History and social studies: AP World History, AP US Government, AP Macro, DE Econ (uni-specific)
  • Language other than English: Honors Spanish 1, Honors Spanish 2
  • Visual or performing arts: Ceramics/Pottery 1 to 4, Sculpture 1 to 2, Beginning to Advanced Music Technology
  • Other academic courses: Construction pathway, Work-Based Learning
  • Senior Year Courses: AP 3D Art, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Calc BC, DE US History, DE Intro to Philosophy, and DE Creative Writing (potentially).

Awards
All A Honor Roll (3+ years)

Extracurriculars

  • Student Conservation Association Summer and Inclusion Crew (trail maintenance, community engagement, inclusion in the outdoors)
  • Pottery Club (PR officer, led wheel-throwing sessions, photography, community volunteering)
  • Varsity track & cross country (10–11), currently cross-country manager (assistance during practice and meets)
  • Volunteer in video/media tech; Youth leader (organizing Bible studies, events, outreach)

Colleges

  1. UT Austin (pipe dream)
  2. Virginia Tech
  3. Auburn University
  4. Kennesaw State (in-state option)
  5. Tuskegee
  6. University of Tennessee–Knoxville
  7. Mississippi State
  8. NC State
  9. LSU
  10. FAMU
2

When you make a statement like this, it’s not helpful enough. Low means different things to different folks.

If you can contribute $10K, as an example, most your list would have no chance.

$50K - much would have a chance.

So UT Austin is $60K, Va Tech mid-high $50s - assume no scholarship.

Is that low?

You really need a defined budget.

As for chancing, I think Ms State, LSU, and Kennesaw would be likely. The HBCUs have low acceptance rates so are too difficult to project. The others are targets (a higher SAT would help) to high reaches.

But none of it matters without knowing what you can contribute.

3

Look into HWS, which would, I believe, apply your financial assistance to its study abroad program in Rome. Note that the major at HWS is in architectural studies, which might suit your range of interests.

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4

When determining your budget, keep in mind that a BArch degree is typically 5 years.

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5

When I read your post, what stands out to me is your Construction Pathway. B. Arch can be a very competitive major. I know nothing about that major, but I assume this may help you to stand out in some way.

As long as you have an academic safety that you can afford on your list that you’d be happy to attend, then you’re good.

If you are looking for another safety/low target, I’d consider Roger Williams or Wentworth. They have a very hands on programs that might be a good match for you. I think you would receive good merit, but you’d have to run the NPC to see if it gets you in the ball park. They both have internships and co-ops. Wentworth is in Boston, so very urban, while Roger Williams is right on the coast in RI.

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6

Is there any chance at all that UT Austin will be affordable for you as an out of state student?

You need to figure out what your budget is, and then figure out which universities are likely to meet this budget.

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7

However this is a 4-year degree. Maybe OP can clarify if the reason they want a BArch is to get a degree that leads directly to licensure, whereas a 4-year degree would require doing an MArch after to get that.

8

Sorry, but yes, I am only interested in the 5-year B.Arch.

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9

You need to provide a budget. It may be all are too expensive.

Aid or significant aid is unlikely and your budget will determine where you should even apply.

10

If priority is architecture above all other considerations like campus life, sports, etc, I suggest that you look at tiny Cooper Union in New York City. Its location alone makes it a great place to study urban design and it also features a focus on sustainability in its architecture program.

Cooper Union has fewer than 1000 students, divided among 3 schools of Art, Architecture, and Engineering with the School of Architecture having only 126 students. But it is also one of the best schools of architecture in the country and has been for more than 160 years since its founding in 1859. Its small size is not unique among top colleges. Cal Tech, indisputably one of the top engineering colleges in the country also has fewer than a thousand students. Olin College of Engineering and Harvey Mudd, 2 other top engineering schools, each has fewer than 1000 students! Juilliard, arguably the top music college in the country, also has fewer than 1000 students. Suze and excellence are not the same.

One of the things that makes it special is that every student automatically receives a half tuition scholarship, making the tuition only $22,275. But Cooper Union is projecting that it will be tuition free by 2028-29, which would be your junior year. So, your junior and senior years would be entirely tuition free. For next year, tuition, fees, room & board cost about $44,000 according to their website. Before any additional financial aid.

