<p>I'm current a high school senior and I really want to become an architect or engineer and take art classes in college. I wanted to take it in high school but my parents didn't let me and after my freshmen year of high school there was no room in my schedule to add it. I draw on my free-time and I showed my friends who are also thinking about studying architecture some of my drawings. They said it was pretty good. I don't have a portfolio or anything but do you think I can still become an architect or engineer?</p>
<p>you can DEFINITELY still become one! I was in the same boat as you and I feel like Iām thriving in architecture.</p>
<p>You can always submit a portfolio of your independent work!</p>
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<p>Iāve never taken an art class, and all it really does is give you some sort of background going in. Youāll do just fine, nobody is a ātalentedā architect going into school, you all start at 0, regardless of experience in the arts. As for engineering, itās purely math and science-based, so you donāt need art for that at all.</p>
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<p>Depending on quantity and quality, art history coursework could be useful in the history / theory classes as background. </p>
<p>Studio art courses are also useful in determining whether the interested student is capable of spending significant amounts of time focusing on a particular piece, be it painting, drawing, photography, etc. </p>
<p>Finally, a lot of it is school based - some schools go digital from day 1 and kids never have to buy a pencil again; some go paper and pencil for a year or so, and switch to digital in 2nd year. Some schools have more emphasis on art while others are more ātechnicalāā¦ </p>
<p>Having said this, it does help a bit to be able to draw. Iāve seen work from DD1ās roommate (interior design) and she can draw by hand better and faster than any CAD programā¦ Ultimately it evens out.</p>
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<p>The ability to quickly explain your ideas graphically remains a very powerful tool in the architects toolbox. Most schools will require you to hand draw and build models of some portion of your undergraduate work, but there is no doubt that the large majority of your work will be produced on the computer. So I would encourage you to learn how to sketch, but it is certainly not a prerequisite to being a successful architect.</p>
<p>rick</p>
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<p>Sorry to bring up an old thread, but what schools did everyone on here ultimately choose? I am a current senior looking into architecture, but I do not have any sort of portfolio either. What schools are highly ranked yet still donāt require (or donāt place much emphasis on) a portfolio?</p>
<p>Any feedback is much appreciated!</p>
<p>@Matt34Bearsā I would look at U of Cincinnati and Tulane (I dont know much about them but I heard they got really good architecture programs that dont require a portfolio) </p>
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<p>@thegrantā thanks for the recommendations, I actually just finished up my applications to these colleges 
. My concern is that if I choose to attend Tulane or UC, then my choices for prestigious Graduate Architecture universities will be limited. It appears that the more selective undergrad colleges (USC, the Ivies, Carnegie Mellon) require a portfolio (and then of course those students are excellent candidates to Ivy league architecture programs). Am I thwarting my chances of getting into these graduate schools by attending UC or Tulane?</p>
<p>@Matt34Bearsā Honestly, I used to look at it the same way but the fact is(well, the way that I see it) </p>
<p>The kids with portfolios go on to B Arch schools, like Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Prattā¦ Cal Poly Slo</p>
<p>The other future architects can really go just about anywhere(state school, UC, Tulane, Northeastern, UPenn, Yaleā¦ and have strong liberal classes and foundations in sciences and stuff ā along with architectural design classes for their major in Architectural studies. Im just a high school students so honestly dont take my word for it, but I think its a complete culmination of how your architectural portfolio looks when applying for M.Arch I schools, how your recommendations are, and college GPA. ā If your going to UC or Tulane for architecture I dont think your portfolio designs will be at any disadvantage to a students from UPenn(you will learn the same fundamentals in the field, I think its just how you use it, how dedicated you are, that create a beautiful portfolio). </p>
<p>Though, a graduate schools admissions person probably would take more notice from an Ivy applicant(but how much more, idk) </p>
<p>I dont think you should worry at all, kids from state schools go on to top grad school M Arch. I programs because they are exceptional at the field. (And UC and Tulane are amazing arch schools for undergrad that will set you up for success later on) ā Good luck! (remember I am just a high school senior, so dont take everything I said too seriously-- maybe somebody can verify the things I said) </p>
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<p>@matt34bears, You should also look at Auburn.</p>
<p>The top MArch programs (Ivy and otherwise) admit students from a diverse range of educational backgrounds. </p>
<p>Yale posts this information on line: <a href=āPages - Yale Architectureā>Pages - Yale Architecture;
You can see that their MArch students come from all over the country ā all over the world, actually ā and presumably have diverse life experience as well.</p>
<p>I think youāre getting ahead of yourself. If your objective now should be to get into a good BArch program that doesnāt require a portfolio, then you should concentrate on that and not worry about the next degree just yet.</p>
<p>Another option would be to get a BA or BS in architectural studies or whatever interests you. BA/BS programs usually do not require portfolios.</p>
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<p>Wait until you see what the M.Arch portfolio looks like :)</p>