<p>Are there any colleges that do not require a portfolio when applying for architecture programs? What would you recommend to junior in high school with some artistic ability who has a small portfolio? I can draw fairly well, and I'm pretty good at photography, I've just never utilized them to my full capabilities. I'm worried about my portfolio when applying, so any advice on what to do when creating one would be extremely appreciated...</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>the vast majority require a portfolio, so first I would recommend starting this summer and fall. You have 7 months and could get a pretty good portfolio done. </p>
<p>some that come to mind that don’t require them:
Notre Dame
Philadelphia University
Wentworth
Catholic University (not positive)</p>
<p>Penn State
Carnegie Mellon
Northeastern </p>
<p>all come to mind. But you do have all summer to work on it (a couple hours a week till december will yield a great portfolio), if you cant put that much effort in, you probably wont last in arch school</p>
<p>^^^lol…very true</p>
<p>U of Cincinnati doesn’t require a portfolio.</p>
<p>Washington University in st. louis does not either, as portfolio is an option. But, it is recommended for architecture students to submit a portfolio. Start this summer! You’d be surprised at what you can do.</p>
<p>Just for the record…I applied to Carnegie Mellon and they said that very few people without a portfolio get accepted into their program, so even though some places may not REQUIRE it…it is still recommended. I applied to six schools, Cornell (attending), University of Tennessee, Syracuse, RPI, Penn State, and Carnegie Mellon. I had ZERO art from up until my senior year because I’m not a great artist. But what they want to see is creativity. Again, I AM NOT A ARTIST, but, I had a couple guitars that I built from scratch, a knife I carved and fired, and a bunch of photos that I had taken of everyday things that were somehow spectacular…you can use anything that is the porduct of your mind…and I got accepted at all of my schools. So, what I will tell you the same thing I was told when I found out I had 6 months to put a portfolio together: hand-drawings are important! Draw ALL THE TIME! In class, with your family, by yourself, on a date, at the movies…EVERYWHERE! Most schools have a freehand minimum they want you to meet (I ended with 4 really quality drawings and was okay). Other than that, still lives are way to common to do if you aren’t a master artist (so are drawings of hands and portrait drawings). Draw and create what you know and it will help you be creative.<br>
Lastly, architects have the obsession with “process,” so don’t be afraid to include little sketches that lead up to something brilliant. A lot of being an architect is trial and error. In my portfolio, I would have a big “finished” product with two smaller doodles to the side or on bottom that showed that I thought about what I wanted and didn’t just blindly copy some generic-ass apples-and-pear-in-a-bowl-with-a-table-cloth template.
Good luck.</p>