Concentration on Technical facet of architecture, also a reputed college for Architectural Studies. It was headed by one of the most famous architects Mies Van Der Rohe who is known for his 'Less is More' philosophy.
Course Curriculum :
It is a tough but very interesting course. The course content is extensive and in depth. Course subjects were helpful to understand and implement design theories and technological techniques to the design.
Exams :
I was required to take the GRE 307, TOEFL 110, I did my undergrad in Architecture from India with a 3.5 GPA.
Placement :
Depending on the city, job opportunities vary. But since my college is in Chicago which is the hub of architecture, we have a lot of architectural firms that are available for graduates. But most companies due to visa restrictions do not hire international students.
Internship :
No, unfortunately, the college doesn't provide internships. But it does host career fairs that help us to get to know and apply at several different companies that are available. Most of these companies are only available for local American student and not the international students.
Fees :
Since it is a private institution, the fees are considerably higher. Around 1500$ approximately per credit. The fee is paid every semester and also attached are university transportation pass fees, college academic services fees as model shop fees. Since I am an architecture student, we had to use a lot of softwares like AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit, adobe photoshop, etc which are very expensive even for students. There is a small discount for students but it still is a lot. Also, architecture requires a lot of models to be constructed which require a lot of expensive materials.
Scholarship :
I received a scholarship from the university. I had to apply for the admission before a certain date to qualify for the scholarship. After that, I was given a Teacher?s Assistant position which helped me with my tuition.
Examination Structure :
We have studios that have reviews and are graded based on our comprehensive design work. We have other subjects like which have written theory exams and some which require essay reports. We have a semester pattern.
Faculty :
There is an interesting range of professors. One of the best parts was that most of the faculty comprised of practicing architects so they knew a lot about the current industry standards.
Hostel :
I preferred off-campus accommodation since it was cheaper. The campus accommodation was not great quality wise and was expensive and not worth it. The only downside to living off campus is that since the area around my college wasn?t safe, only safe and affordable options are further and require a longer commute.
