Bracco, Angela  

Although this was Angela's first year teaching, I don't regret taking her. I never felt as if we were disadvantaged nor behind the other classes who had more experienced professors. She has an interesting way of looking at things, and communicating with her is easy and helpful. She definitely pushed us, but was always encouraging yet honest. I highly recommend taking her studio if you can. Also, the studio culture in her class is excellent.

Angela is a wonderful communicator. She always takes time during class to go over everyone's designs, offer feedback, and pushes you both mentally and sometimes physically to do even better work. She is extremely caring of her students and is understanding if an emergency comes up (just remember to do the work you missed). She is always willing to talk to you and is extremely kind, supportive, and smart. She is just a great professor to have first year.

I was blocked into Angela's studio my first quarter at Cal Poly. Holy smokes was it a surprise. She really pushes you to the limit. She assigned many iterations on certain projects(Yes, be terrified if you are not ready to work grueling and long period of time). Her way of teaching is very peculiar as she wants you to find a way to approach the prompts instead of her telling you what to do which can really trigger your gears or your creativity. She'll leave a lot of work but make no mistake, she is also working on many projects too. Remember to always take notes with your sketchbook, and also, appear interested or at least make an attempt to show your interest before you wonder why she doesn't help you. She's really caring and wants you to succeed. Highly recommend her!

I had a really nice quarter in Angela's studio and I ended up picking her again for ARCH 132 (Winter Quarter ARCH studio). She had a hard time speaking to everyone during the four-hour studio period, but her criticisms were supportive and I felt that she genuinely wanted me to do well in the class. That being said, she is an artist and her dialect is often very cryptic. So cryptic, in fact, that she appointed one of my classmates as her "interpreter." My advice would be to just do the best you can to interpret her advice, as it really is helpful. This class will be very similar to art class; keep that in mind and focus on the criticisms of your peers.

Overall, she is difficult to understand often due to incoherent and disorganized lecture and instructions. She is very knowledgeable but often frustrates her students with inconsistencies in instruction and very disjointed lectures that leave students curious as to what the point of her ranting was in the first place while at the same time being too confused and exasperated to actually care. She is passionate about architecture and design which many students realize and appreciate, but it often becomes another source of frustration as her design revisions override the original intention of the student design. Bracco would be a great studio professor if she could consolidate and communicate her ideas more effectively, listen to her students until she fully understands what they are attempting to express and give feedback that includes not only criticism but alternative solutions as well as the occasional positive feedback.

She is really kind and a very good teacher for it being her first year. I think she has room to improve but she is only going to get better as she finds her place. She can sometimes be confusing: getting really excited and telling you to do one thing and then changing her mind the next day once you come back with all the work done. She has a very interesting theory approach to her teaching that is different from the other professors that are a bit more practical and want sleek and modern stuff. She has an appreciation for really freaking weird stuff. I would suggest taking her at least one quarter because it is definitely an experience.

Angela's expectations and grading policies are extremely fair. She will take the time to know you on a one on one basis, which is good if you consistently do your work (bad if you don't) She recognizes effort and will not hesitate to push you beyond what is expected if she believes that you are capable of doing better. I have never seen a teacher as involved or genuinely enthusiastic about a subject as much as Angela is and it definitely reflects in how she is able and willing to help anyone.

Complete bitch. She does not consider the student's life at all and only cares for herself. She bashes on all of your projects, completely tearing down your dreams rather than helping to improve your skills in architecture. If you have any choice whatsoever, do not take this woman for any class; unless you want to get verbally abused about your pieces that you're proud of.

Angela cares. This defines all of her interactions with her students: she responds to the students who can produce high-quality work on time, and cares that you’re actually doing the work when you should be, unlike many architecture professors. The studio environment is therefore high-energy, and she will go around the classroom and talk to students about their projects, instead of waiting for you to approach her. With Angela especially, if you care a lot you’ll get a lot out of her class. She is especially knowledgeable about composition and the graphic nature of architecture, and can also help with shop stuff. The flip side of this is that if you don’t care as much or aren’t producing good quality work, she will basically minimize contact with you. She likes the projects that are more ethereal and will gravitate towards students who share her style or work ethic. So if you aren't really sure about architecture or can't put in the time, Angela won't be as edifying to have as a professor. If you have a strong style, or if you are somewhat unsure of your style but want to learn and to put in the work, Angela is an excellent prof to take. She is one of the most honest first-year professors during critiques, too.

