<p>I'm an incoming Junior this year, and I've decided that I would like to major in architecture in college. Unfortunately, I'm only taking art (formally) for the first time this year (although I'm good at sketching) and I have no work yet which I could include in an application portfolio.</p>
<p>The only work I have that could go in a portfolio are some models of houses that I designed in sketchup. </p>
<p>Preparing for an application this late in the game... is there even a chance that I could get into college for architecture?</p>
<p>Different choices abound - some very good schools do not even care for a portfolio to begin with - some send a Cooper Union style take home test of some kind; some have optional portfolios.</p>
<p>In terms of building a portfolio, from what DD1 heard, a lot of schools do not just want ‘classroom’ art or heavy AutoCAD and the like… I do not think they expect one to build up a portfolio out of HS art classes alone.</p>
<p>The obvious thing to do here would be to go to the web sites of the school(s) you want to apply, find out what specific things they want (of which you’ll send originals) and what can be repros, i.e. digital images. Figure you’ll need around 25 or so for application to half a dozen schools. A small number could be art like 3-D, ceramics, or art photography; That’s how many she did, and out of the 25 or so 1 was a photo, 1 was a ceramic, and so on.</p>
<pre><code> Thank you for the quick answer. If you could elaborate on your response a bit more, I have a few questions.
Many of the websites of architectural schools that I looked at had a portfolio requirement of 12-24 pieces. Most of them asked for personal drawings, 3D modeling, and some of them asked for samples of photography. If schools don’t want to see portfolios heavy on drawings, or models, then what do they want to see in a portfolio?
You said that classroom schoolwork wasn’t a great thing to have in a portfolio. Should I mostly include the work that I make on my own then? Are there certain types of pieces to make or avoid?
If, instead of a portfolio, you took a test for admission, what kind of material would be on the test?
Once again, thank you for your reply. If Turbo, or anyone else, could answer my questions then I would be very grateful.
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<p>For portfolios, different schools have different rules. Some require you mail in actual - not copy - of 3 or 4 specific pieces. The RISD bicycle comes to mind, several schools asked for self-portraits, or and the like. These can be sent as originals to one school but included with others. Schools usually fret on 3D CAD renderings and the like - if you have a couple of awesome ones, send them in, but send drawings as well (good ole’ graphite).</p>
<p>DD1’s portfolio included about 8 pieces done for two schools that wanted originals. These were all pencil drawings, more artsy than Mayline and triangle type. Then about 5-6 of what I’d call ‘mixed media’ types (90% graphite pencil with highlights in other media); 2 acrylic on canvas paintings; 2 or 3 colored ink on ‘hard’ canvas (can’t remember the name, I just buy the stuff), 1 or 2 photographs, a few sketches on paper of architecture related stuff, a couple of selections of some pretty elaborate balsawood models of buildings she did, and a couple of AutoCAD and Inventor renderings. From these, maybe one in five was school work (AutoCAD and balsa). </p>
<p>The entire sequence was painstakingly photographed using my Nikon D90 and higher end stuff, then hi-res digital images were created for each. We used bracketing and lots of exposure combinations and bounce flash to capture the best image possible - not easy to do even then, and virtually impossible to do with a $300 point and shoot camera. </p>
<p>In terms of what to show and what to avoid, talk to schools or school reps. Many send reps around the country or hold portfolio review days. We attended a few and talked to reps. College visits are another good way to find out. Googling on sites like ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ also helps. </p>
<p>A few schools that did the test send it to you on paper or electronically. The format varies from “why is the sky blue” abstract stuff from Cooper Union to practical “draw an image that represents such-and-such” or “interpret this image in a couple of paragraphs”. </p>
<p>The whole process of putting the portfolio together took about a year for DD1.</p>
<p>Since you are a junior, you should have plenty of time to put together a portfolio. Try to take all the art you can this year and next fall. And get in the best summer art program that you can–apply to several. You can look on the “visual arts and film majors” section of college confidential, search “summer pre-college” and you’ll find all sorts of advice on good programs. My son was admitted to two very selective architecture programs that required portfolios, and he only used art that he did in class (or summer program) so it can be done. He only submitted drawings and paintings, but it is up to you. You can definitely use models or photos if you need additional pieces.</p>