College housing is only provided for freshmen, so all others have to find their own housing for the next 3 years. But by the end of freshman year, students have new friends who join together in neighborhood apartments. Another nearby option is dorm style living but in a dorm which is provided by a private company and not by the college. The private dorm houses students from multiple colleges, not just Cooper Union. Living off campus is not uncommon at many colleges and universities.

A college with such a small enrollment could be isolating, but in this case it’s not. Cooper Union’s East Village location puts it only a few city blocks away from massive NYU and also from New School University. The 3 colleges together have a combined undergraduate enrollment of about 36,000 students. With many students from the other colleges also living in off campus housing, the students from the 3 schools tend to find each other. In fact, some find themselves living with some roommates from colleges other than the one they attend. It’s a real college neighborhood!

To make this work, a student has to want the urban lifestyle and has to want to be in New York City specifically. If that’s what you want, there couldn’t be a better part of New York City to be in than Greenwich Village if you’re looking to find things to do.

Take a look. See what you think.

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11

Even with a half scholarship, NYC is very pricey.

OP has to get their arms around the budget first. He says the family contribution will be low.

Looking at schools without understanding what he can pay.

NYC could be $30K to live….without tuition.

12

I claim ignorance of in-state admissions stats, but what about Georgia Tech? Great school, state school price.

13

Cooper Union’s admit rate for architecture is around 4%, though, so it should be considered a reach for any applicant. They have a particularly interesting application process, where applicants have around one month to complete and submit a studio test.

We toured it briefly a while back. It’s basically adjacent to NYU/between the NYU departments and some of the dorms. Definitely a vibey part of the village to be in. If I recall correctly, no one is guaranteed housing and only first years generally get any, so the costs of renting /sharing an apartment in NYC do need to be factored in.

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14

Georgia tech also only offers a 4-year BS, not a 5-year BArch,

15

The half scholarship is what is guaranteed,there could be more funding available,but I don’t know details of how generous they are.

16

But until OP has a #, no one can really know anything.

Having a budget - and a need profile based on an NPC - should be required on every post.

Otherwise, any recommendations are - potentially - not relevant.

That’s my concern.

17

It could, but it doesn’t have to. Educational Housing Service, a major NYC private dorm company for college students offers a double room within a suite in Cooper Union’s East Village neighborhood for $5500 per semester, or $11000 per year, just a quarter mile, or a 4-6 minute walk from Cooper Union depending on which classroom building you’re going to. There are a lot of campuses where your dorm is farther from your classroom building than that. So, how much a student spends on food will then determine room & board cost. By most estimates students can live more cheaply off campus as long as room rents are kept within control, which EHS accomplishes for students. Will he spend more than $8000 per year for food? Unlikely. $19000 is the cost of on campus room & board for freshmen, so $8000 is what he’d need as his food budget to match that.

Let’s remember that when we’re talking about living in NYC for $30,000 per year that we’re not talking about living in the City year round for a college student but more like 9 months of rent and 8 months of food costs. These dorm companies maximize cost efficiency by renting out the rooms in the summer when the students are not in school.

And by junior year, tuition should totally disappear, leaving room & board + a small college fee as the only costs.

I agree that s/he needs a budget.

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18

The 5-year B-Arch at Virginia Tech includes (at an additional cost) a study abroad which is typically done during fall of the 4th year, so that should be factored into overall cost (not sure if it’s mandatory or optional). Also, studio and supply fees for Arch programs can be steep so I would look into those at all the universities you’re considering.

B-Arch programs are competitive admits. Depending on how much weight each program places on your SAT vs. your class rank/GPA (and taking UT Austin out of the picture), VT, Auburn, NC State and possibly also UTK will likely be reaches for that particular program.

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19

Alfred State has a B.Arch and is relatively low-cost OOS (same instate and OOS tuition, residential scholarship for students who live on campus)

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20

Agree with @tsbna44 - until the financials are known it’s difficult to give much guidance. The schools almost universally have net price calculators for expected family contribution. They’re not 100% accurate but will usually be in the ballpark of what you’re looking at.

The NAAB has a list on their website of all the 5 year B-Arch programs - last I looked there is was about 50 of them. Really helps narrow down a potential list of schools. The admit rates to B-Arch programs is typically low and often substantially lower than the broader school numbers. Academically you’re a strong student and that will help.

You don’t mention a portfolio in your initial write-up. Do you have one? Have you had anyone look at it to give guidance on how good it is?

UT-Austin and NC State severely limit the number of admits from OOS irrespective of program - so would consider those long shots (even if affordable).

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