Angela ended up being my favorite professor because she truly pushed me to continually improve on my projects. Although it was her first year, Angela did a wonderful job teaching! She is definitely very knowledgable in many aspects (architecture, art, furniture, materiality, etc.) and tries to help you find different ways to convey the point you are trying to get across in your project. If you prefer one-on-one critiques, Angela tends to do that a lot more than having class critiques. Angela is perfect for first year because she truly helps you develop a new understanding of design and abstraction. However, you must put in the effort in order to get a maximized experience. You will really connect with Angela if you truly care about your projects and actually experiment with whatever advice she gives you. Angela is understanding, but she can't read minds. If you don't like the way she critiques you, whether she's too "nice" or too "harsh", feel free to let her know and she'll try to find a different way to critique you. If you are really stuck on something, she will help you get through. Angela really is worth taking, especially if you really do love abstractions and experimental design.

May 18, 2014 - The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Youth Sunday Katherine Seth "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." -John 14:1-14 Good morning everyone! If you don't know me, my name is Kat Seth and I've been going to this church for the past 10 years. I'm graduating from high school in 14 days and 10 hours. That is uncomfortably soon. For so long, college and the future and adulthood have been lovely, far off ideas that I've been able to postpone thinking about. But, with the onset of senior year, I was forced to push them to the forefront of my mind, and accept the fact that change is upon me. The resulting months were some of the most stressful and emotionally trying times I have experienced in my short 17 years. Making important decisions - like taking a new job, moving to a new place, or choosing a college - can cause us intense feelings of anxiety because the uncertainty of the future. I couldn't help but feel like it was my responsibility, and mine alone, to ensure the success of my future. My mom can attest to it: the tears, the monthly breakdowns, the intense indecision – all side effects of the pressure I felt planning out my future. Eventually, it came down to my West Coast college trip. This was supposed to decide everything. It was going to put an end to all of the indecision and show me exactly what the right choice was for me. I believed this without a doubt. I expected to have "the feeling" that is so often talked about among college students. It's the moment when you're overwhelmed with clarity and you know that a school is right for you. I was so excited to have this experience and it was only through the suggestion of my mom that we prayed for God to give me a sign. Up till that point, I had never considered putting this decision in God's hands. Did He know about what I needed in my architecture program? Did he know my preference for student body size, or to consider the coolness of the school mascot? I didn't realize that my need to micromanage things was blinding me from the well-preached fact that God knows everything and that, honestly, I needn't have worried. My sign came at the first school we visited. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After an amazing student tour in the absolutely gorgeous campus, I had "the feeling." I felt happy and whole and excited to be there. It had so much of what I wanted in a school and it just felt right. God had delivered pretty quickly and it was overwhelming to get exactly what I asked for so quickly. You'd think that would be it, you know, "and then she lived happily ever after, the end, send in the deposit". But as the trip went on, I couldn't help but look at the other amazing colleges and say, "Are you crazy God? Do you see these schools? Why don't you endorse these with your 'magic signs'?" I tried to discredit the feeling, saying, "Oh, I only felt that way because it was my first college visit ever. The other colleges make sooo much more sense." I came home and still did not have a decision. Weeks later, along with more tears, meltdowns, and extensive pro's and con's lists, I had two schools to decide between. Cal Poly and University of Oregon. I was changing my mind daily and splitting hairs till I went crazy. All of that ended on a Sunday very much like this one, just a few weeks ago. After communion, I went to the prayer room and prayed with one of my youth leaders, Kathy Reubosch. I'm sure many of you have had your own experiences of healing and revelation in the prayer room. The sound of running water, the Hawaiian light coming in through the window, and the feeling of safety just create an atmosphere that is optimal for hearing God. Sitting there after the prayer, I felt God. I was talking with Aunty Kathy about which way I was leaning and in that environment, I felt him gently nudging my heart the way he wanted me to go, as is his style. A few days later, I committed to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The feeling that I had tried to ignore initially ended up being the driving force behind my decision. God knows who we are and what we need more deeply than we ever could, and He always knows our path, even if we can't see it. Sometimes, it is the choice that doesn't work out on the pro's and con's list, the one that doesn't make sense to us that is the change that we need. God doesn't always make sense, but He always knows what we need. Sometimes, in the words of the popular new Disney movie, Frozen, we just need to Let it Go. We need to learn that we don't always have to do it on our own and that in the end, He will guide us to the place we need to be. In the words of Jeremiah 29, verse 11, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Sometimes we just need to let go of our control, and put it into God's hands. Amen.

