How to Choose?

[Anonymous]

DD was accepted to 4 colleges for architecture. She has narrowed it down to NC State of Design and Architecture and Penn State College of Arts and Architecture. We have visited both and she honestly can not choose. Both seem outstanding. Isn't the certification the same in the end? Which one would you recommend?

[Anonymous]

What are the differences in:

1. Price
2. Job placement
3. Alumni networking

[Anonymous]

OP: Price (NC State) is about $5k less. Job placement, it seems like college admissions always say about the same thing. Perhaps they don't even have the stats. Penn State told us that several 5th year students already have jobs. And, Penn State by far in terms of alumni.

I bought her a tee shirt at both colleges. And, I have noticed she wears the Penn State one more often. Don't you agree that the student should decide? I know what I would select, but I do not want to influence her too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Price (NC State) is about $5k less. Job placement, it seems like college admissions always say about the same thing. Perhaps they don't even have the stats. Penn State told us that several 5th year students already have jobs. And, Penn State by far in terms of alumni.

I bought her a tee shirt at both colleges. And, I have noticed she wears the Penn State one more often. Don't you agree that the student should decide? I know what I would select, but I do not want to influence her too much.

Well, you are the parent paying, so get to decide who decides! (That said, I agree.) $5K doesn't sound like enough to move the needle for me given what else you have said. If she's leaning towards Penn, support her. Sounds like a good program.

[Anonymous]

Does she have preferences about the weather? Because the winters will be different in PA and NC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Price (NC State) is about $5k less. Job placement, it seems like college admissions always say about the same thing. Perhaps they don't even have the stats. Penn State told us that several 5th year students already have jobs. And, Penn State by far in terms of alumni.

I bought her a tee shirt at both colleges. And, I have noticed she wears the Penn State one more often. Don't you agree that the student should decide? I know what I would select, but I do not want to influence her too much.

Don't put any weight on the t-shirt. She might just like blue better than red.

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I'd post on the Jobs/Career Forum, asking for advice from architects and architecture students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have preferences about the weather? Because the winters will be different in PA and NC.

Excellent point. In that case, I believe she would choose Penn State. Also Penn State is a little closer to home. 2.5 hours vs 5 ish at NC State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you, I'd post on the Jobs/Career Forum, asking for advice from architects and architecture students.

OP: excellent idea. I did not think of that helpful hint.

[Anonymous]

Check out this list from 2014 but does put penn state top 20

http://iit.edu/news/iittoday/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pages-from-DI-249_Nov-Dec_2013-1.pdf

[Anonymous]

What are the other two dropped off?

[Anonymous]

I have a love/hate (more hate) relationship with PSU (I'm from Pennsylvania). But if she likes the school and doesn't hate the weather, I'd say the scales tip in favor of PSU. Of all our extended family, the Penn State grads all loved the school and, importantly, all had jobs at graduation.

[Anonymous]

I meant to post when I saw your other post on jobs -- but got distracted. The biggest difference will be whether she wants to work in the northeast/mid-Atlantic or southeast. For most arch schools other than the very few most well-known, the alumni network and hiring reputation is regional. I've met a couple of nc state grads working in DC but don't know any among my NY colleagues (although I am sure there are a few...) and know lots who work in NC.

There's also a major difference in the campus atmosphere. Nc state is urban and in the midst of downtown Raleigh and the triangle as a whole; psu has small college town in rural area in middle of not much! I think most arch-minded people prefer the former. I considered psu for grad school and it was too isolating.

Also I believe nc state has the option to complete the BS instead of the BArch which is more flexible. Although the BArch is a professional degree, many firms want a master's so she could be looking at grad school anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the other two dropped off?

University of Cincinnati

Pratt

[Anonymous]

A friend's child graduated from Penn with a degree in arch engineering. This child is employed, so his parents are happy. And he's happy. Parents said he loved it there.