<p>Ok guys, im sure CC has a few people that are stalking these forums trying to get as much information on the Cornell Architecture interviews that are coming up. My interview is on September 5th, im pretty sure that I will be one of the first people to get an interview because Cornell starts interviews on the 5th(and mine is at 10:30 am lol). In terms of the actual interview, I pretty much have an answer for any possible question they throw at me but I'll post any curveball or surprise questions they ask me on this thread. In terms of my actual portfolio, i have decided to go hard and bring literally everything(the biggest thing is 27x40 inches lol). </p>
<p>From what I've collected from other people that had interviews:
make sure you got a favorite architect in mind
have reason to be an architect
show passion
commitment
let them see ur creative side
have examples of ur favorite buildings today
influences that made u decide to major in architecture
show them that u can draw like a RISD alumni ;)
show them u can paint like an RISD alumni ;)
get funky
dont wear a suit(guys)
show them ur not just an artist that wants a legitimate salary
(if u can bring originals)
Presentation of ur portfolio reproductions are key
If/when they ask u 'What other colleges are u applying to?" LET THEM KNOW ALL THOSE OTHER COLLEGES U JUST NAMED ARE UR F**KING BACKUP SCHOOLS!
dont just sit there and answer his/her questions and show ur artwork, ask THEM questions about the program
chillax
dont smoke pot before coming into the interview
make an impression
seize the day </p>
<p>Reply below if your applying to Cornell AAP! We gotta get the CC community accepted and stacked this year! </p>
<p>what do you mean by no architecture drawings?? i have digital renderings of buildings that i designed (one won a national award) that are pretty central to my portfolio</p>
<p>@thegrant: Also be prepared if in your interview, someone asks you about your thoughts on some current events. Schools the caliber of Cornell love talented prospects – but also those whose eyes are on the outside world as well. </p>
<p>For instance, if someone said to you: “What do you think about the gridlock in Wash DC?” or “The US role in the middle east is delicate, would you agree?” or “The US economic recovery has affected different portions of the country/your community differently – have you seen this to be so?” – would you have an informed answer?</p>
<p>I’m not saying this WILL happen, but don’t be surprised that you get asked about non-architecture, not-arts related interests.</p>
<p>BTW: I know you’re trying to be helpful but if you need to warn off someone from smoking before their Cornell AAP interview, then it’s in your best interests to let that numbskull fail incredibly. If he/she doesn’t have that modicum of common sense, you certainly don’t want that person to be your classmate or co-worker one day.</p>
<p>@hqureshi11 In that case i would say yes! Show it to them! Its just that from some other forums I know that people have shown architecture drawings/designs which were not done properly lol</p>
<p>ok I just got home from the Cornell interview and I think it well really well. Here are some things to make sure your prepared to answer:
Have you traveled alot?
Who’s you favorite architect?
Whats your favorite piece of architecture?
What do you know about the Cornell AAP program?
What is it that an architect does?
Whats your favorite class?</p>
<p>Also, bring up your extra curricular activites up during the interview if you can.
The portfolio i brought(a lot of stuff) gave me the opportunity to speak about alot of different things and allowed him to get into my creative process. I would highly advise anybody to have a finished/almost completed portfolio to bring with them to be able to talk about more topics. </p>
<p>I brought in approx 5 large originals (carrying it all was a hassle), but it was definitely worth it cause they get to see the sense of scale u work at(he asked me why i choose to work so large lol) </p>
<p>He also asked me what other colleges i was applying to (Carnegie Mellon, Pratt, cooper union, syracuse, risd) and he wrote them all down and acknowledged they were good schools. </p>
<p>Just be yourself and try not to get to worked up on the interview. In the hour before my interview I had to take a piss 3 times just cause i was so nervous- but dont be, once you walk into the professors office im sure you will naturally calm down. </p>
<p>I wish the best of luck to anybody that has an upcoming interview! I will check this thread periodically if anybody has any questions</p>
<p>I would just like to state that, the few people that I saw walking in for Architecture interviews were not holding any portfolios on their way to their interviewers office lol </p>
<p>Thanks for the tips, I’ll hopefully be doing my cornell arch interview with an alumni in LA in November. Do you know how off campus interviews differ from on campus ones? I expect the same types of questions but I really have no idea.</p>
<p>@silverarch hi i talked to some ppl that did the alumni interview – I think for those it is a little less about the Q&A and more about the back and forth conversation(obviously it differs from the person you are getting interviewed by). Somebody told me about his alumni interview lasting for almost 4 hours cause they had so much fun(he got in obviously lol), and another person had a similiar styled Q&A with their alumni(the alumni she had worked at Cornell so it must have been more professional). </p>
<p>I found a Cornell alumni one time and she was so nice about everything, we talked about just getting into cornell and the process and each part of the application-- it wasnt an alumni interview but she said that she also did those and if i needed one she could be my interviewer (but i already did the professor one). Each alumni is different but from what I can tell it shouldnt be as stressful as an on campus interview – they have been through what you are going through right now(obsessing over Cornell AAP) so they are completely understanding of everything. </p>
<p>I am not actually sure if the professor interview has any more weight than an alumni interview though, I dont think it does(cause that wouldnt be fair for kids on the west coast), but im kind of hoping… lol </p>