DECISION CRITERIA
Amazingly, May 1 (National Reply Date) is only a month away! Are you prepared to make your decision by that date?
Ultimately, how will you decide on which architecture programs to apply and more importantly which architecture program to attend.
Do you know that most important criteria used by most aspiring college students?
- Location: On its surface, many students use location as the most important deciding factor. Oddly, parents may sometimes influence the decision wanting their student to be within a certain distance to home.
But, if you truly think about it, an undergraduate degree is typically only four years. Of course, when you are 17-18 years old, four years may seem like a long time, but it is NOT. As listed below, what may be more important is the locale of the institution – in other words, is it located in a major city (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles) or a particular region of the country to which you may wish to begin your career.
- Money: Perhaps not surprisingly, money dictates most decisions out of necessity; but again, almost all institutions provide financial aid. You never know what you will truly pay for your college education until you apply and receive your award letter.
One example to consider; at Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, IL), the College of Architecture provides the Crown Scholarship – full-tuition for five years. Thus, money is important but not always the most important criteria.
Below is a link to an article on Selecting an Architecture Program that includes full descriptions on the Decision Criteria (listed below) for you to truly consider under the headings of You, Institution and Architecture Program
Selecting an Architecture Program
https://www.archcareersguide.com/selecting-a-program/
Previously, we offered an essay on the topic of Rankings. Amazingly, this topic received over 700 views in slightly more than a week. Why so many views – we are not sure, but could it be that we want someone, i.e., the rankings, to tell us where to attend.
Now, we focus on the most important ranking – the one you make based on your own criteria.
Have you ever bought a car? If so, what were the features that you wanted for the car?
- Size
- Price / Budget
- Fuel Economy
- Color
- Automatic / Manual
- Features
Well, as you consider architecture programs, what CRITERIA will you consider. Below are aspects to review before making the final decision next spring. In reviewing the criteria, please note that the most important ones are related to the Architecture Program.
For more details, select the URL under each category of criteria
You:
https://www.archcareersguide.com/decision-making-process-you-criteria/
To find the best program for you, think about your level of confidence in pursuing architect, your personality type, the proximity of the program to your home – do you want to be close or far away from home? And, finally, what is your budget for attending a program.
- Level of Confidence
- Proximity to Home
- Personality Type
- Budget
Institution:
https://www.archcareersguide.com/decision-making-process-institution-criteria/
Just as important are factors related to the institution – what type of institution is it? What about the locale of the institution – rural or urban? Is it private or public? What is the overall enrollment of the institution? What is the cost of attending the institution and what amount of financial aid (grants, scholarships, and loans) are available?
- School Type
- Locale
- Institution Size
- Public vs. Private
- Cost
- Financial Assistance
Architecture Program:
https://www.archcareersguide.com/decision-making-process-architecture-program-criteria/
As you will spend vast amount of time within the academic unit, you may wish to strongly consider aspects of the program. What is the overall academic structure of the academic unit? What degrees are offered? Consider the philosophy or approach of the program; what is the tradition or reputation of the program? What about enrollment? What resources, facilities, and special programs will be available to you as a student? Who are the faculty and student body?
- Degree
- Philosophy / Approach
- Reputation / Tradition
- Accreditation
- Enrollment
- Academic Resources
- Special Programs
- Faculty
- Student Body
- Career Programs
- Post Graduate Plans
Thus, develop your own RANKING of architecture programs for you to consider based on the criteria that are best for you instead of relying on rankings (U.S. News & World Report, DesignIntelligence, etc.) that use criteria that may or may not have a connection for you.
Best!