<p>Los Angeles and NYC are hotspots for US architecture. When we had offices in Soho, we could stick our hands out of the window and hire the most amazing talent. Talent congregates in NYC. </p>
<p>Likewise, our internship experiences in NYC were out of this world. They set the stage for successful independent international practice. </p>
<ol>
<li>The University of Wash, the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan do not offer a professional BARch degree programs. D could not become an architect without a professional degree. State laws protecting the profession are very strict. A MArch degree takes seven years.</li>
</ol>
<p>A few schools offer five year professional degree programs; ie Cornell <a href=“Department of Architecture | Cornell AAP”>Department of Architecture | Cornell AAP; and SCIARC in Los Angeles, <a href=“http://www.sciarc.edu/v5/programs/[/url]”>http://www.sciarc.edu/v5/programs/</a> and The Cooper Union in NYC <a href=“http://www.cooper.edu/architecture/Welcome.html[/url]”>http://www.cooper.edu/architecture/Welcome.html</a>.</p>
<p>Since UCLA is located in the hotbed of American architecture (thanks, in part, to USC grad Frank Gehry), the UCLA grad program will be very selective. <a href=“http://www.aud.ucla.edu/[/url]”>http://www.aud.ucla.edu/</a></p>
<p>From the undergrad schools you mentioned, my guess is that Univ of Washington would have the most draw for a grad school in LA–mostly because it is on the West Coast and not in the Great Flyover (ie All parts of the US other than the East and West Coast).</p>
<p>While they might have stellar reputations in their respective regions, neither UW, UMich or UofI has a world reknowned school of architecture. </p>
<p>Does this matter? It helps to go to a reknowned school because those schools draw phenomenal talent. It is fun to work alongside great talent. It accelerates the process.</p>
<p>A reknowned school will not bestow talent, however. There are plenty of talentless Ivy grads. OTOH, I’ve never met a talentless Cooper grad.</p>
<p>Likewise, a superior talent will find success at any and every level–even if they do not attend a reknowned school. </p>
<p>In the end, sheer talent wins the day.</p>