Angela sets up a rigorous attitude about her class. She is fair but pushes here students to be the best they can be. Her studio is intense and high energy, but also super fun. I felt like I learned a lot. Highly recommend.

These reviews do not give Angela enough credit. Although she was not my bff Angela is an AMAZING professor. 10/10 Angela has been the BEST studio professor I’ve had at Cal poly — she will teach you more than you can imagine I’m 10 short weeks. That being said, if you want an easy quarter this studio isn’t for you lol.

I'd like to start by saying that I really admire Angela, she is smart, eloquent, and creative in a very unique way. She takes her students seriously and will support them in their creative endeavours even if their ideas might seem crazy and improbable. I would 100% recommend taking her either first or second year (or whatever year she happens to be teaching at the moment) because you will learn various skills and develop your design capabilities. Having said that, I will warn you that Angela does have some flaws. I found her worst flaw to be the fact that she very obviously and unapologetically takes favourites, as in will choose a couple students in the class and dedicate most of her attention and support to them and their projects. Her favourite students seem to be those with big personalities and clear design principles, unfortunately not everyone is that way, especially when you are 19 years old and have no idea what you are doing when it comes to designing a building.

Awesome would take this class again!

This studio is tons of work but worth every moment of it. I learned so much and had a great time. I felt like I really grew as a person and designer. You get out what you put in.

Angela is one of the best studio professors because she's knowledgable and helpful and becomes super invested in your project!! Also she works to make the project more interesting and more exciting than most other 2nd year studios.

Cons: 1) So much work you will go insane (so there go all your other grades) 2) She plays favorites 3) Her critiques are often self-contradictory and end up making you go in circles 4) She seems like she tries and wants to help but is kind of all over the place and makes you do things that seem pretty irrelevant or unnecessary in the long run Pros: 1) The mountains of work and trees you killed end up being good buff ups for portfolios 2) You learn a lot about materials and methods of representation 3) Those late nights in studio will create some pretty cool friendships

Angela is an important professor to take. She is distinctly different that most other studio professors because she is actively engaged in her own explorations, and she is interested in how those explorations relate to her students. At times she offers up an overwhelming amount of information, and she often focuses on specific elements of a project that aren't necessarily the focus of the student. While these things can bug students, I think they are a vital part of her incredibly effective impact on her students. The fact that she is actively engaging her own creativity and research during class means that her students are shown, not just taught, about what it looks like to question, experiment, identify with projects, find excitement, be self-critical, and be self-explorative. The work that comes out of her studio is excellent not because it is the product of a magic process or because it looks good, but because it develops from a studio where exploration is visible

This class was great I learned a ton. 10 out of 10

Professor Bracco is one of the best beginning design faculty you can take for studio. She often has interesting prompts for her studio projects and encourages contemporary design methods much more than the other instructors. She is very helpful if you need direction or advice with your project and recommends very relevant architects and projects for reference. The smaller assignments prior to the final studio project provide great process work to support your concept and research. Professor Bracco expects a lot of development and production of your project but is reasonable with deadlines and submittals.

Fuck this guy. Id like to stick my tounge up his ass.