USC or Cal Poly (SLO/Pomona) for Architecture (if not those, others)?

College Majors Architecture Majors
1

<p>I am considering USC or Cal Poly for a B.Arch, and in the future I hope to land a career at Walt Disney Imagineering, but to get ideas which university in California do you think will be the best for me (My GPA is average with several APs and I think when I take the SAT they probably won’t be higher than 1900)</p>

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<p>Not too sure on your chances at USC with an <1900… give us an update after you take the SATs.</p>

3

<p>Cal Poly Pomona is down the freeway from Disney and they have a close working relationship with the Imageneering group. You’ll want to read the following article.</p>

<p>[ENV</a> Teams with Walt Disney Imagineering on Design Project | PolyCentric | Cal Poly Pomona](<a href=“http://polycentric.csupomona.edu/news_stories/2009/04/env-teams-with-walt-disney-imagineering-on-design-project.html]ENV”>http://polycentric.csupomona.edu/news_stories/2009/04/env-teams-with-walt-disney-imagineering-on-design-project.html)</p>

<p>The admissions rate is about 20 percent and you’ll need about a 3.8 and a 1200/1600 on the SAT (reading and math only). SLO is bit more selective and USC is a bit easier to get into than Pomona. </p>

<p>[Cal</a> Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design - Wikipedia”>Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>Comparing the two Cal Poly’s, SLO is more technical while Pomona is more creative since they are close to Los Angeles where all the design offices are.</p>

4

<p>

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<p>Not so… might want to take a look at the admit stats of recent years. Former President Sample did a great job at increasing the selectivity of USC</p>

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<p>[delete… internet spazzed, double posted]</p>

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<p>@ Arctic92,</p>

<p>I’ve checked the stats and yes it is so. </p>

<p>Cal Poly Pomona Admissions
Acceptance rate: 286/ 1588 = 18 percent
GPA: 3.82</p>

<p>USC Admissions:
Acceptance rate: 286/ 958 = 29 percent
GPA: 3.7</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.csupomona.edu/~irar/stats/students/admissions/docs/Application%20Counts%20by%20Major.pdf[/url]”>http://www.csupomona.edu/~irar/stats/students/admissions/docs/Application%20Counts%20by%20Major.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[Schools</a> that Excel in Sustainable Design - Education, Research - Architect Magazine](<a href=“http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/sustainable.aspx]Schools”>http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/sustainable.aspx)</p>

<p>[Schools</a> that Excel in Global Outlook - Education, Research - Architect Magazine](<a href=“http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/global-outlook.aspx]Schools”>http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/global-outlook.aspx)</p>

7

<p>Thanks guys, and one other question, do they take into consideration the weighted or unweighted GPA? My first gpa to show on my transcript as a Junior is 3.25 unweighted but 4.0 weighted, so I’m a little stressed out and worried.</p>

<p>And this probably does not matter, but I found out my recent PSAT score which was 1750ish, so I don’t know if I will do well on the SAT :(</p>

8

<p>The GPA is weighted only. Both Cal Poly’s only look at the reading and math portions of the SAT only. They do not count your writing. As such, you should aim for at least a 1200. Wish you luck. You’re running out of time.</p>

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<p>Oh, I’m only a Junior in high school, so I think I still have a lot of time prior to applying… right?</p>

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<p>Ah, architecture school statistics, not the university in general. My mistake. </p>

<p>My comment about the <1900 SAT score still stands though; you’ll be below the middle 50% for USC. Try to take some courses over the summer to boost your SAT score if you can.</p>

<p>USC doesn’t take weighted grades, so it’ll be the unweighted.</p>

<p>Since you’re a junior you have plenty of time, don’t stress it too much yet. It’s good that you’re looking at schools already, I know people that didn’t start until the summer after junior year.</p>

11

<p>Sorry to bump the thread but I just got an email from Pratt Institute… are they any good compared to USC/Cal Poly? Just thought it might be good to try to broadening my options instead of limiting to just those two.</p>