<p>I note that a few prestigious colleges, like Princeton or USC, offers Architecture as a major. Now why would people work so hard to get into these colleges’ Architecture programs, if other less selective colleges (comparatively) like Kansas State also offer the same program, and also get roughly the same accreditation as those prestigious colleges mentioned above? </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Actually Princeton’s undergrad program is not an NAAB-accredit program, so you could not get your license in the US based on that degree. Their MArch degree is accredited. I think most architecture students would prefer to go to a college that has a highly-ranked architecture program than a prestigious or Ivy League school.</p>
<p>Another factor to consider when choosing between a “prestigious”, private university and a less selective, often public university, is the size of the university’s endowment and spending power. Schools like USC may be more readily able to bring in more visiting crits, have more traveling studios or even travel grants, &c.</p>
<p>I chose USC because their financial aid is very generous, and I also got a trustee (full tuition) scholarship from the school of architecture.</p>
<p>Also, USC’s a relatively large school and it has many fields in which it is renowned… so I would be able to take classes in a top-notch business school if i wanted, or work with students at the number one cinema school. Another thing to consider is connections. If you go to a school good for architecture only, you might not be able to meet too many people from other fields that might become future clients.</p>
<p>Location is important too. Being from NYC, I wasn’t too sure I could adapt to small town life… USC’s location in LA means that its not a problem. It also helps that the Trojan family is strong in LA and will probably open a lot of doors.</p>
<p>Also, having asian parents, prestige comes into play as well.</p>
<ol>
<li>Architecture students take non arch courses</li>
</ol>
<p>So they may care about the quality of the non arch courses, which may vary</p>
<ol>
<li> Many would be arch students drop out of Arch.</li>
</ol>
<p>Assuming they dont want to transfer, the quality of the non arch offerings may matter.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>As above have said, price may not always favor in state state schools that much (and usually will not have favor out of state publics) DD got need and merit money for RPI, so its not really more expensive then our instate publics.</p></li>
<li><p>Other factors - size, location, etc, etc</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Note all this assumes the Arch programs themselves are equal, which I am not sure is the case.</p>
<p>Although I am of Asian descent, I still do not get the meaning of prestige. But I do understand ‘social connections’ better. </p>
<p>Now I know better why Architecture students want to get to prestigious schools. Thank you.</p>
<p>Don’t your parents ever push you to get into the best schools because of their name? For example, many of my friends parents were pushing for them to get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton… even though none of them really knew if those schools were right for their children. That’s what prestige is - people know your name and respect it</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a question that comes up alot on this board. One way to start addressing it is by [url=<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priming_(psychology)]priming[/url”>Priming (psychology) - Wikipedia]priming[/url</a>] the thought process with the observations of famed biologist [url=<a href=“Center for the Study of Complex Systems | U-M LSA”>Center for the Study of Complex Systems | U-M LSA]Darcy</a> Thompson](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065316323-post1.html]#1[/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065316323-post1.html):</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In essence, we have/share a dynamic/concept of ‘prestige’ as a result of evolutionary processes. In a cultural context, beliefs/notions/concepts like ‘prestige’ are considered [memes[/url</a>]. Be mindful that just because an evolutionary dyanmic can be identified, one can’t jump to the conclusion that it’s a dynamic that confers an evolutionary benefit/advantage. Evolution is a process of error (mutation/potential beneficial and/or harmful adaptation) followed by a trial/test in the environmet to determine if the new strategy/mutation is advantageous. </p>
<p>What’s considered ‘prestigous’ is actually a very important question from a social psychology point of view. The research paper, [url=<a href=“http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/Website/Papers/hen&gil.pdf]The”>http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/Website/Papers/hen&gil.pdf]The</a> Evolution of Prestige: 'Freely conferred deference as a mechanism for enhancing the benefits of cultural transmission](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme]memes[/url”>Meme - Wikipedia)’ demonstrates the the question can be looked at dispassionately and with rigor. Another example is the recently published book by Yale psychologist Paul Bloom, [‘How</a> Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like’](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128220369]'How”>Book Review: 'How Pleasure Works' By Paul Bloom - 'The Secret To Pleasure? Mind Over Matter' : NPR).</p>
<p>‘Prestige’ is a psychological/social dynamic that communicates information. A related area of study can be found in economics is [Economic</a> Signaling](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_(economics)]Economic”>Signalling (economics) - Wikipedia). Studies in this area have resulted in Nobel prizes for detailing the dynamic of [Information</a> Asymmetry](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_asymmetry]Information”>Information asymmetry - Wikipedia).</p>
<p>A rigorous education from any institution of higher learning, prestigous or not, will hopefully offer the student/scholar the tools to tackle tough questions like ‘what is prestige’. </p>
<p>Final food for thought from [‘What’s</a> a Liberal Arts Education Really Worth?’](<a href=“http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/look-it-way/201004/whats-liberal-arts-education-really-worth]'What’s”>What's a Liberal Arts Education Really Worth? | Psychology Today):</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I see. I hope to learn to be a qualified architect, to work to make our buildings better and nicer, haha. Since I’m more interested in being an Architect, I think I will just do my best to focus on my dream vocation :)</p>