<p>I have been browsing some threads and am a little troubled. Apparently, one needs a portfolio of free-hand drawings, photography, and the like to apply to most programs. What if my portfolio consists only of floor plans, buildings, etc.? I am only good at drawing lines, which is why I like architecture, but is being good at regular drawing a requirement? I am good at other things such as film, if that helps. I have an internship at an arch place.</p>
<p>and, if anyone can answer this please do, how is the arch program at Cooper Union and what are the requirements?</p>
<p>Film would be a good portfolio inset. It would be distinctive.</p>
<p>In general, architecture schools are not thrilled by internship work. Unless you are working for Elizabeth Diller or the Hariri sisters or Stephen Holl or some other hot NY architect, the work is unlikely to be show a developing talent for design. Architecture is all about design--not construction. Put your portfolio on the net--and then ask some of the current students to critique it and make suggestions.</p>
<p>Alos, don't overthink your freehand drawing ability. Although gifted illustrators tend to excel in architecture school, many gifted archtitects have a severely limited freehand ability. They develop their own quirky style--with gusto. Don't compare yourself to the best illustrators in your hs art class--but get out there and start drawing what you see. You need to develop an ability to communicate your design thoughts via freehand drawing.</p>
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<li>being great technically and then conceptually/(with design elements) are two very different things. I would say that very "finished" portfolios (the ones that exhibit great technical skill) are probably less impressive than some of the ones that are much more "rough". Try to do some sketching- of buildings/ anything-- and what I mean by sketching is sketching-- take a look at le Corbusier drawings--- try to look at gesture drawing ect.-- I remember a very strong portfolio for Cornell that was almost entirely drawing and photo. Try to create artistically--- the ability to create compositions is more important than technical skill. </li>
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<p>Cooper Union has one of the best B.Arch programs in the country- and would be in the top tier along with Cornell, Rice, Sci-arch, Univ. Cincinnati (little controversy on this one i think). To get in you basically have to have a great home test- and think outside of the box. The questions that the home test asks you are open for a lot of interpretation. Thinking of a response that shows you didn't just think about it for three minutes and start a collage is key-- make sure your response is inventive and unique. I thought that my technical skill on my home test was horrible- rough lines- slightly sloppy work-- I even had large smudges on most of my pages. The Home test is looking for answers that no one else thinks of. Does it have to "look good"---in some sense yes-- but great design will "look good". As for other factors - I don't think they play in very much - I think your grades have to be past a certain level to be seriously considered-- but after that the Home Test is the only thing you have to worry about.</p>
<p>thank you cheers and tzar...im not entirely sure you can tell me the home test, so can i ask you to give me some sort of idea of what the home test encompasses and what sorts of tasks are involved? </p>
<p>also, do building designs/ floor plans benefit a portfolio?</p>
<p>I would say that for the most part-- unless you have made a model along with a floor plan or building design- you should not include any. The reason for this is that most architecture schools want to re-define the way you think about architecture- they want to be the ones to shape your notions about building design- so it is not very likely that your plans would impress them. </p>
<p>The home test is mostly an artistic endeavor in 2D form. The prompts can range from inventing a building or a place and making a elevation in relation to a body of text describing it or can be as simple as making a self portrait with no relation to the body--(a little joke, but it seriously was one of the design prompts)- Others include scenes important in your memory, a section cut through a still life, and the arrangement of items in a spatial field.-- But this was just from last year-- Each year the prompts change to some degree. For the home test you have about three weeks to complete it. I would say that it is one of the most interesting types of "tests" one can ever take part in--- it challenges you to move past the generic and at the same time thoroughly comprehend the prompts—I would highly recommend people to take this home test—even if you don’t think you have a lot of artistic skill because in part the prompts are very conceptual and rely on the unexpected answer.</p>
<p>That just made me want to apply even more...so photoshop/ mixed media work might be a plus inset in a portfolio? is any type of design work good, as long as it reflects your personal style and way of thinking?</p>
<p>I read over the Cooper Union website...am I correct in saying that only transfer applicants are required to have a portfolio, but perhaps it is recommended for first year applicants?</p>
<p>also, is it fair to say that academic record/ SAT's/ SAT II's do not factor in so heavily? (I have decent grades and all, but nothing out of the ordinary)</p>
<p>again thanks, the advice is invaluable since I can't get input elsewhere.</p>
<p>Correct- for cooper union you do not need to submit a portfolio- and actually I wouldn't bother sending one because I am not sure it would even be looked at. The home test itself provides the design outlet for Cooper. However for other schools like Cornell and Rice you would/will need a portfolio- + practicing any form of art/design will help you improve your ability to create and to visualize three dimensional forms and shapes and there 2d manifestations. For Cooper= Grades factor in a little but not a ton should have mostly A’s-- SAT doesn't seem to factor in at all- not true for Cornell/ Rice- for those you will probably need a 2000+ and a strong portfolio + grades-- Btw the acceptance rate for all of these schools is very low 4%= cooper 6%=Cornell--- it varies year to year but you can bet you won't be doing any better than 10%. That said- If you have talent your chances might be much higher. Since you are from NYC you might also want to apply to Pratt, which requires a portfolio.</p>
<p>4% for Cooper? Wow. That's amazing.
Honestly, I think it takes a lot of talent to get into those schools (Cooper, Cornell). Last year, I was kind of in a similar position, but you seem to have better idea of what you're doing than I did. I basically only had photography in my portfolio, with like five drawings that I did on the side that I added because Cornell required drawings. I took four years of photography in high school, which I think really gave me a good understanding of composition, aesthetics and all that good stuff (which people who do drawing only tend to underestimate in photography). Anyways, I still got into where I really wanted to go (Rice!), but I'm not sure if I would've gotten in if I didn't have really good SATs, and grades, and class rank. If you're worried about not having very good drawings, I would definetly try Rice, because I know somebody who's going there next year with me who didn't take a single art class in high school and basically had photography and some stuff she did during a summer architecture program. Rice just really looks for creative talent and potential. I hate to be pessimistic, but with 4% and 6% acceptance rates, I would probably expands my options more, just in case. But then again, what do I know. Good luck!!</p>
<p>mainly directed at cheers, but if anyone else would like to answer by all means do so- what other ny architects are there that an internship w/ them would look pretty good, besides the ones mentioned above?</p>
<p>i wouldn't worry too much about finding the right internship...that matters more when you are in college and wanting to build your work experience. just work at any architecture firm for now..it'll show schools your interest. VERY few hs have ever worked for famous firms</p>
<p>I don't hink an internship would be an asset at Cooper. A sculpture course or a poetry course might be an asset--but not a profesional internship. You've gotten great advice from Tzar and sashimi. If I were you, I would build up your ability to conceptualize to a) prepare a portfolio and b) produce a killer Cooper 'home test' and c) perform well once you're in arch school.</p>