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Choosing an architecture program can be a difficult and time-consuming choice. At first you will need to make many decisions: whether you wish to pursue a professional degree, non-professional degree or technical certificate; what areas of specialization interest you; how important special features such as internship, study abroad and facilities are to your decision; and the importance of cost, location and other similar factors. Once you have decided on these, you will still need to undertake a significant exploration and consultation to focus your interests and choice of a program in architecture.
Here is a step-by-step process to help you evaluate each program:Visit the website of the university, college, school or program department. Most institutions provide detailed information about their programs - i.e., which degrees and certificates are offered, amount of tuition
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Choosing an architecture program can be a difficult and time-consuming choice. At first you will need to make many decisions: whether you wish to pursue a professional degree, non-professional degree or technical certificate; what areas of specialization interest you; how important special features such as internship, study abroad and facilities are to your decision; and the importance of cost, location and other similar factors. Once you have decided on these, you will still need to undertake a significant exploration and consultation to focus your interests and choice of a program in architecture.
Here is a step-by-step process to help you evaluate each program:
Visit the website of the university, college, school or program department. Most institutions provide detailed information about their programs - i.e., which degrees and certificates are offered, amount of tuition and fees, admission requirements and intake times, faculty qualifications, industry experience, accreditation and more! Often the university's, college's or school's website will provide a "Q&A" or FAQ page which will answer the most common questions about it and its programs.
Visit the university, college or school. Campus visits allow you to learn things about the institution that might not be obvious from its marketing materials, such as facilities, campus lay-out, transportation and how it feels to be on campus. If the university, college or school is in your home-town or nearby, you can always take an informal tour on your own and visit the admissions or program office to ask questions. Even if the college or school nearest you is not the one you are considering, an information-gathering visit can help you get a sense of what you are comparing your other choices to.
Speak with an admissions counselor or academic advisor: they have a thorough knowledge of the curriculum and study programs that can lend a perspective to your decisions, and sometimes lead you in new directions.
Research other sources of information. There is a wealth of things that you can do here:
- If you know past graduates of the university, college, school or program, talk with them about their experiences while a student.
- Confirm which organizations or architectural firms have recruited graduates in the past and talk with their human resources departments to determine their satisfaction with the institution's graduates and programs, whether they continue to recruit from the university, college or school, and whether they value it over others on a regular basis.
- Search the Internet for information on awards and achievements bestowed on specific architecture programs - competitions won, faculty honors, research grants, publications, etc.
- Look up any professional associations in the field you're considering: their websites may have information about schools that help you decide which ones to put on your list...and which ones to avoid.
- Consult Facebook and other social networking sites that may provide testimonials and other student comments on specific architecture programs and the universities, colleges or schools that offer them.
Then match these facts and figures against the specific architecture programs you are evaluating.
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