ahhh . . . momrath! I appreciated you SO MUCH a few years ago when my kiddo was going through this all!! 
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.
(and editing to add, at RISD there were so many different situations. some 3 yrs M.Arch; some doing 5-yr B.Arch; some 2 Yrs M.Arch. it was diverse! had some urban planners, sculpture/wood artists, and an environmental kid or two that were in her classes, amongst BS arch design kids.)
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.
Her current employer had 130 applicants for her position. She’s so happy!
have two engineering kids (one makes $$$ more than my arch kid just fyi) – i compare architecture to a cross-country road trip. It’s long and time consuming. . . . but not as intense as engineering (which i’d compare to flying). if she were to do it again, she’d probably say 51/49 “do the B.Arch” yet there are many many options to get to where you want to be.
good luck! keep asking questions!