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@ck_111
0 answers, 2 votes
 • 2 years ago •
Admissions Advice

Pratt vs USC for Undergrad Architecture

My 18 year old daughter from India has been accepted in Pratt and USC for B Arch for Fall 2022. Pratt has offered a scholarship of $105000 spread across the 5 year course. Which one should she choose. She will be an International Student. Pratt being an Art School compared to USC being a full University and ranked higher. Really confused.

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3 answers

6
@CameronBameron
2,281 answers, 8,534 votes
 • 2 years ago

In general, USC is ranked higher than Pratt for most majors however when it comes to 5 year undergraduate programs, the only ranking list that matters is the Architectural Record (industry standard professional journal) annual ranking list.

https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14289-americas-top-architecture-schools-2020

On this list, Pratt is ranked #7 best program out of the top 10. USC doesn't even register on the list.

Not only is Pratt a higher ranked program but you said that your daughter would receive $21000 in annual aid for the next 5 years. Give the concentration of top architectural firms in NYC, I think it would be easier for her to get a job during summers and after she graduates as well.

Hope that helps.

6
[🎤 AUTHOR]@ck_1112 years ago

Thanks for the response .. had another query that if by chance for any reason she decides after a year to change her major will USC offer her more options and flexibility being a a full fledged University compared to Pratt which will have limited options being an Art School ?

@CameronBameron2 years ago

That might be true because USC has a great school for film, business, drama and communications/journalism. However keep in mind that Pratt is in NYC so she could opt to transfer to Barnard, Columbia, NYU, Fordham, Baruch, Stevens, if she wanted to stay in NYC or any of the 100+ Top college in the NorthEast. In LA, there is are also transfer options like Occidental, UCLA, Pepperdine, Loyola, Pitzer, Scripps etc. as well.

@CameronBameron2 years ago [edited]

If she is not 100% vested into studying Architecture for the next 5 years, now is the time to pick another major, not a year/two from now. Why? Because so much of the curriculum for the accelerated 5 year degree program is Studio Specific to the architecture school and these credits are not transferable if you want to switch your major to Business. At least 60%+ of the classes are going to architecture courses and other majors don't have a place to stick those credits once you quit architecture

@CameronBameron2 years ago

So she should make sure she wants to do this for the next 5 years.

1
@AlexanderOddo
expert
965 answers, 641 votes
 • 2 years ago[edited]

I think that your daughter should choose Pratt. When it comes to architecture, Pratt's programs are more prestigious. It also has better resources to help architects grow being an art school - its location in the art capital of New York is a benefit as well. Lastly, the scholarship she was awarded is a huge achievement for an international student, and it will greatly help cover the cost of her degree. Hope this helps.

1
[🎤 AUTHOR]@ck_1112 years ago

Thanks for the response .. had another query that if by chance for any reason she decides after a year to change her major will USC offer her more options and flexibility being a a full fledged University compared to Pratt which will have limited options being an Art School ?

@AlexanderOddo
expert
2 years ago

Yes, USC would offer more options if she decided to change her major. However, I think that it would be a better idea for her to attend Pratt and then transfer to USC or another school after freshman year if she decided to change her major. This is because the first two years of college involve core requirement classes for all majors, so she could get these done at Pratt while covering the costs with her scholarship.

-3
@prochamp
5 answers, -1 votes
 • 2 years ago

It depends on the situation of tuition costs. As 105,000 is pretty good and it will help relieve a lot of college loan money. On the other hand, USC is higher in prestige in its ranking for Architecture. Yet there isn't that big of a difference as Pratt is also good. So the question comes down to Money Relief or Little Better College, and personally, I would choose Pratt as it will help save a lot of money.

Also, it depends on where you want to live NY or California.

-3
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