Since I live and work near Berkeley (use to actually work for a firm in Berkeley) I can say that from what I've heard from employers, it's not a very good school for Landscape Architecture. I don't know if they have it back yet, but they weren't accredited by ASLA just a couple of years ago. Most of the firms I've talked to don't feel that it prepares students well enough for the real world.

Listen Andrea, you've got to be clear about why you want to get a MLA. Do you want to teach? Research? Succeed in Practice? Specialize? In what - historic preservation, natural resource conservation, resort design, international? Urban? Are you just a professional student?

Graduate schools each have areas of specialization and if you find you're not matched to what they offer you'll feel frustrated and perhaps angry at the waste of time. I attended Ohio State in the early 90's and got a good "nuts and bolts" base. But half way through I realized that I should have attended Champagne-Urbana instead because they had the most faculty doing what I liked. I'm sure if you contact the landscape architecture graduate advisors of the schools you are interested in they would be more than happy to talk about their strengths - faculty love to talk about what experts they are.

And that thesis comes up very quickly. You'll be way ahead if you can discuss your interests ahead of time. Look for the experts in your areas of interest by finding their publications, conference presentations, etc, and then go where they are. That way, you will join the "family" of experts and build on their work as you develop your own. Graduate school is completely different from undergrad. You've got to be the driver.

Hey, I know this is a late posting, but I noticed your U of MN - minneapolis application. I took my Bachelor's and part of my masters there and then dropped. The program can be good, especially if you want to focus either in urban design or ecological design. But I think some of the staff could be better improved. My personal choice is UWashington-Seattle. The program seems solid, some theory but also some design build. Some good urban and ecological design focus, and some great faculty (ie. Kristine Miller is a powerhouse). And the city is in a really breathtaking part of the country with trememdous natural elements that would inspire some great design. Take some school visits if you can. Visiting in person will give you a much better idea of what your getting into....talk with the studio students to see how burnt out they are, and most important, see how and if you'll connect with professors....that's key. Don't sell yourself short. You'll find what you're looking for.