<p>Hey All,</p>
<p>I have been at Berkeley for a year and a half, and I feel that there is something missing about the entire experience. I believe I would be happier and more productive at a smaller school.I would like to be at a smaller school for smaller classes, 4 years of housing, more professor interaction, and a more supportive student body. School is school, but I rather be at a small school and know a smaller community. Berkeley is too big for me and I fill like I do not it in and have no real friendships since coming here. I would like to Major in Architectural and economics, and have a strong design/ art portfolio to demonstrate. </p>
<p>My stats:</p>
<p>Berkeley gpa: 3.6
EC: tutoring and outreach to HS youths
work: Anchor Blue, Clark Construction intern
scholarships: 2 architecture scholarships, and many other small ones</p>
<p>HS gpa: 4.0+
APs: 9 ( scores all 4 )
Rank: 14/759
HS ECs: mock trial, engineering programs, business programs (usc and ucla ), architecture programs, volunteering with key club and stuff at the local library </p>
<p>I would send in a portfolio of my architecture work. One of my drawings made it to the architecture school's graduation commencement.
My SATs arent perfect, but I think I show a lot of interest and knowledge when it comes to architecture and economics, and I consider myself more well-rounded than certified genius, actually, Im far from it. </p>
<p>My top four acceptances were: Brown, Columbia, UCLA, and Berkeley. All great schools, but I feel like I belong in a smaller community and I want to know people more intimately. I just haven't found the school and people that i wanted to meet in Berkeley. Any and all comments are appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>It looks like you have a strong application for transfer, but it's going to be hard to get in. However, you did get into Columbia during high school, one of the hardest schools to get into. Your 3.6 is strong especially for Berkeley.</p>
<p>your commitment and work sounds impressive for architecture.</p>
<p>i was accepted this year into architecture cornell ED so feel free to ask me any questions. did you major in architecture at berekley?</p>
<p>transferring is probably harder or as hard as getting into Cornell's architecture program. It is the hardest school to get into in Cornell but you seem to have a good portfolio and dedication. Maybe you could show your portfolio online.</p>
<p>Berekley may be big, but Cornell is not that small either. Cornell has 13000 students and that kind of size is large compared to other schools such as harvard, stanford, MIT, etc. However, if you will be an architecture student, you will spend most of your time in studio and since the class is about 65 students, you bond with people. However, students are very competitive.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, architecture admission is far different than general admissions. Portfolio, academics, and commitment are all important. Portfolio decision is subjective so be yourself.</p>
<p>I highly doubt you will be able to major in both econ and architecture. Architecture is grueling and requires a lot of time and dedication. It is a 5 year program. i plan to take some elective courses in business in Cornell.</p>
<p>Good luck! let me know if you have questions and i hope you make the right decision.</p>
<p>Hey Justin, </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Yes, I was accepted into Berkeleys non-accredited 4 year BA with emphasis in architecture. I have taken 2 studios and I truely love the bonding and socializing and learning that goes on in studio, its the way all classes should be! I also feel like any size reduction would be great. I do realize that cornells program is 5 year professional, so I cannot take economics as a second major, but I think I will be fine with that. </p>
<p>On a side note, how is the weather like at Cornell? Ithaca? NY in general? I'm from the westcoast and I ve heard horrible things about the cold, but I would like someone from CU to tell me. </p>
<p>Also, What if i transfer to Cornell to study Economics and take some studios? I know this sounds retarded/ insane, but I really like both, and I would give up non-studio courses to take a BA in econ. Thanks .</p>
<p>i think it depends in what you want in life and what you want to get out of a college education. learning econ is VERY different than learning architecture and i'm sure you know that and the jobs that follow. architecture does not pay well once you get out and it is a long process so make sure you have the passion and patience. however, cornell's architecture program has a lot of reputation.
i hear berekley's arch school is not bad either but they probably differ a lot. cornell is very theoretical and abstract whereas from what i've learned, berekely focuses a lot on sustainability..you could share. cornell has a very unique way of teaching things to students but that is probably why cornell arch alumni people are unique. you get to study one year in rome.</p>
<p>cornell is cold so it's going to be hard. it snows and rains for a long time. but usually you're so busy as an arch student getting projects done on time will probably be on your mind.</p>
<p>i don't know this until i get there because i come from arizona. and california far colder than arizona overall.</p>
<p>"It is the hardest school to get into in Cornell"</p>
<p>Archecture based on acceptance is, but quality of students by SAT, architecture i think has the lowest SAT scores after the Hotel students around a 1300.</p>
<p>Students at Cornell ranged in all different facets</p>
<p>from the cornell architecture admissions officer, she said since admission rates are very competitive, good academics, good portfolio, and a strong commitment is required. </p>
<p>they grade academic standing from a 1-6 scale (1-poor, 6-strong). they accept 70% of their students with 6's (with good portfolios etc) and the other 30% of the applicants with less-than-6 scores. i don't think i did that bad on the SAT.....i got a 2110</p>
<p>Questioningbear, as much as I love Cornell, if size is your primary motive for transfering out of Cal, I don't recommend Cornell as your transfering institution. Statistically, Cal is clearly bigger, but Cornell is also big and at that level, I am not sure the size difference is noticeable. Cornell has 20,000 students (14,000 of which are undergrads) and Cal has 33,000 students (23,000 of which are undergrads).</p>
<p>If you want a small school with great architecture, definitely check out Rice and maybe Carnegie Mellon.</p>
<p>or cooper union, if you want free tuition and a total of 2000 students in your school</p>
<p>Though it's tough to get into architecture as a freshmen, there are spots open for transfers. For instance, the freshmen class that started this past fall began with 60 students ... as of right now, that number has dropped to 53 students. The architecture students are a very tight group, none of them are just random students out of 13,000 undergraduates. This is because the students spend hours with each other in the studio. Of all the schools/majors at Cornell, i'd have to say that architecture is easily the most closely knit and 'exclusive.' Even though Cornell itself is a big school, I'm certain you'll find what you're looking for in Cornell Architecture. It'll be tough to transfer credit though - Cornell does it best when it comes to architecture and they want to make sure that their graduates have been taught 'the cornell way.'</p>
<p>bball - you're right about the whole SAT thing, but this is because high school performance and the portfolio take prescedence over SAT scores. A strong and creative mind can create a successful architect - a high SAT score will not.</p>