CMU architecture or RPI lighting? (PhD)

[Jie]

Hello everybody. I am struggling to choose which school I should go for a PhD. Please offer me any kind of advices. Thank you so much!!!

I've already had the offer from the PhD program in the School of Architecture, CMU, and the professor is waiting for my final decision. But RPI has no information for me at this time. What should I do?

Do you think it is worthy to wait for RPI? The program at RPI is PhD in Architectural Science, Lighting, in the Lighting Research Center.

Does RPI have the same reputation with CMU in industry? I believe CMU definitely better than RPI in academic, right?

BTW, what an Architecture PhD do in industry? Most of them go to universities, right?

Thank you so much!!!!!

[caitlinanne]

I can't help much with the CMU side of things, but I've seen a bit of the RPI Lighting program as an undergrad architecture student there. It seems like it will be pretty different from a directly-architecture program (like the PhD at CMU) - there's a heavy focus on research, vision, studying and developing different lighting technologies (solid-state vs filament vs gas), and conducting experiments to test the impacts of lighting on human health and activity. There's a design aspect as well, but not in the same way that ordinary architecture programs use design. It all depends on what you're most interested in! I know a bunch of people in that program who are really excited about their work and have good prospects for continuing research post-graduation. Sorry I'm not much help on the other side of the decision - good luck!

[Jie]

I can't help much with the CMU side of things, but I've seen a bit of the RPI Lighting program as an undergrad architecture student there. It seems like it will be pretty different from a directly-architecture program (like the PhD at CMU) - there's a heavy focus on research, vision, studying and developing different lighting technologies (solid-state vs filament vs gas), and conducting experiments to test the impacts of lighting on human health and activity. There's a design aspect as well, but not in the same way that ordinary architecture programs use design. It all depends on what you're most interested in! I know a bunch of people in that program who are really excited about their work and have good prospects for continuing research post-graduation. Sorry I'm not much help on the other side of the decision - good luck!

Thank you so much for your reply!! It is indeed very helpful~~

Frankly, I've already learned much about CMU, so it is great that you know so much about RPI.

I was majoring in Electrical Engineering in the undergraduate period, so I think I am more suitable for RPI. So would you tell me, usually, what do the graduates from RPI Lighting do? Go to Industry like GE or Philips, or some design firm?

Which specific area is much better in Lighting Research Center? LED or daylighting or design or anything else?

Thank you so much!!!

[caitlinanne]

Glad to help! I've heard of graduates from Lighting going in a variety of directions. There are a bunch of RPI Architecture graduates who go on to get a graduate degree at the Lighting Research Center, and they usually go on to work in design firms where they can incorporate both their design background and their lighting experience. Others focus more on scientific development and go on to join research firms or, in some cases, industries. In terms of which area is best - I've seen really interesting things in a lot of areas! The LRC is full of experiment setups to test a variety of things, from the way that specific lighting technologies decay over time, to the impact of light on human sleep cycles, to architectural daylighting. Professors and grad students from the LRC also teach or take classes with the normal Architecture school, to integrate both daylighting and artificial lighting technology into architectural designs. I think the program seems pretty open to letting people choose what direction they want to take, as I've talked to a variety of people there who seem to be doing really different things.