Chances?

College Majors Architecture Major
1

I’m applying to Cornell, Princeton, Tufts, Smith, Brown, Barnard, CMU for architecture majors.

Information:
SAT I : 2260 (730 R, 800 M, 730W) (one-sitting)
SAT II: 780 Math II; 770 Literature
IGCSE Grades: 8A*s, 2As
IB Subjects: English Literature SL, Physics SL, French B SL, History HL, Math HL, Visual Arts HL
IB Predicted Grade: 44/45
GPA (unweighted): If calculated from IB points, 4.0
Senior Year Course Load: Heavy

Academic Awards:
Prizes for top scores in Biology, Chemistry, World Literature, First Language English, French, Art and Design, Additional Mathematics and International Mathematics, Student of the Year, National Merit Commended Scholar, Gifted and Talented in Visual Arts and Music, topped India in IGCSE World Literature board examination

Extracurriculars: member of debate society (3 years), MUN (3 conferences, chaired one, high commendation in two), Grade 6 Guitarist (Trinity Rock and Pop) (played the guitar for 7+ years), graphic design (designed and implemented a certificate for the sports department in school),Yearbook Editor, Math Symposium runner up, senior basketball, tennis and soccer teams (3+ years), student council (2 years)

Volunteer/Community service: worked at a girls orphanage (2 yrs) teaching them how to play the guitar, sewing lessons for the underprivileged (few months)

Summer Activities: Columbia Pre-college course on Introduction to Architectural Theory and Design (3 weeks), summer course on painting at Paris College of Art (2 weeks).

Work Experience: Math tutoring (paid) (+50 hours), Trainee at Anand and Anand law firm at Delhi High Court (30 hours)

Teacher 1: Art: 9/10 (known me for ages, taught me for 4 years)
Teacher 2: Math: 9/10 (same as above)
Counselor Rec: 7/10: has a lot of students

Additional Rec: from columbia summer school, by one architectural historian and one architect.

Other:
School Type: private but competitive, acceptances to Ivies, Oxbridge, etc (India, although I’m not an international applicant)
Gender: F
Parent Education/Employment: Dad (Graduate Degree), Mom (Graduate Degree)
Language: English, Hindi, French
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): -

2

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^ She did not claim to be a URM, Bea.

4

You may be aware that Princeton, Tufts, Smith, Brown and Barnard do not offer the Bachelor OF Architecture (BArch). Instead they offer the Bachelor of Arts with a major IN architecture or architectural studies. With a BA – or BS – you will still need to get a Master of Architecture (MArch) in order to practice architecture in most states.

Aside from Smith which I’d consider a match, all the BA/BS schools on your list would be reaches for you. Unless you have a safety that you haven’t mentioned, you definitely need to add one or two less selectives! For the BA, I’d recommend Conn College, Skidmore as two with good art/architecture departments. For the BS, you might look at Cincinnati, Northeastern, WUSTL, Virginia.

Cornell and CMU both offer the BArch. Both require portfolios (Cornell also requires an interview) which are very important in the admission process. Both schools are extremely selective, though I believe (my opinion only) that being South Asian (assuming you are South Asian) and female would be a plus.

For less selective BArch programs, look at Syracuse, Drexel, Boston Architectural College, CUNY, Penn State, Auburn.

I would strongly suggest that you submit two ACADEMIC recommendations and consider the art teacher’s recommendation a supplement. In that event you should choose one of the three among your art teacher and the two from Columbia, as the colleges are not likely to read three supplemental recommendations.

You should be sure to submit an art portfolio even at the BA/BS schools that don’t require them. You may want to consider submitting a music supplement as well at the small liberal arts colleges.

If you go the BA/BS+MArch route, you should seriously consider how you will finance your graduate degree. The MArch is an expensive degree relative to entry level architecture salaries and though financing is available, it is less predictable than financing for undergraduate degrees.

You hardly need another reach, but you may want to consider Williams – excellent art and art history department (especially architectural art history), excellent MArch admissions track record. I think you’d be a person of interest to them.

5

great app homie very strong

6

@momrath @thegrant

Thanks for the responses! I have been accepted to:

Cornell
CMU
Princeton
Brown
Smith

I have so many great options, I don’t know how to decide!

7

@divu123, Congratulations on some fine acceptances! The first step would be to compare the money (if you want or need financial aid). Secondly, assuming that you’re aiming for the BArch at Cornell and CMU, you need to decide if you want to move directly toward a professional architecture degree or focus on a BA in architecture or architectural studies.

If you go the BA/BS route you will most likely want to pursue an MArch, which is another reason that money is a key concern. After you’ve made the decision on the degree, you can evaluate the differences in culture and environment among your choices.

8

@momrath Thank you! I have decided to attend Princeton.

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Well done!