Cornell Internal Transfer B.Arch

College Majors Architecture Major
1

<p>I'm a current freshman at Cornell in Arts & Sciences and am very interested in studying architecture. My high school curriculum did not allow me to take art classes, but I have always drawn prolifically, especially buildings. I think I can articulate my interests and goals for studying architecture, but my biggest concern is my general lack of a portfolio (although I do have a lot of experience with design for publications by means of Adobe, etc). I doubt anyone has actually done an internal transfer into the B.Arch on this board, but maybe someone can shed some light on how to build a portfolio after being deprived of art classes? I'm thinking I should take a studio art class next semester if the BFA program will let me? Is there anything else I can do? </p>

<p>I understand that transferring, even internally, into this program is super competitive so if I cannot (or decide I do not want) to focus so intensely on architecture as an undergrad, what are the best routes to take in preparation for an M.Arch I? City and Regional Planning? </p>

<p>If I wanted to transfer OUT of Cornell entirely in order to get a BA in Architecture, would experience/a portfolio be necessary to transfer into those programs that are generally in their Arts & Sciences college--rather than a separate design college at Cornell? (I'm thinking of Penn, etc). Would it perhaps be more plausible, given my sheer lack of experience, to try to transfer to a liberal arts school and THEN major in architecture (I would obviously try to find less competitive schools to apply to as well if I took this route) ?</p>

<p>Basically, what's my best course of action as a driven but albeit newbie to get to an architecture program of some kind? </p>

<p>Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!</p>

2

<p>There are many schools that don’t require Portfolios, so if you feel no burden of transferring out that’s always an option. And I conclude this on behalf of my own logic but since Cornell has a designated architecture school, its rather a disadvantage to look for an M.Arch education after graduating Cornell without having studied in its B.Arch prorgam. But that may not be so.</p>

<p>To be honest I think it would be greatly difficult to get into Cornell’s B.Arch program… not that I know any stats or art skills about you or anything, but just in general :slight_smile: but since you’re right there why not take the initiative to just go to the department and talk to them~? haha.</p>

3

<p>On the contrary, you can apply for an M.Arch with any Bachelor’s degree. Having a BS in CRP won’t necessarily give you a better chance at getting into the Master’s program than a Bachelor’s in English. However, there are certain required architecture courses like Arch History and structures that you can take during undergrad, reducing the number of required courses you need for the M.Arch.</p>

<p>Of course you can take studio courses, but BFA kids get preference. Making a portfolio without much art background can be pretty difficult, a couple of studio courses would probably be helpful.</p>

4

<p>if you want to transfer into the architecture program, it is possible. hard, but possible. the first step is taking the architecture studio as an elective. what is hard is that you need to take this 6 credit class on top of your current major. im not trying to discourage, but there were 3 people in my freshman year studio trying to do this, and only 1 made it in, and she was a fine arts major. CRP is a great program at cornell, and is especially an option if you are still interested in architecture but do not want to transfer out of cornell. CRP is more of the policy behind architecture and city planning, rather than the designing aspect. </p>

<p>to transfer OUT of cornell to pursue architecture, that is also a possibility. if you are 100% sure that you want architecture, apply for a 5 year program. you may have to start over as a freshman (which may not be financially a plus). some programs do not require portfolios, penn state being one of them. they have a great program and are known in the architecture world. another possibility is to transfer into a 4 year program school. those schools do not require portfolios and it may be easier to get you on track. some 4 year schools: univ of michigan, washu, maryland, uva, miami of ohio, etc. at those schools, you have to apply to be in the program, either as a freshman or to be admitted as a junior. i believe you need a portfolio at that point to apply. but regardless, if transferring is too much of a headache for you, stay in CAS!! major in something fun and something that interests you, enjoy your college life, go out and have fun with friends, sleep in on the weekends, whatever you like! you can always take some architecture courses (like a history, or a theory, or another elective), take an art studio to start building your portfolio, etc. major in whatever and get your MArch degree. some principals at the firms i worked at majored in X or Y, got their MArch, and are now at the top. </p>

<p>and BISORI, no one will look down on a person who is graduating from cornell without a BArch who is pursuing an MArch degree. that’s a ridiculous statement. how many students go to college KNOWING what they want to do for the rest of their life? how many 17 year olds know that architecture/premed/psychology is what they want, and then transfer or change majors? how many students at cornell alone are undecided for 2 years, and then graduate to do big things? yes, my parents didn’t let me have the option to use college to find myself, but i knew in high school that i wanted architecture, so i pursued it. no MArch program is going to question why this one applicant didnt take advantage of cornell’s arch program from day 1 freshman year. they will see that the student came from cornell and now wants to do architecture. and that doesn’t mean that someone with an architecture background will automatically be taken over someone without it.</p>